Anyone doing One Game a Month?

I have decided that I am going to do the One Game a Month challenge. I am tired of having a zillion prototypes and no finished games.

Mostly I'm doing it for the experience, but I'm also doing it to get a feel of what genres I like to build in.

Anyone else doing the challenge? You can see more details about it here: One Game a Month

p.s. The first game I am doing is the one in my forum signature. I want that one to be in a state I consider "finished" by the end of the month.

That looks friggin awesome... real motivation factor, which is something I need. Thanks for bringing this up, EgoAnt! I'll keep an eye or two out for your work.

Thanks for this. I always wanted to do small complete games in a short amount of time. This is great for motivation. I'll try and start something tomorrow....

I prefer spending long periods of time on games. But then again, if you spend a long period of time on it and people don't like it, it can be disheartening.

I get bored easily on my own long projects. I'm more of a prototype maker than a game maker ;p This could be the thing that helps me break that bad habit..

I get bored easily on my own long projects. I'm more of a prototype maker than a game maker ;p This could be the thing that helps me break that bad habit..

Couldn't have said it better myself, dude. I get so <img src="smileys/smiley12.gif" border="0" align="middle" /> after testing a long project for the upteenth time that I lose focus and interest.

Maybe we should organize a hyper-jam?

Couldn't have said it better myself, dude. I get so <img src="smileys/smiley12.gif" border="0" align="middle" /> after testing a long project for the upteenth time that I lose focus and interest.

Maybe we should organize a hyper-jam?

Sounds good to me :) Create a thread with your ideas, and I'll add to it, and hopefully others will join in.

I don't think there is all that much wrong with unfinished projects. Like Procrastinator says sometimes you get so burnt out on a project you think your brains about to bubble over like the head on a keg dropped down the Grand Canyon. I have many unfinished projects I started, but felt I was still lacking in the skills and experience to develop them further at their current stage. As I learn more about the software and how to better translate my ideas into gameplay, I can revisit the files with a fresh new perspective, and a bit more know how.

How about a weekly or monthly challenge? We can either do a small game per month, or a capx per week. Someone can choose a topic that contains two of constructs features and perhaps a Noun or character. Like "A Cat on path with a flash"... or whatever. We make example capx's submit them each week, we vote, winner chooses next topic.

— Val, very true. I usually get to a point where I don't know what to do. Sometimes it's boredom working on the same thing with no real end goal, but mostly it's due to my lack of skills at a certain point.

I think I just love doing small prototypes. The good thing about unfinished projects (just like unfinished artwork), is you can look at them years down the line and feel motivated. I think reminiscing can help fuel motivation ;p Also, new ideas can surface from looking at older stuff, and skillset should be much higher than when it was abandoned.

Good idea on the challenge thing. It was done with Construct Classic, but I think it was abandoned because there wasn't that much interest. Shame really, 'cause it was great to see everyone's entries. I never entered because my skills with CC weren't that great tbh, but I'm much better with C2 than I ever was with CC so yeah, I'm in :)

We can stick a thread in the "Your creations" forum for example for each month's "challenge".

In CC there used to be a colossal reward of 1$ paid by some motivated member each month.

Perhaps the reward of the challenge could be simply to have a game made (pretty much like Ludum Dare's line, with mainly exposure on Scirra's forums).

I agree that prototypes and offering support in the forums allows to work one skills and keep things interesting/fast paced.

But "gaining" the experience of completing a game is also good and has deep impact on the whole process of game making, from the prototype to the release phase.

(Also it legitimises your position as game maker)

Actually completing a game apparently can be considered one tough task to handle in game making by many people (according to the results of this poll).

This site can be considered as a mainstream source.

So yes, having some challenges allowing members of our community to complete games is a nice idea in my opinion ^^

Prizes don't bother me at all. I'm enjoying learning C2 by doing things I wouldn't normally do, and challenges would motivate me, and increase my knowledge and experience.

I agree, finishing a game is damn hard. Starting is way too easy in comparison.

I've finished one game in my life, and even then I didn't consider it finished, but had to rush it out for a deadline. I didn't get the chance to polish it and add ideas that would've made it more complete in my eyes.

So I guess I would consider myself experienced in how hard it is to see a game through to completion.

Just because a game is finished, it doesn't mean the work is over. Creating a custom installer can take some time, especially if you've never done that kind of thing before. Then the website... and the marketing... and... ugh don't get me started ;p

Not that any of that would matter in a challenge...

I really hope we can get some sort of challenge going. Weekend challenges would be good as I know that's when people have the most time to work on stuff. Besides, that's my drinkie time, so creativity would be upped a few levels ;) but any time is fine by me!

Perhaps since EgoAnt started this thread he can pick the first topic or challenge. How about it EgoAnt? Throw something at us!

Good point! EgoAnt! EgoAnt! EgoAnt! ;)

hahaha. Well, the theme word for this month on the One Game a Month site is "Portcullis" and they are offering this image as inspiration:

<img src="http://onegameamonth.com/january-inspiration.jpg" border="0" />

We could either go with that or I would be more than willing to come up with something else if people want something original.

I think to fire people's imaginations, it'd probably be better having random words that just don't seem to fit together, like "cows, space, mushrooms".

tbh, Portcullis does nothing for me. If people like that though, then I'll have a go at something, but right now... nothing comes to mind ;p