I lost it.....Can't find it!

[Zach]

I haven't coded in weeks now... Hell, its been since before Christmas that I last touched a line of code in PureBasic
Well, that's not entirely true, I did write some AutoIt scripts to help with some mind numbingly boring tasks I do when crafting in Lord of The Rings Online, but still...

I stopped one day and I haven't been able to restart work? Why?!! I don't know

Some good things have happened, like the updated SQLite library and a couple other random things I can't remember at the moment.. ProGUI is pretty solid and I am pretty sure I can do what I want (minimally) until the more advanced stuff is developed. But I can't seem to make myself sit down and write anything that even remotely looks like PB code. I just play LOTRO all day, not that it isn't fun doing that, but..

It's annoying to have an idea about something pop into your head, and then not be able to get it out, or forget about it; and then you wonder what else about your project you have forgotten!


What do you guys do when you lose your "mojo" ??

Should I try something simpler? Less ambitious? Something you could write in a day or two?

[c4s]

I remember that you've started a very similar thread some months ago... To make it short: Just start coding something that is done easily so that you get a rather fast sense of achievement. The joy of coding in Purebasic will come on its own - this always worked for me!

[Zach]

Did I really? I honestly can't remember.. Maybe I was commenting on it as a worry? I don't think I started a thread about it..

Or maybe I did? Or maybe I was participating in another thread who knows


But I think you are right... Maybe trying to create some small, quick/easy games will help get me going.

[LuCiFeR[SD]]

I never really got over my "programmers block" I just tend to tinker now when I feel like it It's not like I do it for money, it's just a hobby these days. But I do still program,mainly web dev stuff. I found I am a lot more creative doing that than trying to write some killer app that isn't quite as killer as I thought lol

[c4s]

Oh well, maybe it wasn't you. At least someone asked it a couple of months ago.

I wouldn't say that you have to create a complete new game/application because that's probably already to "big" for a quick'n'easy start. What I meant is that you should rather work on your existing software. Like fixing a bug that annoyed you all the time, or implementing a little neat feature.

[Kuron]

Should I try something simpler? Less ambitious? Something you could write in a day or two?

Work on a different aspect of your game: graphics, icons, design doc, documentation, storyline, plotting for storyline, web page, sound or music files, level design, etc.

[Nituvious]

Same here. I ran into a problem that kind of just left me with out any gumption to program.
I don't know how to make a bitfield, nor do I know how to incorporate it into a structure!

[kenmo]

This happens to me a few times per year, it's not necessarily a bad thing. I would recommend NOT forcing yourself to write new code when you aren't motivated.

Instead, I would:
. work on other aspects of the game (like Kuron said) artwork, help files, web page, etc.
. work on bugfixes, optimizations, improvements (so you're getting back into the code without writing huge new blocks)
. make a quick, unrelated, no-pressure game. There are many organized "game jams" for this. (I'd say Ludum Dare but the next one is in April)
. similarly, work on an unrelated game or app, just to warm back up
. play other games! nothing wrong with inspiration.
. enjoy other hobbies. Months that I don't code much, I find myself recording music more, for example.
. hang around on this forum

As long as it's not your day job, don't worry too much about motivation naturally rising and falling.

[Zach]

Thanks guys,

True it is not my day job.. But then one day I do hope to be to the point where I might make -something- off a piece of work.

Doing other parts of the game is a good idea, I think. I've had the urge to do some creative writing. I think the monotonous nature of trying to get my content creation tools designed kind of put a dent in my motivation.

[PrincieD]

I agree with the advice given Zach, just work on a fresh little project to get your enthusiasm back. I lost my mojo/codefu a little since I moved back up north so I decided to make a little notepad replacement using scintilla and ProGUI which has done the trick to get my motivation back

I've done a bit of web/graphic design work too which has helped exercise my creative juices! lol check it out: http://www.rangtattoo.com

I think we all suffer from coders block from time to time so don't worry mate I think you've just been working too hard and maybe burnt yourself out a little bit, it will come back mate you haven't lost it!

Chris.

[Kuron]

Thanks guys,

True it is not my day job.. But then one day I do hope to be to the point where I might make -something- off a piece of work.

Doing other parts of the game is a good idea, I think. I've had the urge to do some creative writing. I think the monotonous nature of trying to get my content creation tools designed kind of put a dent in my motivation.

Adding to what I recommended previously, set realistic goals for yourself. Only you can answer what is realistic for your experience/skill level and time constraints. Also, if you run into a problem you can't figure out and need help with, just ask. Sometimes trying to muddle through a problem on your own can frustrate you enough that you "lose it" for a while. Try not to overwhelm yourself.

If it is any condolence, my work has slowed down a lot the past month. I just got finished with four weeks of physical therapy and tomorrow, I start on four more weeks of physical therapy. Given some of the niggles still in the Linux side of PB, me slowing down a bit really isn't hampering my work as it may be some time before these niggles get ironed out.

[MachineCode]

How's this for a lack of enthusiasm: I deleted my entire website the other day, due to lack of support from anyone. My main app had over 5000 downloads, but zero payments and zero contact from anyone about it. It was a 14-day trial, and the users were using it (my web logs prove it due to the auto-update check), but nobody felt the need to pay for it after 6 months. So, I pulled the plug. No point flogging a dead horse, right?

And you know what? I honestly feel relieved for doing it, like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. No longer do I feel the stressful need to market it, push it, mention it, watch for it with Google Alerts, etc. It's damn stressful trying to sell something online, and to support Win 7, Vista and XP without problems and hacks.

I'm now working on a game for my kids instead, which feels really nice to do -- no worries about file systems, permissions, UAC, and all that BS that comes with application coding. Oh, and they really like it so far.

[Kuron]

MachineCode: What was your main app?

I am glad you found a way to remove the stress and make programming fun again.

[Zach]

I understand how you feel about that. I've been running a web site since the year 2000-ish. I managed to change it into something I was happy with by moving to a magazine format, and I did get some interest in my project, and people certainly like to download it, I've even seen it on at least one private torrent tracker I frequent. Funnily enough that community had no problem coming up with the same idea and getting people to contribute to it There's a WTF moment for you.

I keep it going simply because its something I personally have a passion for. And I like having control over my own e-mail address(s) be they private or public. I know people download it, every month I do around 1gb of traffic (did a few gigs at a high point), but no one wants to contribute to the project.

What can you do, right?
I'm slowly working towards getting a new issues of my magazine put together however.. I started this by myself, and I can run it by myself, and end it by myself if I want to.

[Zach]

Hi guys,

So you have seen me post around the forums for the past week or so.. It feels like I am slowly getting back into the groove of things (unless I just jinxed myself)..

I did decide to try and work on some other aspects of my game, so I started fleshing out rough ideas of my game mechanics.. Slowly been coming up with ideas for character Stats and stuff which I'm hoping will lead to some work on world mechanics in general, as well as combat mechanics.

But I also managed to open PB and try to work on my world editing program, which resulted in having a stupid moment which I thought I was doing something wrong cause I couldn't get the debug window to display... For some reason I had the debugger turned off in my project profile target