I'm torn. I'm a baby gamedev and I have two main projects: an RPG Maker horror one and a JRPG one. The second one is my dream project but I decided to do the horror one first since it's smaller. But I've been in a bad place mentally, and working on something a bit dark isn't really helping. - ThreadSky

stereointhe90s.bsky.social • 23 days ago

I'm torn. I'm a baby gamedev and I have two main projects: an RPG Maker horror one and a JRPG one. The second one is my dream project but I decided to do the horror one first since it's smaller. But I've been in a bad place mentally, and working on something a bit dark isn't really helping.

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bunsenbear.bsky.social•23 days ago

Do a one level version of the jrpg. Make it small and almost demo like

sidedcore.bsky.social•23 days ago

I'm in the same situation, Take a break, you might be burnt out. Not sure if this will help but try checking out other people's Dev logs on youtube, could help inspire and motivate

xerginmakesgames.bsky.social•23 days ago

Work on something light and unserious first but be sure to put in mechanics/code that your other 2 main games can cannibalize later. Like the turn-based combat system for the JRPG or the fancy camera systems for the horror one.

stereointhe90s.bsky.social•23 days ago

Yeah there will be somewhat similar combat in the horror game.

coherentvoid.bsky.social•23 days ago

I'm in the same place. I chose the simple dark one because I need to finish something. But I looked to my inner artist and thrashed the ending so it became simultaneously hopeful and even darker. Maybe try digging deeper into your artistic well and see if there's something beneath the horror?

sweetkeymoon.bsky.social•22 days ago

Try a new project or work on something that makes you happy or excited

tufukins.bsky.social•23 days ago

Perhaps the change of tone you want to have yourself could also be done with the small game project? It might benefit you and the product to follow a mindset and tone that you can be comfortable and happy with.

tufukins.bsky.social•23 days ago

Not sure how much you've planned/scaffolded out for your small RPG horror game, but you could potentially change the vibe entirely going forward with it.

stereointhe90s.bsky.social•23 days ago

True but I'm not sure how I would make it fit with the world and story already in place. I guess I have some thinking to do.

tufukins.bsky.social•23 days ago

RPG Horror games have always been experimental and wacky. If you completely changed gears mid way through, it might lend itself into an even more interesting project! Mess around and let the game into your headspace, rather than the other way around.

tufukins.bsky.social•23 days ago

Feel free to hit me up if you want to bounce any ideas or get asked questions.^^

stereointhe90s.bsky.social•23 days ago

Thank you!

tufukins.bsky.social•23 days ago

You're absolutely welcome! I think for me, the most useful thing in getting myself to be comfortably work on game projects or projects of any scope, is to ask myself how I could be eager to work on xyz/why am I not eager to, and then address the reasons.

stereointhe90s.bsky.social•23 days ago

That's actually a very good point. Adding emotional contrast.

manadono.bsky.social•23 days ago

it's tine to break out the secret 3rd project !

stereointhe90s.bsky.social•23 days ago

I actually do have a secret third project. 🥷

felitastic.bsky.social•22 days ago

Is this the line for people collecting 'secret' side projects? :D

manadono.bsky.social•22 days ago

YEAH GET IN BUDDY WE'RE GOIN' wasting our productive hours between projects because of poor time management and obsession !!

noripasta.bsky.social•23 days ago

Could you spin it into an ironic horror? Like being late to work, something fairly silly yet scary

anqareliouth.bsky.social•23 days ago

If the game you're making makes you feel bad maybe pause and work on another project. Like a cat themed game.

stereointhe90s.bsky.social•23 days ago

I had also thought to shift work back over to my main project but it felt like I was abandoning the horror one. So i just ended up chilling for the past week.

anqareliouth.bsky.social•23 days ago

If your main project is your dream game and you are a new gamedev: don't.
If it's something else and it's something that you have the skills to do then yeah go for it

fearless-angel.bsky.social•23 days ago

Start with a demo of the JRPG. Get people hyped, then, when you're ready, work on the horror one.

mistawicket.bsky.social•23 days ago

Something unrelated to either may help! Side projects FTW!

psychodelickitten.bsky.social•22 days ago

I’m a beginner too trying to learn godot. It’s been a struggle lol

autmouselabs.bsky.social•23 days ago

We all have unfinished projects. Work on whatever feeds your soul. In the long run, that is how you will finish anyway. Today all I did was make a few sprites because that is what felt good. You got this friend!

stereointhe90s.bsky.social•23 days ago

Yeah, all I did today was add an echo effect to part of a song for the horror project in Famistudio.

audhdinoz.bsky.social•23 days ago

Alternate.
One week Horror, next JRPG. A pallet cleanser so to speak. 🤗

olliesnackeater.bsky.social•23 days ago

Take a refresh break and work on your passion project!

deep-froggy-frog.bsky.social•23 days ago

No one will fault you if you have tons of unfinished projects, I certainly do 😄 Working on something else can be good for your mental health, and it might give you some inspiration for your main ones

staccatosoul.bsky.social•22 days ago

You get better at stuff by doing stuff, so choose whichever stuff is easier to do, so you can do more stuff, so you can get better at doing stuff.

ubernicholi.bsky.social•22 days ago

10/10 reasoning. No notes.

kimjbaran.bsky.social•23 days ago

Have you tried to add neon colored highlights to the horror game? I always find it uplifting to see bright colorful lighting in an otherwise dark setting. Gives the players hope too? Can be even spooky when a horror is just briefly lit up by the fun lights?

stereointhe90s.bsky.social•23 days ago

I have brighter colors here and there and I do agree

sidraletitia.bsky.social•23 days ago

If the horror project is making you feel bad, then set it aside till it's not.

Make a fun/stupid side quest or minigame for the jrpg

hopbrand.bsky.social•23 days ago

Then work on something more happy even if it's just conceptual, it doesn't have to go beyond the basic idea.

And don't be scared to scrap stuff in the horror project that isn't working because of your mental state.

mathieuobrien.bsky.social•22 days ago

I'd suggest working on whatever you enjoy at the time. Much easier to work on something you want to rather than force yourself into something because you feel you "should"

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