I'm no new to blizzard game but sc2 is the first time i tried custom mapping. Learning the editor and doing trigger was such a blast. ( i literally forgot to sleep when the editor just came out :( But now was nearly two months, the beta is down, everything sc2 related is kind of inactive and i'm like sitting on my comp everyday doing everything but touching the editor, just waiting for something to happen. Now im stuck with a tons of idea going on that couldnt make it into any kind of map. Probably some kind of beta down syndrome... ( Such a great hype move from blizzard :(
So anyways, how do you guys get motivation for all kind of ambitious project going on ? ( I'm not working on a team, just independent with a few friend just to test things out when asked for)
I have to believe in what Im creating, see the end result, and know that it`ll be fun. Ive been having "beta down syndrome" as well, haven`t really focused on map editing. I just want to play the game!.
So really, nothing should be forced. Take your time, there is no rush. When you are editing in GE, make sure you are enjoying it;)
Hey Progammer, if your looking for some advice at how to start pushing yourself to start making maps then the best advice i have to say is to start on one of the smaller aspects of your map idea, and then slowly build up on that and add new materials. next thing you know you'll find yourself challenged to implement new material and to perfect it.
Well i do enjoy it, but there's just so many boring or repetitive things to at least make the map playable, like data editor or cosmetic design (which i suck). I do need some ladder game right now ...
Work on a project that is fun for you! Remake one of your favorite video games, etc. Aside from the fact that your map is going to be published to Battle.net, possibly uploaded for DL here, and could potentially be played by millions, you're doing it because you enjoy it.
it helps to work with someone on a project i think. not only is it grat to bounce back ideas, but your progress can be shown off and its easier to stay excited about it IMO.
gotto agree with ezbeats. I find motivation by readin the team forums and seeing the progress other team members are making, which is inspiring me to make as much progress as possible too.
I find motivation by improving. For instance, I'm working on a fan site (sorta) which I want to hold loads of unique artwork inspired from the Starcraft universe. To achieve this, I dedicate myself at learning and using some applications to create what I hope will turn out to be half-decent.
The process is enjoyable because with every new piece created, I find areas to improve upon, I learn how to read shapes better so my models are more believable. I invest steady amounts of efforts and things just keep getting prettier and nicer. My current avatar is a quick mothership I modeled weeks ago, based on the in-game model, and even then I can totally see how I'd do it in a different, more efficient way.
The cool thing about all this is throwing yourself at doing something you have no initial affinity with (other than passion) is it teaches you how to better appreciate and admire what people achieve with the same tools. My respect for Blizzard's artists went up a bit when I started looking more closely at their models and scenes. And that motivates me even further, just having this far, far, far away seal of quality I can aspire to. =)
Working on a project with others is hugely motivating. No one can stay motivated all the time for months on end. Don't be afraid to take a break for weeks at a time even. When you come back if your team have been working for that week you'll be stoked at the progress they've made and that will fuel you to push further too. You can work through while they recover from modding too.
You CAN'T stay motivated all the time. Just accept that as a fact, don't draw out periods of being unmotivated by trying to stay motivated the entire time. Rest up, take a breather, and after a bit of time go back at the project hard. Now's the perfect time to recouperate, beta's down, no way of sharing maps encrypted, no way to test multiplayer, just take a break. If you wake up one morning and have an urge to work on some functionality for your mod, do it, but if not don't stress. Stressing about not getting stuff done while you're burned out is the worste thing you can do. And if you're honest with yourself, sometimes you'll realize that the apathy you have towards your map means maybe it wasn't a good idea to begin with, maybe you just need to reimagine it and take it in a new direction that you're comfortable with.
It's different for everyone but I'll share how I personally get motivation. Pretty much it comes down to three things: Purpose, Process, and Personality.
Purpose
Why? Why are you making this map/project? What do you hope to achieve from doing this? These are obvious questions which we always ask ourselves and yet most of us don't even have a real answer. From all my years of making maps for SC1 I can confidently say that "I want to prove to myself that i can" doesn't cut it. For instance in school we do homework assignments because our teachers/professors require us to. If the homework is optional meaning that nobody is monitoring your progress, it requires much greater discipline to tell yourself to get it done. Well sure it's possible you can do anything without anyone telling you to but realize that if you lack motivation to make a map, you are not disciplined enough to monitor yourself.
Solution? Make a map not for yourself but for someone else, an "audience." Make it for b.net noobs, the sc2 map making community, your friends in real life, or better yet make it for Blizzard or map making competitions. Even "wowing" people is an absolutely great reason to make your map. The only sacrifice we must make is that we have to let our "audience" dictate what needs to go into the map. All of this we all should (hopefully) know but the next point is the hardest part.
Process
Yes we want to make that map, if my map is good enough I can probably get a girlfriend. Oh if we could just complete that map life would be great, but when we open that editor and start tinkering with a whole plethora of data and modules it's easy to lose a hold of yourself. Too much work, I don't know what to do next, too hard, etc. All of these can instantly desiccate you of any motivation and soon enough you'll find yourself dithering around in the Galaxy Editor. So what's the remedy? Well everyone has their own way of expounding regarding this impasse of map making but here's what keeps me motivated:
Rhythm - In the world of sports all athletes must find their rhythm or "click" in order to perform well. Same thing with map making. When you get your mindset into that of a machine operating in an assembly line you'll be getting work done in no time. Doing even the most perfunctory of tasks is all you'll need to get your juice flowing. But whatever you do, DO NOT STOP. As soon as you take a break, you lose that rhythm (you go cold in sports). Be optimistic when you see that your map screams tedium and meticulousness ;)
Point of concentration - Pretend your map/project is like a blank piece of paper. Hold that paper in your hand and look at it, your eyes are set on the paper as a whole. Now with a pencil or pen, draw a small dot in the middle and look at the paper again. Where are your eyes focused? The dot. When you look at a blank piece of paper it's hard for your eyes to concentrate on any given area/point but with a small dot your eyes now have something to focus on. Like with map making, you focus better when you concentrate on only one aspect/part of the map (and this greatly helps with the rhythm). But be careful that you do not jump ahead of yourself, which brings me to my next point:
Pace yourself - When working on my maps I may suddenly find that my mind starts veering into other aspects of the map (particularly after I've completed something). It's important to keep your head focused on one and only one thing at a time. This may actually require a little discipline on your part. We all (hopefully) love making maps so it's easy for us to get carried away and lose pace of yourself. We know all of this already but the question is can we carry it out?
Think small, act small. Sure you may have too many ideas to count all jumbled up in your head but that's what makes it too overwhelming for you to do... anything. Organize your ideas and plans so that you can deal with them in an orderly fashion.
Personality
Every person has two personalities: The Teller and the Doer. The teller is the voice inside your head. It tells u what to do, nags at you, and sometimes belittles or encourages you. The Doer self is the laborer, the one that follows The Teller self's commands; its the one that actually does everything. When you are working on your map, your Teller self would yell orders at you like, "Do the triggers for this, change the data fields for this unit, make the terrain for this part of the map, etc." This constant nagging will frustrate your Doer self and disrupt your rhythm, bogging you down. So the point is: ignore your teller self. Do everything with ease and don't stuff your head with your teller's annoying and irksome commands. Let your mind go and let the wind carry you.
I stay motivated for a project by setting a deadline for it and telling other people about that deadline. Sounds stressful, but it really is a strong motivator knowing that you have a physical end point set up. When you first start, you might underestimate the load you have and will have to move the deadline back, but by doing that you get a better understanding of how long anything you do will take and your deadlines will become more accurate. When you make your deadlines, its really empowering and encourages you to do more.
Keep the deadlines simple and usually pretty short. Usually I go with about 3 days or so to complete a specific task. Really you should try it.
I find my motivation on my projects directly related to how involved my friends are in helping work on them lol. Since my friends are all insisting on waiting for release before doing anymore work on our multiple projects, I've been left sitting on them without much motivation to do anything more. :(
A good way to remain motivated is to keep your map 'foldable'. I don't know how you'd really call it in English but it's a term in written communication where you make sure a text is complete and correct regardless of when the recipient stops reading. You do this by putting the basics in the first paragraph and then elaborating in increasing detail in the subsequent paragraphs.
So if you're making a TD, instead of first implementing 36 towers and then implementing 50 creeps, make a minimum baseline of towers and creeps and alternate both. This ensures that should you get bored or RL intervene you can easily wrap up the map and have something playable with minimum effort even if it may not be feature complete.
Having a way out, so to speak, means the work ahead is 'optional' rather than a wall of stuff you absolutely 100% have to get through.
......
Also, if there's something you're not sure how or whether to implement, figure it out first, especially if it may influence other content. If you decide to go from a 3rd person view to an isometric view, your map is probably way too big. Redoing work is a motivation killer.
Keep a to-do list and keep it as short as possible before you implement more content. If your map is foldable, more content isn't critical. But if you don't fix outstanding issues they'll just pile up until you think the map is done and you realise you have 20 days worth of fixing ahead of you. I made this mistake with Diablo 2 a number of times.
Lawl...
I don't find motivation. I get an idea, start out with all that excitement, realize how hard it's going to be to make it good, and suddenly delete it. :D
I was going to create a series of RPGs based off a storyline my friend used in his CaekRPG for SC1 (Which is still incomplete XD), but I realized to make it in the image I wanted, I'd have to code it.
So I'm currently trying to find a good way to learn C++ without going to college, and without monitoring the library catalog 24/7.
Just found this after searching for ways to make units do a barrel roll and a few stuff.
I have to say to be looking for motivation itself signifies the lack of eagerness towards what you must undertake. There are a couple of reasons why one needs motivation (in my experience):
a. the path ahead is so long, what one can muster isn't enough.
b. the reward is not equal to the seemingly daunting task required.
c. the objective is not clear enough.
d. exhaustion
There may be more, but I confess the reason behind needing motivation mostly is the lack of connection to the desired object, which in our case here, a project.
My advice are:
a. start small. Don't think about anything else but just that one thing. Then do whatever you feel like doing.
b. don't start anything, keep the thought without doing anything for it, about it, or regarding it.
c. find yourself. Be true to yourself, in what you want, why you want them, and if it makes sense.
d. Promote the idea. Some people are more suited to initiate an idea, express them, and rally people around the idea. While some have the skills and not have the rallying idea to keep them alive (or in our case, motivated) while doing the project.
Finally, and foremost, forget motivation and just be. It is important to remember that factors can either "ignite one's spirit" or "put it out". That inner drive to do just about what one feels like doing needs inspiration and to be inspired the heart/center/mind needs stimulation.
In terms of LoTR, throw the damn ring froddo! :D
I hope that helps, since I have and at times, still struggle with this. But now seem to find the proper way of handling ambition and passion when resources seem inadequate. ;)
Cheers!
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Whatever you do, wholeheartedly, moment by heartfelt moment, becomes a tool for the expression of your very soul.
sadly, i also kind of missed this post (atm my RL work is killing me.. seriously, no time for anything), but maybe a little advice if its still needed:
If you find yourself completely unmotivated, you most probably have manuevered to a point of no return.. this happened to me many many times in my warcraft 3 map projects (i had like 12 projects and only ended 3).. the most important thing for me (personally) is that you motivate yourself in 2 stages:
Stage 1: you start a project, size doesnt matter. now you start with what you think is the most basic point of your map, the thing that all other stuff will be dependant on.. for an RPG it might be a hero and item system as well as the special bit that will make the map unique.. and now, as soon as you see the system works great, you get a huge push in motivation.. you see that the most evil part, the part the whole project relied on, is done.. GREAT!!! but now, where to get motivation for the rest? time for stage 2
Stage 2: You have your core map with the basic features, now you need some gaming friends, some classmates, some guys from work, simply someone you trust and you know that they enjoy starcraft 2. Let them test the core funcionality.. for me, it nearly always ended with a "wow" or "awesome work".. and even though you might be a great mapmaker and you know the result of your project would be nice, hearing it from someone else is just so great, it ALWAYS carries me to the end of the project, no matter how much work is to be done..
Btw.:
i broke my own 2 stage rule and ended up doing a secret project noone on this forums and none of my friends knows about because the main idea might sound a bit odd.. buw i KNOW it works.. and even though i KNOW the map can be great.. i am in need of motivation.. which wouldnt be the case if i had some backup, someone telling me "wow.. great idea man, keep it up"..
I really hope my 1 month vacation in august will solve the problem :3
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I'm no new to blizzard game but sc2 is the first time i tried custom mapping. Learning the editor and doing trigger was such a blast. ( i literally forgot to sleep when the editor just came out :( But now was nearly two months, the beta is down, everything sc2 related is kind of inactive and i'm like sitting on my comp everyday doing everything but touching the editor, just waiting for something to happen. Now im stuck with a tons of idea going on that couldnt make it into any kind of map. Probably some kind of beta down syndrome... ( Such a great hype move from blizzard :(
So anyways, how do you guys get motivation for all kind of ambitious project going on ? ( I'm not working on a team, just independent with a few friend just to test things out when asked for)
@progammer: Go
I have to believe in what Im creating, see the end result, and know that it`ll be fun. Ive been having "beta down syndrome" as well, haven`t really focused on map editing. I just want to play the game!.
So really, nothing should be forced. Take your time, there is no rush. When you are editing in GE, make sure you are enjoying it;)
Hey Progammer, if your looking for some advice at how to start pushing yourself to start making maps then the best advice i have to say is to start on one of the smaller aspects of your map idea, and then slowly build up on that and add new materials. next thing you know you'll find yourself challenged to implement new material and to perfect it.
@EternalWraith:
Well i do enjoy it, but there's just so many boring or repetitive things to at least make the map playable, like data editor or cosmetic design (which i suck). I do need some ladder game right now ...
I Dont...
lol
@XYZMuffin: Go
By making whatever fits your imagination, lol it would be easier if you had a team to work with
Work on a project that is fun for you! Remake one of your favorite video games, etc. Aside from the fact that your map is going to be published to Battle.net, possibly uploaded for DL here, and could potentially be played by millions, you're doing it because you enjoy it.
it helps to work with someone on a project i think. not only is it grat to bounce back ideas, but your progress can be shown off and its easier to stay excited about it IMO.
gotto agree with ezbeats. I find motivation by readin the team forums and seeing the progress other team members are making, which is inspiring me to make as much progress as possible too.
I find motivation by improving. For instance, I'm working on a fan site (sorta) which I want to hold loads of unique artwork inspired from the Starcraft universe. To achieve this, I dedicate myself at learning and using some applications to create what I hope will turn out to be half-decent.
The process is enjoyable because with every new piece created, I find areas to improve upon, I learn how to read shapes better so my models are more believable. I invest steady amounts of efforts and things just keep getting prettier and nicer. My current avatar is a quick mothership I modeled weeks ago, based on the in-game model, and even then I can totally see how I'd do it in a different, more efficient way.
The cool thing about all this is throwing yourself at doing something you have no initial affinity with (other than passion) is it teaches you how to better appreciate and admire what people achieve with the same tools. My respect for Blizzard's artists went up a bit when I started looking more closely at their models and scenes. And that motivates me even further, just having this far, far, far away seal of quality I can aspire to. =)
I'll second what others have said.
Working on a project with others is hugely motivating. No one can stay motivated all the time for months on end. Don't be afraid to take a break for weeks at a time even. When you come back if your team have been working for that week you'll be stoked at the progress they've made and that will fuel you to push further too. You can work through while they recover from modding too.
You CAN'T stay motivated all the time. Just accept that as a fact, don't draw out periods of being unmotivated by trying to stay motivated the entire time. Rest up, take a breather, and after a bit of time go back at the project hard. Now's the perfect time to recouperate, beta's down, no way of sharing maps encrypted, no way to test multiplayer, just take a break. If you wake up one morning and have an urge to work on some functionality for your mod, do it, but if not don't stress. Stressing about not getting stuff done while you're burned out is the worste thing you can do. And if you're honest with yourself, sometimes you'll realize that the apathy you have towards your map means maybe it wasn't a good idea to begin with, maybe you just need to reimagine it and take it in a new direction that you're comfortable with.
It's different for everyone but I'll share how I personally get motivation. Pretty much it comes down to three things: Purpose, Process, and Personality.
Purpose
Why? Why are you making this map/project? What do you hope to achieve from doing this? These are obvious questions which we always ask ourselves and yet most of us don't even have a real answer. From all my years of making maps for SC1 I can confidently say that "I want to prove to myself that i can" doesn't cut it. For instance in school we do homework assignments because our teachers/professors require us to. If the homework is optional meaning that nobody is monitoring your progress, it requires much greater discipline to tell yourself to get it done. Well sure it's possible you can do anything without anyone telling you to but realize that if you lack motivation to make a map, you are not disciplined enough to monitor yourself.
Solution? Make a map not for yourself but for someone else, an "audience." Make it for b.net noobs, the sc2 map making community, your friends in real life, or better yet make it for Blizzard or map making competitions. Even "wowing" people is an absolutely great reason to make your map. The only sacrifice we must make is that we have to let our "audience" dictate what needs to go into the map. All of this we all should (hopefully) know but the next point is the hardest part.
Process
Yes we want to make that map, if my map is good enough I can probably get a girlfriend. Oh if we could just complete that map life would be great, but when we open that editor and start tinkering with a whole plethora of data and modules it's easy to lose a hold of yourself. Too much work, I don't know what to do next, too hard, etc. All of these can instantly desiccate you of any motivation and soon enough you'll find yourself dithering around in the Galaxy Editor. So what's the remedy? Well everyone has their own way of expounding regarding this impasse of map making but here's what keeps me motivated:
Think small, act small. Sure you may have too many ideas to count all jumbled up in your head but that's what makes it too overwhelming for you to do... anything. Organize your ideas and plans so that you can deal with them in an orderly fashion.
Personality
Every person has two personalities: The Teller and the Doer. The teller is the voice inside your head. It tells u what to do, nags at you, and sometimes belittles or encourages you. The Doer self is the laborer, the one that follows The Teller self's commands; its the one that actually does everything. When you are working on your map, your Teller self would yell orders at you like, "Do the triggers for this, change the data fields for this unit, make the terrain for this part of the map, etc." This constant nagging will frustrate your Doer self and disrupt your rhythm, bogging you down. So the point is: ignore your teller self. Do everything with ease and don't stuff your head with your teller's annoying and irksome commands. Let your mind go and let the wind carry you.
Don't think, just feel.
I stay motivated for a project by setting a deadline for it and telling other people about that deadline. Sounds stressful, but it really is a strong motivator knowing that you have a physical end point set up. When you first start, you might underestimate the load you have and will have to move the deadline back, but by doing that you get a better understanding of how long anything you do will take and your deadlines will become more accurate. When you make your deadlines, its really empowering and encourages you to do more.
Keep the deadlines simple and usually pretty short. Usually I go with about 3 days or so to complete a specific task. Really you should try it.
I find my motivation on my projects directly related to how involved my friends are in helping work on them lol. Since my friends are all insisting on waiting for release before doing anymore work on our multiple projects, I've been left sitting on them without much motivation to do anything more. :(
A good way to remain motivated is to keep your map 'foldable'. I don't know how you'd really call it in English but it's a term in written communication where you make sure a text is complete and correct regardless of when the recipient stops reading. You do this by putting the basics in the first paragraph and then elaborating in increasing detail in the subsequent paragraphs.
So if you're making a TD, instead of first implementing 36 towers and then implementing 50 creeps, make a minimum baseline of towers and creeps and alternate both. This ensures that should you get bored or RL intervene you can easily wrap up the map and have something playable with minimum effort even if it may not be feature complete.
Having a way out, so to speak, means the work ahead is 'optional' rather than a wall of stuff you absolutely 100% have to get through.
......
Also, if there's something you're not sure how or whether to implement, figure it out first, especially if it may influence other content. If you decide to go from a 3rd person view to an isometric view, your map is probably way too big. Redoing work is a motivation killer.
Keep a to-do list and keep it as short as possible before you implement more content. If your map is foldable, more content isn't critical. But if you don't fix outstanding issues they'll just pile up until you think the map is done and you realise you have 20 days worth of fixing ahead of you. I made this mistake with Diablo 2 a number of times.
Thanks all for the good input, what a great community we are ;) (especially MillenniumArmy)
Anyway I guess i would still take this break until beta came back and then figured out a team to work together then.
Just found this after searching for ways to make units do a barrel roll and a few stuff.
I have to say to be looking for motivation itself signifies the lack of eagerness towards what you must undertake. There are a couple of reasons why one needs motivation (in my experience):
a. the path ahead is so long, what one can muster isn't enough. b. the reward is not equal to the seemingly daunting task required. c. the objective is not clear enough. d. exhaustion
There may be more, but I confess the reason behind needing motivation mostly is the lack of connection to the desired object, which in our case here, a project.
My advice are:
a. start small. Don't think about anything else but just that one thing. Then do whatever you feel like doing. b. don't start anything, keep the thought without doing anything for it, about it, or regarding it. c. find yourself. Be true to yourself, in what you want, why you want them, and if it makes sense. d. Promote the idea. Some people are more suited to initiate an idea, express them, and rally people around the idea. While some have the skills and not have the rallying idea to keep them alive (or in our case, motivated) while doing the project.
Finally, and foremost, forget motivation and just be. It is important to remember that factors can either "ignite one's spirit" or "put it out". That inner drive to do just about what one feels like doing needs inspiration and to be inspired the heart/center/mind needs stimulation.
In terms of LoTR, throw the damn ring froddo! :D
I hope that helps, since I have and at times, still struggle with this. But now seem to find the proper way of handling ambition and passion when resources seem inadequate. ;)
Cheers!
Whatever you do, wholeheartedly, moment by heartfelt moment, becomes a tool for the expression of your very soul.
Ah well. I cant find help that I need so I am not so much motivated...
sadly, i also kind of missed this post (atm my RL work is killing me.. seriously, no time for anything), but maybe a little advice if its still needed:
If you find yourself completely unmotivated, you most probably have manuevered to a point of no return.. this happened to me many many times in my warcraft 3 map projects (i had like 12 projects and only ended 3).. the most important thing for me (personally) is that you motivate yourself in 2 stages:
Stage 1: you start a project, size doesnt matter. now you start with what you think is the most basic point of your map, the thing that all other stuff will be dependant on.. for an RPG it might be a hero and item system as well as the special bit that will make the map unique.. and now, as soon as you see the system works great, you get a huge push in motivation.. you see that the most evil part, the part the whole project relied on, is done.. GREAT!!! but now, where to get motivation for the rest? time for stage 2
Stage 2: You have your core map with the basic features, now you need some gaming friends, some classmates, some guys from work, simply someone you trust and you know that they enjoy starcraft 2. Let them test the core funcionality.. for me, it nearly always ended with a "wow" or "awesome work".. and even though you might be a great mapmaker and you know the result of your project would be nice, hearing it from someone else is just so great, it ALWAYS carries me to the end of the project, no matter how much work is to be done..
Btw.: i broke my own 2 stage rule and ended up doing a secret project noone on this forums and none of my friends knows about because the main idea might sound a bit odd.. buw i KNOW it works.. and even though i KNOW the map can be great.. i am in need of motivation.. which wouldnt be the case if i had some backup, someone telling me "wow.. great idea man, keep it up"..
I really hope my 1 month vacation in august will solve the problem :3