Team

I’m Terrible At What I Do!

Posted on by magicrat_larry

I’m throwing it out there, I am terrible at what I do and love.  It takes guts to say it.  I’m finally doing it.  I am abysmal at making games.  Yup, if I had to make a game I would simply fail miserably.  Wow, that feels good just to type out.  A giant weight is lifted from my shoulders and now I can go back to making games.

Odd, why would I go back to making what I just said I was terrible at?  I must be nuts right?  Well, yeah!  The truth is I am bad at it.  I am excellent at 3D math, game vision, hyping an idea to the point of everyone being on board, I’m good at a lot of things.  I just cannot put an entire game together alone.  If I did not have others I would be the sum of me, which is terrible at the complete process of game development.

I have others, I found others and fill my voids, that strengthen my weaknesses.  Without them I would fail every time, and have.  Now say it with me if you have never finished a game, I am terrible at making games!  now go find a buddy that makes you a real game developer.  🙂

Be Something For Real

Posted on by magicrat_larry

I’m learning recently that there are many people in the world of game development, or even regular Tech careers who are pretending to be one of whatever they are doing.  What I mean is they act like a programmer, web designer, or game developer, but they do not truly, either believe they are one, or love it at all.

If you are in game development, or your career, for anything other than the love of it, you are on the wrong path.  Don’t take this road, it is an unhappy mess for you.  Nothing will satisfy you if you do.  Choose what you love, not what is the new awesome thing everyone else acted like they loved in college.  Take the world by the face by understanding yourself and what you truly want and leave the careers to others that you do not love.  You will enjoy life a ton more, be something, but be something for real, not for money, or popularity.

Hand Waving Visionary

Posted on by magicrat_larry

This morning it seems I am creating animations.  We need a few more for our game demo and I’ll be putting them together.  I play an interesting role on the project, one of many hats.  I am an animator, a lead programmer, and I believe most critical, hand waving visionary.

What is a “Hand Waving Visionary?”  It’s the person that keeps life and the project exciting and on track within the context of the game.  It’s not something that you learn to be.  I think it is just something I am.  I can take a small thing, and hype it up and make it important and likable.

Why do you need that?  Game development is hard, it is not the glamorous thing you thought of as a kid.  You need the small things to seem grand and impressive to keep going at times.  It really is about creating a team that feels every part of the process is fun, energetic, and lovable.  So I wave my hands, talk about warm fuzzy things, and watch in amazement as my teammates and I put together an amazing interactive world.