Fansite System

[xBleuWolfx]

So right now I've decided to put all the games that I've been doing on hold for now due to my current school/work schedule. But, I have decided to start a new project that should give me something to do in my free time that won't be as hard for me to do. This new project is a type of fansite where users can write fanfiction from different genres and upload them for others to read (and eventually users will be able to submit art too.) What do you guys think of this?

[Chris]

From my experience, when I start thinking about lack of time it is rarely the reason but more likely the reason is burnout. Starting a completely new project is such case rarely was the solution for me. Dunno if this is the same in your case, but usually we programmers tend to fall for the same illness

I would pursue the games path. You could make not a whole game, but one system only. Take all the code you have and put it together (online), check what is missing and add it. Do not think about the final game yet, just make all the basic work. It will be very useful once you find the "time" to make games. Or you can join a rapid "one week make a very small and simple game" competition with me (I'm more than eager to join some shortterm competition anytime ).

If you start something completely unrelated it will waterdown your motivation. You might fell like you are cheating. At least that's how would I feel in the situation described above

[Scion]

... all the games that I've been doing ....

that could be your problem right there.

Perhapes if you just focus on one game....even if its the smallest (or most complete) one....and work it through untill its complete. Or if thats a problem just focus on one component of that one....

burnout ( lack of motivation ) can often be directly attributed to lack of progress. If you find that you need the motivation of seeing something complette then a good aproach can be an XP bassed methodology. Each iteration should be achievable in a small amount of time, and at the end of an iteration you have a working something.....sure in the begining it wont do everything you want but it will do something.....and that can really help spur you along.

[xBleuWolfx]

... all the games that I've been doing ....

that could be your problem right there.

Perhapes if you just focus on one game....even if its the smallest (or most complete) one....and work it through untill its complete. Or if thats a problem just focus on one component of that one....

burnout ( lack of motivation ) can often be directly attributed to lack of progress. If you find that you need the motivation of seeing something complette then a good aproach can be an XP bassed methodology. Each iteration should be achievable in a small amount of time, and at the end of an iteration you have a working something.....sure in the begining it wont do everything you want but it will do something.....and that can really help spur you along.

It's not really a lack of motivation, its more of a lack knowledge of what to do. I don't really have much expertise on making games, but I have worked on Content Management Systems so I was going to incorporate some of that into the system. As for the games that I'm working on, I was actually only coding one by myself (that led nowhere quickly) and the other one was a project with a friend where I just worked on a layout and backstory, but my friend seems to have been stricken with "burnout" (he hasn't worked on it in about a month.)