


So it occurred to me a few weeks back that I am now well and truly half way through my studies. I've only got a year and a half left before I'm done with classes, and then I'll be faced with stepping out into the big mean world of job hunting. Well, that or doing an honors year at University - but that's something I'm still very much torn as to whether I want to do it or not.
With Show Us Your Bits coming up at the end of this month, I also realized the pressure I put on myself to achieve. I wasn't able to get much done during my month long break for numerous reasons, but it doesn't leave me any less disappointed that I don't have something of my own work to really showcase at the event. I'm starting to think it was more blessing than curse. Because I don't have anything to showcase, it means that I get to volunteer and help out. But it's also given me pause to consider what I should be doing in the time I have left at University. I asked myself a few questions.
Do I want to work alone or with a team?
What sort of role do I want to be working in?
What sort of thing do I want to be working on?
How much time do I want to dedicate to a project?
I would love to work with a team over the course of my final year and a half to make a game, the problem is really with finding a team to work with that is all passionate about doing a project. I find myself in a position where I'm not spectacular at art or programming, so I end out in design, production roles or all-rounder type roles - which means I'd be better off in a team. I'd love to be working on a game of my own design from the ground up. And with my studies being pretty much part-time as it stands, I've got time to work on stuff.
It's funny that - even with such a great community - sometimes it's difficult to find a reliable team. I've been a part of so many projects that have fallen through, it's kinda sad. There are so many good ideas that I have been a part of that simply have never gotten off the ground. Games that really had a lot of potential to be something very cool. I know there's one idea for a game I have that I think could be amazing - I'd LOVE to see it picked up by a team just as passionate about the idea as I am, and to make it a reality. It's all a matter of finding a team and being proactive, I suppose.
The other option is to spend some time on my weekends working on some TF2 maps. I realized when TF2 went free to play that it's a massive opportunity to get in there and make some really cool maps. TF2 was already a popular game with a lot of players, now it's even more accessible. This is the other reaosn I think not getting anything done during July was a blessing - I may have wasted time working on a project that I'd not see potential in. I've already got designs for a TF2 map that I am always polishing up on, perhaps it's time to just bite the bullet and start working on it - at the very least, until a team project comes along. Or hell, even during said team project.
In the mean time, I think I am going to simply try to be more active in seeking out a team to make a game with. I don't think there's much point in writing up a design document to pitch to others to get them on board, I'd much rather start with an idea and dynamically create it with a group of people so that we were all invested in it. It's really just a matter of finding the people.
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