What do you do to stay motivated?

[wereMole]

Lol I envy you if it works - I've always worked the same but in my current project (which is still really small) I have to part ways with that strategy. Back in May 2013 I had to do another huge overhaul because I just did not have things planned out.

If I finish this small project then the next one will be complete on paper before I click the 'new map' button or whatever its called in the menu.

[wereMole]

Welcome to the board - enjoy your stay.

[Stormy]

I have the same problem with making well layed out dev textured maps and then getting disheartened when it doesn't look nice. I much prefer to make it detailed from the start, but then the layout gets all fucked up. So I have been trying to keep a balance between the two. Have a layout planned out in your mind, and build your map in detail. It's backwards, but It's the only way I can stay dedicated long enough to have anything that was worth making. I guess that is a main disadvantage of working solo. I like taking maps that have a good layout already and detailing them but I am shit at getting them to the point where they are ready to be detailed.

But as for motivation, the best way for me to get motivated is to start small. Make something that is small and looks good to get some immediate feedback and you will find that you move on from there to adjust another little thing, then another, and before you know it you have done 5 hours work and it looks a lot better.

But if you really can't get into it, turn the computer off and go for a walk. Rest time is just as important as work time. You want to avoid full burnout at all costs.

[SM Sith Lord]

The first thing I do when making a new map is make prefab so I can get the texture set and prop set down for each area. Like, if the map has a Hospital interior and a back alley, that's 2 different sets right there.

After that I use the prefabs as like measuring tools while I create the rest of the map in mostly DEV textures. I usually do MP maps so this is when I test timing and spawn points, etc. After that comes the epicness of detailing it all.

As for staying motivated, I just watch the movie Hackers and tell myself I am doing the coolest shit in the world.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, before I do anything I Google image search for reference pictures and draw layout and detail sketches for a couple hours.

[opti2000]

Watching porn motivates me (no shit)

[Jman]

I find motivation is the same in game design as anything else that provides dopamine or whatever chemical upon completion. I find if I buckle down and accomplish something gamedev-wise I have more motivation to continue the more I do it. After like a week of accomplishing at least 1 development related task per day I feel motivated to just do game design for like 6+ hours a day without getting bored.

Same goes for distractions though, I find dota also gives me that satisfaction so it's easy to waste a day on that instead of designing since the dopamine requires less work to obtain. It does eventually teeter off though which I guess is what we call getting burnt out. Then there's a break and the process repeats.

If anyone actually studies this stuff I'd like to know if my take on it is actually correct since it's based on my experience and not actual studies.

[wereMole]

Watching porn motivates me (no shit)

I wonder how that reflects in your hot spicy maps.

[Teh Frog]

So, I finished it.

[Stormy]

and?

[Teh Frog]

and?

Apparently everyone here hates it meanwhile everyone on the Steam Community and Gamebanana love it.
Most people here like to bitch about maps while having nothing to show for themselves. I took two people's advice because they knew their shit. Everyone else just made careless trash-talk without actually playing the map or providing any sort of viable feedback as to what I may be able to change to better it.
>Layout is fun (What really matters about the map).
>Blocky, but it's a warehouse / industrial area ("OH EM GEE WAI IS DER LIEK CRATES EVRYWHUURRR?" -Everyone who has never made a map here. -Because It's a warehouse.)
>Lighting isn't as dark in-game as in the screenshots (I'm a moron and forgot to up my screen brightness to the normal setting I playtested the map at.)
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... 1387664368

[SM Sith Lord]

I've never played your map, but after looking at the screenshots it looks like a good layout; not too many corners to watch, low clutter so you don't get distracted, no overly dark areas. It does not look like eye candy though in any way. I would compare its look to de_season.

Also, you should appreciate the flames that you receive as feedback here. GameBanana and the workshop is where you go to get feedback like "Zomg the best map evar u is genius!", while at Interlopers you'll probably have somebody point out something you did wrong or not receive any feedback at all. The 2nd kind is actually useful, even if it comes in the form of a flame.

Like the comment "OH EM GEE WAI IS DER LIEK CRATES EVRYWHUURRR?" is flame, but what you could get out of it is: maybe I need more variety in my prop selection. The next time you test you'll probably notice the creates a whole lot more. To mix things up you could add some forklifts, large pipes, or alter the world geometry somehow to give the same cover that the crates do in certain places. Also, since there really isn't any decor on the walls, it draws all of your attention to the floor, which is littered with crates.

If you add some more visual details to the walls, like electrical wires running along them, sparks, pipes, some non-standard lighting effects like a colored window or interesting shadow effects, it would really take some attention off of the warehouse full of boxes.

Good looking map as I said before hand, but there's my 2-cents for constructive criticism. The trick is extracting constructive criticism from what appears to be flame.

[Teh Frog]

I've never played your map, but after looking at the screenshots it looks like a good layout; not too many corners to watch, low clutter so you don't get distracted, no overly dark areas. It does not look like eye candy though in any way. I would compare its look to de_season.

Also, you should appreciate the flames that you receive as feedback here. GameBanana and the workshop is where you go to get feedback like "Zomg the best map evar u is genius!", while at Interlopers you'll probably have somebody point out something you did wrong or not receive any feedback at all. The 2nd kind is actually useful, even if it comes in the form of a flame.

Like the comment "OH EM GEE WAI IS DER LIEK CRATES EVRYWHUURRR?" is flame, but what you could get out of it is: maybe I need more variety in my prop selection. The next time you test you'll probably notice the creates a whole lot more. To mix things up you could add some forklifts, large pipes, or alter the world geometry somehow to give the same cover that the crates do in certain places. Also, since there really isn't any decor on the walls, it draws all of your attention to the floor, which is littered with crates.

If you add some more visual details to the walls, like electrical wires running along them, sparks, pipes, some non-standard lighting effects like a colored window or interesting shadow effects, it would really take some attention off of the warehouse full of boxes.

Good looking map as I said before hand, but there's my 2-cents for constructive criticism. The trick is extracting constructive criticism from what appears to be flame.

^^THIS. *applause* This is what I mean when I say constructive feedback. I award you 10 internets for your reply. (Not being sarcastic, at all. I sincerely liked reading your reply.)
You see, in this case in particular, the flame was a regurgitated form of what I discussed with that Paul fellow. I enjoyed his comments and took them in. Meanwhile people like that Erik guy pretty much regurgitated what he said in an obnoxious way whilst having nothing to show for themselves. In other words, just shitposting to shitpost. You and Paul, on the other hand, actually gave effort in how to better my future projects, which I enjoy. Thank you.

[ErikKiller]

Meanwhile people like that Erik guy pretty much regurgitated what he said in an obnoxious way whilst having nothing to show for themselves. In other words, just shitposting to shitpost. You and Paul, on the other hand, actually gave effort in how to better my future projects, which I enjoy. Thank you.

Because I'm not here to boost your ego, I'm pointing out your faults. Sure, I'm using a negative tone but that's because I rarely say anything positive. I get it that it's rough and might steer you away from mapping, my bad, that was not my intention. I'm just saying that instead of defending yourself put that effort into adding shine onto your map; I really didn't want to attack you, just your map. You just slightly ticked me off and that's why I turned the attack towards you. My fault and exactly why I try to avoid emotions, too messy.

Anyway, you're only starting and I applaud you on your bravery of already sharing your maps. I've yet to find my maps of the quality to dare share them. I wish you all the luck. Keep it up and I'm sure you'll eventually be at the quality of getting your maps officially into the game.

[PaulH]

Well look at that, it's a Christmas miracle

Seriously though Frog, everyone has their opinion and you'll find that on sites like Interlopers there's less back patting than other sites, but everyone generally means well. 2014's a whole new year for mapping so keep posting your stuff here and I'm sure people will be happy to keep feeding back on it.

[Teh Frog]

Meanwhile people like that Erik guy pretty much regurgitated what he said in an obnoxious way whilst having nothing to show for themselves. In other words, just shitposting to shitpost. You and Paul, on the other hand, actually gave effort in how to better my future projects, which I enjoy. Thank you.

Because I'm not here to boost your ego, I'm pointing out your faults. Sure, I'm using a negative tone but that's because I rarely say anything positive. I get it that it's rough and might steer you away from mapping, my bad, that was not my intention. I'm just saying that instead of defending yourself put that effort into adding shine onto your map; I really didn't want to attack you, just your map. You just slightly ticked me off and that's why I turned the attack towards you. My fault and exactly why I try to avoid emotions, too messy.

Anyway, you're only starting and I applaud you on your bravery of already sharing your maps. I've yet to find my maps of the quality to dare share them. I wish you all the luck. Keep it up and I'm sure you'll eventually be at the quality of getting your maps officially into the game.

Thank you for your honesty and apologies. I'm glad it could be sorted out. I saw what you were trying to do, but didn't like how you did it. I too apologize for the harshness in my responses. Water under the bridge, and all that stuff.