Finding Greatness Slowly: Harsh Lessons of a Long Term Creative Project

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Finding Greatness Slowly

HelloWorld();

I’m Peter – Indie Game Developer aka

@theFuntastic

HelloWorld();

Finding Greatness Slowly

Cadence is without doubt the most difficult challenge I’ve ever undertaken.

It’s kicked my ass (numerous times), made me doubt myself (repeatedly), and most importantly made me a better person.

Life Before Cadence

- Music industry (5yrs)- Advertising (2.5yrs that felt like 5 yrs)

Life Before Cadence

So I quit to follow my dreams. (and save my

soul)

Glorious Productivity!

THE PLAN:• Read EVERYTHING!• Make ALL THE GAMES! • Post smug pics of early afternoons on the beach!

Glorious Productivity!

Right?

Glorious Productivity!

Right? ...Seriously?

Turns out the box is kinda important

My New Self Awareness

Free time gave me the opportunity to get to know myself better.

My New Self Awareness

• I am an emotional creature.

My New Self Awareness

• I am an emotional creature.• Happiness is important if you’re hoping to be

creatively productive.

My New Self Awareness

• I am an emotional creature.• Happiness is important if you’re hoping to be

creatively productive. • I am a perfectionist.

My New Self Awareness

• I am an emotional creature.• Happiness is important if you’re hoping to be

creatively productive. • I am a perfectionist. And a procrastinator.

My New Self Awareness

• I am an emotional creature.• Happiness is important if you’re hoping to be

creatively productive. • I am a perfectionist. And a procrastinator. And

usually an anxious bundle of stress.

Productivity vs Defences

Productivity, Procrastination and Anxiety are all defence mechanisms protecting you from:

“failure”

A Wild Cadence Appears!

Genesis of Ideas

“I came up with the idea of Cadence by watching Paranormal Activity”

- Pretentious Video Game Developer

Connecting the Dots

Dreams about love > 3D low poly art > the limits of my productivity > PARANORMAL ACTIVITY > a smaller game about science experiments > Focusing on one of those experiments > CADENCE!

Building a game in 48hrs

Game Jams|Hackathons = The missing box (aka

constraints).

I finally have an Idea!

THE PLAN:• Spend 6 months adding levels and polish.

• Get it out there• ??????• Profit.

I finally have an Idea!

Right?

I finally have an Idea!

Right? ...Seriously?

Things take (much) time!

Productivity: The Data

5 years of rescue time stats

Productivity: The Data

My productivity hovers consistently around 70%

That means the average week is only made up of 28Hrs!

Finding Greatness Slowly

Like laying down one thread of tiny silk at a time

Finding Greatness Slowly

Made me less critical of myself

Finding Greatness Slowly

No productivity hack will save you from the influence of your environment.

Finding Greatness Slowly

I realised the reason following your dreams is so difficult because it’s a great way to invite failure out for dinner.

“Failure”

“Failure”

Failure is feedback. - even if you aren’t sure what it means

Thank you.

Please donate some noodles!www.noodlestarter.com