The Game Dev Dualism: Work or Play?

The Game Dev Dualism: Work or Play?

You think it’s a joke? Ah if that was so! This is the real deal for us in the industry. It’s like Schrödinger’s Game Developer; we’re simultaneously playing and creating, and it’s a professional hazard we all grapple with.

You see, our work is our hobby, and our hobby informs our work. It’s a cycle of creativity and critique that never really stops. For designers, this process is practically non-stop. Ideas don’t punch out at 5 PM; they’re like unwelcome guests that overstay their visit in your brain.

For me, it’s shitillion number of times an innocent evening memo snowballed into an all-night design doc marathon. It’s a blessing and a curse, this inability to switch off. It’s the wave-particle dualism of our game dev world – we’re in a constant state of flux between work and play.

So, how does one navigate this dualistic existence? Do you set strict boundaries, or do you embrace the chaos of this creative vortex? 

I’m all ears, fellow developers.


Yours in perpetual game mode,

PixelWraith


Follow the "Game Dev Uncovered" channel on Telegram!

#gamedev #gamedevelopers #gamedevelopment #worklifebalance #saturday #meme #saturdaymeme #fun #dualism #workorplay

To view or add a comment, sign in

More articles by Michael Khripin

  • Leveraging Public Holidays for Game Events

    Leveraging Public Holidays for Game Events

    Tapping into the cultural zeitgeist through public holidays can be a golden opportunity to engage and expand your…

  • The Magic of Marketing: Riding the Hype Train

    The Magic of Marketing: Riding the Hype Train

    In the gaming industry, marketing can often feel like a double-edged sword. On one side, it's an essential tool for…

    1 Comment
  • Crunch Culture: The Gaming Industry's Dark Secret

    Crunch Culture: The Gaming Industry's Dark Secret

    Folks love their games, but behind every shiny release is a tale not often told—a saga of sleepless nights, endless…

  • Decoding the ICE Prioritization Method

    Decoding the ICE Prioritization Method

    The ICE prioritization method, made popular by Sean Ellis ("father of growth-hacking"), offers a streamlined approach…

    6 Comments
  • Censored

    Censored

    Speaking of the freedom for players to express themselves. While cheat codes allowed doing so in single-player games…

  • Ambitions: A Game Dev Story

    Ambitions: A Game Dev Story

    1 One typical morning in the producer's department of the "N" publishing house, a typical dialogue took place. "Hey…

  • Understanding the RICE Prioritization Method

    Understanding the RICE Prioritization Method

    Prioritizing tasks effectively is crucial. One popular method that has gained traction is the RICE scoring model.

  • User Experience or User Exploitation?

    User Experience or User Exploitation?

    In game design, 'User Experience' (UX) is often hailed as the key to player satisfaction. However, a closer look…

  • Sundays in Game Dev: A Toast to the Weekend Warriors

    Sundays in Game Dev: A Toast to the Weekend Warriors

    Ah, Sunday. The day when most folks are lounging about, roasting something in the oven, or grumbling about the…

  • I’ll Fix It Later

    I’ll Fix It Later

    Gather round, game dev enthusiasts, for a whimsical tale from the land of "I'll Fix It Later", a place more elusive…

Insights from the community

Others also viewed

Explore topics