Lazy or Lack of Ambition?

I've been thinking about my life and, for a while I wanted to be a video game designer and even spent 4-5 years typing up the game characters, weapons, spells etc. but then somewhere in the midst of that, I stopped and gave up to just be an airplane mechanic or some kind of engineer. You guys think I'm just lazy or just no ambition/low self-esteem(I had thoughts that I wouldn't have enough funds or it'll take to long for me to put it together or the game will fail)?

Lazy? Heavens no. You spent friggin 4-5 years on a project; I wouldn't call that lazy.

No ambition/low self-esteem. No, I don't think you lack ambition considering you spent these years on creating this game. Low self-esteem I wouldn't know of. I'd call it realistic, but that's just me. I'm not much of a dreamer, and having these thoughts about not having money and that it would fail, would not be that out of line for me - but I don't call that low self-esteem.

My guess is that you hit a road block after all these years. Maybe had enough of the project, because lets face it; 4-5 years is a long time.

Eh, don't know what more to say other than to not let that time go to waste and look around if someone is interested in the game.

Very few people actually pursue their dreams... I think most people feel like they have to pursue more standardized professions, and that a good education is the cornerstone of every successful person.

If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say its because people feel like pursuing their dreams is a gamble, and while that may be something they would love to do they are afraid that it won't pay off. This isn't necessarily a bad fear to have though... because unfortunately the truth is there isn't enough room in the world for everyone to do what they want to do.

In your case I think maybe you felt like you were burning out, or maybe you had just spent so long working on your game with no results. But only you can really say if that was time spent in vain, or if you think that part of who you are still has potential.

I don't think it has anything to do with you being lazy though - just a combination of uncertainty and lack of motivation (especially regarding becoming a mechanic/engineer, you don't sound thrilled about that). The concept of 'lazy' in of itself is generally a misconception. People rarely ever just decide not to do things for no reason at all. It is always an issue of motivation. The issue becomes one of being lazy when someone else judges your lack of interest and motivation against their own values and decides that you are being lazy.

What all of that really means is that the concept of being lazy is a judgment imposed on you by other people. Regardless of what anyone else thinks, you should still try to do what you want to do and try to look past other people's expectations. If you truly feel like you can't succeed as a game designer, that's still something to think about, but don't become an engineer just because that's what everyone else thinks you should do.

Actually, I decided on engineer myself. Everyone else wanted me to be a doctor :x



Thanks you guys. I might go for that game thing but....it'll definitely be when I have enough financial backing to keep me afloat or if I'm making enough to try for it. I still have to contemplate some things though.

I agree with the winking avatar guy. ^_^

We're like to pees in a pod-- you an me. I have dozens of books on Egypt, Greece, Rome, etc and somewhere in the midst of high school I decided politics is more convenient than being an Archeologist. I don't know what really changed.

I've always called myself a thinker and not a do-er; I lack initiative. Not that you lack initiative, too, but it doesn't have to be either/or.

*Gasp* Did I just receive a new nickname?

What does it mean to be a designer of video games? More than having certain degrees or certificates from a college, it means you have good ideas and manage to get them out there or convince other people to take a chance on them. Being an engineer or mechanic doesn't mean you couldn't also or later be a video game designer. It's a difficult field because so many people want to do it and there is a lot of money at stake, but there is no reason why any person doesn't have some chance to become a video game designer, no matter what they studied. There are lots of people in the history of creative fields who started from weird places or did other things. Charles Ives was an insurance agent by day and a composer by night. Quentin Tarantino worked as a clerk at a video store.

It's not easy and there is no guarantee you will succeed, but I believe its worth trying all your life to do what you love and be the best at it that you can be. Even if you never make it big time, you spend your time doing what you love. I'm a musician, and the odds of me ever being a successful professional performer are very low, but I don't play music because I only derive enjoyment from success the recognition of others or being on stage in front of people playing. I love playing music, and that's that. If you love game design in the same way, then the creation is its own reward, regardless of commercial success.

If you want to break out, I think the best way in game design is to look at the world around you and ask yourself what is not being done in gaming that should be. Where is the untapped potential? How can you add something unique to gaming? There is nothing wrong with balancing hundreds of classes and spells, but that's usually just tinkering with what has been there already. The great visionary game designers have added generally significant new ideas and directions to gaming. The small ones who create buzz often do the same. Crayon Physics was a tiny project that in all likelihood has opened up a lot of game design possibilities for its designer because it showed people gaming in a way that they hadn't previously thought of it. Have a vision, have confidence in it, and put it out there.

On an encouraging note, gaming company Wizards of the Coast has repeatedly said that mathematics and understanding logical systems are important skills for game designers, and as an engineer, those would be expected areas of strength for you.

The way the game industry works is that publishers always get the last say unless you are an independent game developer.

You often dont choose your starting job.Often you start as a tester.A job where you play the same level a thousand times to check for bugs/glitches.

You also need coding knowledge and logic.Its not something you learn overnight

Even if you have a unique idea,its difficult to convince the publishers to just go okay here is money,go make your game.Since they hold the money,they are extra paranoid and skeptical.

My lecturer told me of a story of a game that a certain developer made that was fun as hell,but it was also gory as hell too,in the end they scrapped the project.

The standard game development cycle goes
Brainstorm of an idea
Checked with publishers
Work on a demo to further convince
publishers decide whether or not to fund your game or tell you to go make another game
if its given green light.You scrap all the demo code and start from scratch.All game projects have milestones,if not meet you arent paid.These are all checked by the publishing side.
From there you go from alpha to beta to gold in terms of game stages.Once gold,your game is official out of your hands and the testers check for bugs which your team rush to fix.
Then the publisher sells/promote the game.

Note that they can pull the plug on you at any given time.

Being an Indie game developer is easier,but you need funds if your game needs licensing to purchase a game engine etc.

I don't think your lazy or have a lack of ambition!
I too have come int o the same predicament lately!I worked on a story for 4 years, character design, plot, cities...Everything. Out of nowhere i just stopped working on it...

Now I'm thinking about just working a normal Desk job...

sometimes we have to forgo our dreams under circumstances for the bigger picture

It ultimately depends on you.Working on a game is not the easiest nor is it the most profitable job in the world.

BTW i have a certificate in Mechanical engineering and taking a diploma in Game and Entertainment Technology.I guess we are similar no?lol

I think you just need motivation