r/GameDevelopment • u/Significant_Many3722 • 1d ago
Newbie Question Help
Hello, im 16 just getting interested in game dev. i made another post on tips to get started so maybe visit that and share some of your ideas. But the significance of this post is to discuss how to manage my time.
I have school from 8 - 5:45
and around 2 - 3 hours of equivalence homework everyday
Is there anyway for me to do at least a bit of gamedev each day or do i do it only on weekends?
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u/meowsaygames 1d ago
Work around your schedule. Use 9 PM to 10 or 11 PM for game design or development. Making games needs long, uninterrupted focus. So I suggest picking one single task for those one or two evening hours. For example, flesh out the details of a gameplay mechanic, or code the logic for a specific module. That way you can make steady progress little by little every day.
Also, you’d better have a high-level project plan. Break big work into smaller tasks, and make sure each task only takes 1–2 hours. This guarantees you can move forward every single day.
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u/AltusLudus 1d ago
What kind of school is that?
Work whenever you can as much as you can, a minimum of 15 minutes, it compounds
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u/Altruistic_Exit7947 1d ago
I'll give you advice that won't solve anything but should help in a long run.
Less reddit posts, more solving problems. Game dev like any other engineering domain is about solving your own problems, not searching them online. Practice independent thinking and self-sufficiency. Don't ask us how.. figure it out.
You have to want sitting for hours, and answering your own questions. Not just the outcomes of making game. Nobody can help you. Its not a question about lacking resources or finding path. Its about making it do.. so make do. Many people make noise when they are starting.. How do i do... where do i.... None of them rly stays in it later. You can't start on your own and have people tell you..
Develop problem oriented mindset (that's what math is for btw). Time management is valuable skill, and you are about to develop one. Just don't burn yourself out of it in the process ok? Take small steps, and you'll start learning once novelty hype wears off.
Since you are starting young, make habbit out of notes. If you see aspect of game, a mechanic, or interesting use of something.. make notes. Describe them how they work, what is interesting about this idea, when they don't work.. ect. If you'll start doing now it will compound over a lifetime. Making stuff is half of the battle, knowing when and how stuff works in creating entertainment is other one.
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u/Significant_Many3722 1d ago
oh, thanks for the advice. Didnt rlly know where to start since i was new and im kinda in a hectic schedule so i asked for help. But thanks for the pointers - was extremely helpful
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u/Chemical-Ad7537 1d ago
You also have to be very open to cruelty and criticism. It's like any art. Not everyone will like you, the internet enabled trolls so just thank everyone for their time, and be proud of what you do. Anything worth doing takes time.
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u/Triysle 1d ago
When I was a teenager, I replaced the time I used to play games with time making games. I started with simple, gameified engines like RPG Maker and tools built into games I was playing, like the elder scrolls toolkit and map designer in Timesplitters.
It's tough but learning how to manage your time is a valuable skill, for game dev and just in general. Try to break things down into small, manageable chunks. For stuff like homework its easy cuz there's usually a due date. For stuff you're doing for yourself, you gotta set your own goals.
My suggestion - pick a tool or engine and try to clone a simple arcade game with it. Even just pong or space invaders. It doesn't matter what you start, just what you finish. Good luck!
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u/Significant_Many3722 1d ago
alr!! after a bit of research i chose godot - ill try learning the aspects of it by the week. Maybe ill try a flappy bird clone? but who knows lemme learn the basics first
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u/Charlotte_AB 1d ago
Just do it when you can. If it’s an hour a week, great. Ir more, even better. We aren’t going to manage your time for you, only you can do that.