Why Use
Before I extol quitting, I would like to offer hard work and effort my fair share of compliments.You wont be able to create the game that you desire if you dont work hard to improve.
To make the best possible game, you must set aside time to let your creativity flow. You also need to do the hard work and receive tough feedback. This means that you have to work hard.Its also worth pushing small projects through their entire lifecycle, even if you are new to boardgame design.
It doesnt have to be perfect, and it shouldnt take you forever. You can just work your way through it and learn what it takes to make a boardgame. This will allow you to quickly gather a lot of information that you can use for your future projects.
Read Blog: Video Game Design: The History of AI
Why Quit
Its a bit of heresy to say that "you should give up your passion project." Its easy to glorify the pain involved in an artistic endeavor in our workaholic culture.However, I do not think this makes sense.
Even if you are making money, creative projects should be enjoyable or at the very least meaningful.It is important to note that I do not mean "quit board gaming design" but "quit working on one particular game." If you find board game designing boring, then you should not quit. In which case you should. There are many joyless tasks that can make you much more!One of my teachers once said to me, "Quantity is often the fastest way to quality." It was the most profound piece of advice I had ever heard.
Growing up, I was taught that you must finish what you started and that if you want your work to be noticed, you need to put in extra effort.But creativity is a funny thing. Sometimes, great ideas can pop up while youre driving or showering. Sometimes great ideas can become stuck in your head for years and then fail to materialize once they are put down on paper.
The problem is that you wont know if an idea is great until you actually try to implement it.Its not worth trying to force an idea you dont like or that isnt your passion. While there is something to be said about a strong work ethic, its equally important to choose your battles. It is hard to find the right balance, and many creatives tend to lean too heavily into the latter category.This goal is more durable than others: Focus on your goal of becoming a board-game designer.
Focus on creating a board game. The first gives you the opportunity to create an identity that you are proud of. The latter ties your self-worth to the completion of a project that may be necessary.
When to Stop
With all of this in mind, heres a list of three golden signs to help you decide when to scrap a design.Most of the time, youre exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally.This point was taken from an article about when you should quit your job.
Burnout is when you feel physical, emotionally, and/or mentally exhausted. Burnout is not something to joke about, I can attest.You dont have to feel like garbage every day because there is no game design.
Dont let a design project make you feel miserable and in pain.
It is a nightmare to work on your design.Burnout does not happen overnight. Burnout sneaks up on us and warns us.
It will make you dread designing.Lets face it, there are parts of game design that can be very tedious. For example, accessibility testing or playtesting. Tedium is fine, but it is not okay to dread working on your design.
You should take a week off if you are dreading the project for more then a few weeks. If you feel exhausted, it may be time to change gears.
It doesnt matter what the fundamental idea or experience behind your game is.Sometimes, game ideas are more appealing when they are in our heads.
You should feel some excitement when you write down an idea. You should feel at least some satisfaction.If you have an idea and then you dont feel it, you can ask this question: "Do I care about the basic concept of the game?" Do I care about the core concept of the game?If you dont know the answer, you might be better off looking for another game idea.
Theres a good chance your final product will reflect your passion for the idea.
Final Thoughts
Quitting isnt something to be ashamed of. Sometimes, it can be a step in the right direction on a long creative journey.Do not focus on creating a particular board game, but on your goal to become a board games designer.
This is a better goal for the future, more self-worth, and allows you to create the best art possible.
