The theme is awful! Everything is ruined forever!

Is that you, each time you remember what the results of the past voting rounds were?

Why are you doing this to meeeee ;__;

If so, here is a surprise for you: Your attitude is severely limiting your ability to come up with good ideas. It is much easier to have ideas when you are positive, motivated and actually give the theme a shot. If the theme is already hard for you and all you think about is “this is awful, people are stupid for voting on this” you sure aren’t making your life easier.

“But Tobias”, you say, “the theme is too limiting. Everyone will come up with the same game.” Yeah, and you probably said that everyone will do a WarioWare type of game for “10 seconds”. And how many of those did we have again? I played a hundred games and I only remember 2 of those – and a LOT of other really creative, fun and diverse games.

“But the theme is simply AWFUL. Nobody can come up with anything good for this!” Sure, except all the hundreds of people who didn’t chicken out when their favourite theme wasn’t chosen.

This is you, not even trying to jump into the water of new experiences.

So maybe this time, instead of dropping out immediately or thinking half-heartedly about the theme for half an hour to prove to yourself that you can’t come up with anything – try to keep an open mind. Maybe it won’t help, but at least this time you actually tried. And who knows, maybe you’ll come up with your best game idea yet by leaving your comfort zone! Of one thing I am sure though: You’ll become a better game designer in the process.

P.S.: And please, stop making posts complaining that people are stupid for voting in a way you don’t like. You are not a victim, so stop behaving like one.

P.P.S.: Yeah, there are themes I don’t like either. Lots of them. And I am awful at coming up with ideas. But I am trying to improve. How about you?

Tags: animated gif, motivation, rant, tips

Comments

23. Apr 2014 · 21:53 UTC
Though, this “democratic” way of choosing theme is the bets solution. I’m not sure that choosing randomly after slaughtering may be a better solution. :/
Liens
23. Apr 2014 · 23:57 UTC
Many good points here, I agree that it will definitely make you a better game designer. And that’s as good of a reason to participate as any.
25. Apr 2014 · 19:47 UTC
Every theme is awesome. Why? Take your favorite game and turn it into a ‘crappy theme’.
25. Apr 2014 · 20:31 UTC
I’d just like to say I was the 42nd person to heart this. This is important.