Being creative when no-one cares

[mr p]

Hey guys!
I guess this a silly subject compared to most other posts here, but it's been making me feel depressed lately.
So.
I'm a pretty creative person, I've always had projects making computer software/games/etc. and I've always been pretty humble about it, I never "released" anything to anyone or stuff like that, always kept it to myself. I did it because I love programming.
But now I've got a wish to become an independent game developer; to come up with ideas and to execute them. Ideas that turn into fun games that I can polish and let people play.
I'm really excited about this--I'd love if other people were playing my games, to get feedback, improvement suggestions and all that, maybe get some followers. It'd be great, and I already have a couple of game ideas and a way of implementing them.
But what's the problem, then? Ok, so this is what's making me depressed; no-one cares about my projects. No-one even tries to make it seem like they care. When I talk to people, it's always me asking them about their projects, asking leading questions and all that. Holding up the conversation. When I say something about a project of mine, they might say "that's nice", tops. At worst, they laugh. Not out of spite, but, yeah. They're obviously not interested at all, and that hurts. I didn't care before, but with my new goal of becoming an Indie, I need people to be interested, to want to try my games!
Why is it like this? Is it something wrong with me, how I represent my ideas, or am I simply uninteresting?

 

[Avengard]

Sounds interesting to me. With your problem, I think maybe you are just talking to the wrong people, or maybe you first need something you can actually show them, like a website or trial game.

What's an Indie?

 

[mr p]

Sounds interesting to me. With your problem, I think maybe you are just talking to the wrong people, or maybe you first need something you can actually show them, like a website or trial game.

What's an Indie?

Thanks for your reply!
These people are friends I've known for years, which is what's hurting. They never start conversations, never ask what's up. Why are people like that? Why am I not like that? Gah. I don't like where I am.
But yeah, you might be right. Maybe I need to make something they can try. Wonder if they'd try...
Anyway. Before I can do anything I need to get rid of these depressing feelings.

'Indie' is just short for independent Or for someone that likes indie pop, heh.

 

[VanillaCreme]

I would like to try some out. I think that's awesome. And I agree with Avengard. You may be talking to the wrong people. There are tons of people who would be interested in what you do, and who also do it themselves. You just have to find the right type of people.

 

[Lonesome Crow]

It's not that uncommon to feel what you feel.
Try attending AA or NA meetings...people are so caugth up in thier own BS..
they don't really hear what you''re saying.

It was that same with some software I was working on.
Only some people started contacting for informations because they took the time
to looked into it..then they actaully knows whats up and really wanted the honeysuckle I created.

It's the same with my music. Michelle is disappionted in me that I won't persuit my music career.
Something about squandering my god giving talent. I being selffish and keeping it all to myself and not
sharing it with the world.
Ok...I think I'm very talented in bed. I wanted to go share myself with the world and not squander my god given talent
I'm AKA..Mr. Pornstar.lmao

Tracy is an amazing singer. She has a vioce of an angel. She sounds better than some pros.
Her singing sooth my soul that's how good she is.
Most people dosn't know she can even sing.

Anywho...just keep putting yourself out there. Probably a couple thousand times
more of rejections and what not.
Think of it like this..How much do you really want your dream to come true?
You gatta, gatta really want it..no mater what other approve of it or not.

 

[Nina]

mr. P,
Maybe try putting it out to the companies that manufacture. You might end with a lot more than friendly approval!
Like Mr. Pornstar, up above said, friends sometimes get so caught up in their own lives they overlook us. YOU run deeper and truer than many of them and work that way in life. Also, you have to take into consideration the fact that some friends actually become very jealous when one does something very gifted and sometimes they ignor or downplay the accomplishment....May not be the case with your friends but I've seen it happen enough to know it certainly isn't uncommon.

Keep going and having faith in yourself. That's where the talent is. If you know it's good. It's GOOD! Here's a good venue to work in. Get to know a few gamers and who knows where it can lead.

 

[Avengard]

Ah Indie Independent, I like it.

Maybe they are just insensitive folk and you need to meet some new friends, ones who really care about you.

Try to keep focusing on your work and the things you love doing. Aim at meeting new like-minded people with common interests. If you are unhappy where you are, take a step forward in the direction you want to be.

I'm sure plenty of peeps out there will be interested.

So why don't you tell us here about one of the projects you're working on?

 

[Banhurt]

You should consider starting a blog about whatever you create. And if you do, make sure to PM the link. I'm an indie game developer, too.

 

[Peaches]

Same here for many years it was very clear I was crap at selling my things, then I just needed to change setting, and to find one where others also were crap at selling themselves.

Wish you to find the "ones" (for work) - looking forward to see your website

 

[Brian]

I think it's probably a combination of the following:

-Talking to the wrong crowd
-Presenting poorly
-Lack of 'presence'; if you have something to show and a bit of infrastructure built -for- showing it, you will do better.


Firstly, the more of a nerd someone is, the more they're interested in indie games. Your average Halo fan is basically just concerned with Halo.

Secondly, it might help to have a website for your productions. Look at www.bay12games.com for a good example...and while we're there, take a look at Dwarf Fortress.

..Which brings me to my third point: Indie games have to be really unique and innovative, because -that- is where they will attract an audience of people bored with your average production title. They also require a great deal of time and dedication to attract that audience.

Dwarf Fortress has taken 4 years just to get where it is now. But it's truly great. I donated to his project, actually. Donated the price of a full game, to a project still in the Alpha stage, when I don't even buy big name titles anymore. -Thats- how awesome Dwarf Fortress is. If you can replicate that success, you'll make it in the indie world.

 

[Minus]

... so this is what's making me depressed; no-one cares about my projects. No-one even tries to make it seem like they care. When I talk to people, it's always me asking them about their projects, asking leading questions and all that....

I know nothing about gaming so this is rather worthless, but i tend to agree with those that are saying that you are talking to the wrong people. It sounds like they are working on the projects that interest them. Wouldn't the players be the ones that you need to have interested in your games, not developers?

 

[mr p]

Thanks guys for all the replies! They made me feel a lot better--it's easier to ignore other people being negative when you know you're working towards your dream! I think I need to find people doing the same stuff; people I can discuss with.
Banhurt and Brian: thanks for the technical answers, those are things I can improve. I've already got a blog, but I hardly write anything--I guess that's one thing I can do better, my Internet presence kind of sucks, heh.

So what am I going to do now? Learn more about gameplay and what makes a game fun. I'm also going to build an infrastructure by developing small, simple and humble games where I can do a lot of polishing and try out ideas. I'm learning how to do my own pixel art (it's fun!) and music (also fun!), which I'll use in the games. I'm not motivated by money at this point, it's more for the fun of making and learning.

Thanks again for the support

---

I know nothing about gaming so this is rather worthless, but i tend to agree with those that are saying that you are talking to the wrong people. It sounds like they are working on the projects that interest them. Wouldn't the players be the ones that you need to have interested in your games, not developers?

Yeah maybe I'm talking to the wrong people, but developers can be players, too! Though these people are probably, as Brian said, only interested in the 'halo' kind of games. Casual/simpler games are not interesting. As one friend said; "The graphics card has to be boiling for a game to be fun!", heh. I just think friends should be a little interested in each other's lives, that's all.

 

[Asterli]

You don't have to care about how people think about your ideas. I also had trouble with publishing my writings but I came to a point where I couldn't keep it for myself anymore.

Keep believing in your love for programming and maybe step by step you come up with a good idea and people will respect you for that.

I wish you all the luck with that!

 

[Nina]

mr. p--
Reading this post made my day. You sound like you're going to really hit this project running! I loved all the good advice too. A LOT of really bright and encouraging folks hang-out here and it always makes me smile to see them jump into action with their words. Best of luck in your business and please keep us posted on your progress!

 

[Zak]

dude, I would totally try out your games and will give my honest feedback. Go for it.

 

[Lawrens]

Sometimes people around you wouldn't care much, I know a few artists that draws and paints really really well, but none of his family and friends has any feedbacks whatsoever, no one seem to care, but when he uploads his work on professional websites, he gets a lot of good feedbacks, it has to do with the demographic and who you present it to, strangers will most likely be less biased because they don't already know you.

My advice is that if you do have a project, it's better to show them to a demographic that will actually care, like artists, indie developers, gamers, people with the same interests as you.

Don't let people discourage you.

 

[mr p]

Lawrens, thanks! I guess that means I'm not the only one experiencing this.

Some of you expressed interest in trying my stuff out/reading about my progress/etc, which is fabulous! It increased my motivation.
I'm going to work some more on my first project until I have something worthy of being screenshotted; something I can show in my first blog post on this topic--a post I'll be writing in a couple of days. After that, I'm going to update the blog at least once per week. Sounds alright? Is once per week too little to keep your interest?
Hm, this might be off-topic in this thread. Maybe I should start another thread here somewhere?

You should consider starting a blog about whatever you create. And if you do, make sure to PM the link. I'm an indie game developer, too.

Oh cool, I'll sure do

dude, I would totally try out your games and will give my honest feedback. Go for it.

Great I probably need a lot of that honest feedback to learn what makes a game fun.

 

[Zak]

Just let me know when you are done