Most teams go into production with no structure. I do not start a project in
Silkjade unless it is "place holder complete" and has a clear solid design
document. For our bigger projects coming up the place holder art and design
document will be very important. By having the whole game mapped out each
day you can work your way through the project in a organized way. By having a
complete package before I get to the production stage allows me to book in a
coding team and manage questions. For example one team I am working with
only requires about 2 email messages a week to clarify things.

So I have a project being developed by the coder and they have all the art,
music and design instructions they require. This is both very good for me and
very good for him. For me I can focus on working on key areas of the company
each day and for the hired programmer he can complete the project. If a
problem occurs I can look up my own design document and art to correct the
issue within 10-20 minutes.

A design document for a simple puzzle game (10-30 MB) takes me only 2 days
to complete. Designing while you are producing should be avoided. However
here at Silkjade we do hire coding teams to make prototypes. Most teams I
worked with in the past I would call prototyping teams. But even for our
experimental projects we have a full design document and artwork. A prototype
game we are experimenting with is a Fish game. If our idea works and it is fun we
will look to release it and or enhance it some more.

Main points
  • Work each day on one part of your design document
  • Start from the top and work your way through (For artists)
  • Just complete one main thing a day (Like the main menu)
  • Try to complete one area before moving onto the next
  • Don't redo a area more then 3 times (Version 2 it)
  • Take breaks and go for daily walks outdoors to refresh yourself (we walk
    3km a day ever afternoon)          
Daily focus
Relax
Attitude
Have you seen sports teams with real talented players do real badly. Well you
can be a real good coder, artist, designer etc... But if you have a attitude that
works against you and your team then your fighting a up hill battle. Be aware
that the biggest factor to stalling your plan to make games will be your attitude.
Are you positive and upbeat or are you self critical and full of doubts?

For me I read books and seek to improve my attitude. I suggest reading positive
blogs and reading books that are seeking to help you. Steve Pavlina's website is
full of helpful info. Also I have read the Doctor Phil book Self matters.

Steve Pavlina's website http://www.stevepavlina.com            

Steve had some excellent articles on game development a few years back but I
can't find them at the moment.

Main points

  • Be positive and always seek to be kind
  • Be easy going with yourself and easy going with others
  • Game making can be fun, relax and have a positive attitude
  • Read positive books and positive Blogs
  • Get positive indie friends and encourage each other
  • Be responsible for your actions
  • Contribute to the community in positive ways
  • Help others by having a positive attitude
Working 2 part time jobs and then working on my business/hobby is a pretty full
time table. But on Saturdays I allow myself only up to 4 hours of work on the
games and then on Sunday its no work at all. Sunday is our day to get out of the
house and to relax. We also go hire some movies and do anything that is not
work related. Make sure you give yourself some time off and spend some time
with your family. I know that on the extra Sunday you could complete X,Y or Z but
you could be heading for burn out.

If you have planed out the time table and project in a balanced fashion you
should be doing the project at a good pace. Also its not about getting to the
finish line fast, as it is more about getting to the finish line as a "happy game
maker". You don't want to feel drained and your family unhappy with you
because you locked yourself in the basement for 3 months. Make game making
fun and for a good weeks work reward yourself by going out to the movies.
Above and beyond all the riches in the world is your family. Even if you made
millions of dollars from game making it is still important to go down to the park to
walk with your wife or spend quality time with your child.

Main points
  • Pace yourself and take breaks
  • Be disciplined both when your working and when you need to take your
    breaks
  • For me burn out makes me tried and unhappy, avoid burnout
  • If your burnt out go for a walk and talk to some supportive indies
  • Burn out for me comes from when I want to achieve a high level of art
  • Be aware of what causes burn out and manage it in a positive way
  • If you feel you need to relax then do it (its your business you can have a
    break)