Finishing my first game while working full-time (jasont.co)

Article summary

The article discusses how to finish a game development project while working full-time, highlighting the importance of planning, productivity, and intrinsic motivation. The author shares their personal experience of completing their first game, Pocket Pong AR, and the skills they learned along the way. The article emphasizes the need to scope projects correctly, break work into bite-sized tasks, and find joy in the development process. By doing so, developers can make consistent progress and eventually complete their projects.

Main themes

• game development
• productivity
• intrinsic motivation
• time management
• work-life balance
• project planning

What commenters say

• Finishing personal projects is often hindered by perfectionism and the inability to declare a project complete.
• Having a clear goal and plan is crucial for completing a project, but some argue that planning can be counterproductive.
• Working on a side project while having a full-time job can be exhausting and may require sacrificing other aspects of life.
• Finding intrinsic motivation and joy in the development process is essential for making progress on a project.
• Automating tasks and optimizing work hours can help free up time for personal projects, but this may not always be possible or effective.
• Some argue that the key to having more time for personal projects is to reduce work hours or increase income, rather than trying to optimize existing time.
• Having a sustainable routine and taking care of oneself is vital for making progress on a project without burning out.
• The amount of free time available for personal projects is often limited, and weekends may not provide as much extra time as expected.