What to do when you've lost the spark of interest?

[Armadillo of Doom]

It's not even writers block. I think I just burned out on TF2. School is starting tommorow, I got back into Oblivion, and all the other normal stuff in life just eats up my time. It's like I'm still into TF2, and seeing new custom maps each day, both good and bad. But that is no longer my top priority. And I suppose I kinda feel like our community has slowed down, and it's the responsibility of the admins to keep things lively and active. I guess I'm just looking for advice. Any words of wisdom?

 

[YM]

Why not find one of the other threads losely related to this topic and read that?

one of the blogs too - http://forums.tf2maps.net/blog.php?b=20

 

[TheDarkerSideofYourShadow]

All I can say is take a short break and see if you want to come back later, especially if you're starting school back up. I've also noticed the sudden slow down, but then it is also the start of summer weather/finals for some, and I wonder if that might be part of the reason. Or, because the contest is over. Still, there is no reason you can't just hang around every now and then and be social and whatnot, but that doesn't mean you have to be forum overlord either

 

[tedrock]

i started beta testing this Warrior Epic game and it's a nice break from TF2 and mapping. and it's freeeeeeeee

 

[Armadillo of Doom]

Youme, I already replied to that blog >.< This is more about TF2 in general than getting stuck on mapping. A break is good, but I still can't shake the feeling of responsibility. On the other hand, you're probly right in that a lot of people will be taking advantage of the weather for non-internet stuff. Ah well, cest la vie.

 

[Trypto]

...sudden slow down, but then it is also the start of summer weather/finals for some, and I wonder if that might be part of the reason. Or, because the contest is over...

MOAR CONTEST! For real though, this time it could be something smaller, etc. etc.

<--- Could use a new computer

 

[YM]

I know you relpied to it, but that doesn't deminish its relevance!

this time it could be something smaller, etc. etc.
<--- Could use a new computer

How do you equate new computer into a smaller contest?

Smaller would just be the GPU rather than the whole GFX card, not a whole pc....

But another contest would be cool, although a little break would be good (different theme this time definatly, and probably not payload)

Just take a break from what ever you are bored of and find something more dull to do and after a week or so you will be wanting tf2 back an unbelievable amount

 

[Arhurt]

I`m a modelist as well (you know, small metal and plastic figures) and some projects can take quite a while to complete. For example, I`m currently working on a big castle model, fully modular and with access to indoors. It`s been about 3 years in the making and I have had quite a lot of times I just thought I`d give up completely. I solved it by doing small "dioramas" on the side, things that are smaller, faster to do and are just supposed to look pretty.

The castle I`m making has to be playable with miniatures, so a lot of time is spent on planning and designing the corridor sizes so it all fits togheter in the end. It`s enjoyable, but a burden to do. When I`m making a diorama I don`t have to worry about corridor sizes, I just have to make it look good.

Also, as the castle is a big project, I must be cautious with materials and workflow. When I`m making the dioramas, I can experiment, use different materials and techniques that would probabbly not work on a big project.

What I`m trying to say here is that sometimes making a complete level from scratch to finish can be a burden and burn you out of motivation. Maybe if you tried to make a cool little scene, or a model, you would:

- Be able to finish it quickly.
- Be able to experiment with different things.
- Have something pretty at the end.

Why not have a smalkl scene contest? Something that shouldn`t take more than 2-3 weeks to complete?

A Waterfall contest, or a bunker or any other piece of map that could have a scene built around it. Doesn`t need to have good FPS or work fully as it would need to if it where in a map, just to keep you fresh with inspirations and perhaps find out a new technique that could be used in the fiture while at it.

 

[YM]

make a rocketjump map!

just please dont release it publicly

 

[Vander]

I gotta agree with DragonHeart on this one. A modelling contest or something similar would be really cool. Think of all the cool new art assets we would have as a result!

 

[YM]

Oooh yeah a texture contest or modeling contest would be awesome.

 

[TotalMark]

Play another game for a while, lose all thought of TF2.

Your interest will return, if it's meant to.

 

[TheDarkerSideofYourShadow]

Valve-erc had some interesting contests back in the HL1 days. Best scripted scene, best use of the random event generator, etc. Could have a little contest like that, something that isn't really TF2 like, but just other skills.

 

[YM]

something that isn't really TF2 like, but just other skills.

I'd keep it TF2 themed but different like you say, posibly 'best inacessable spawnroom diorama' or something like that

But this isnt the place for contest idea discussion, if you want to talk about that Imortal can make an execudive decision and post a thread asking for theme ideas or someone else can make one.
Heres for discussing what to do when you lose interest

Well personally I tend to move on, I have this strange ability to find one thing that holds my interest and latch on to it for many months and then all of a sudden I get bored of it and move on to the next thing, I'll put this down to my age and the fact that 12 months (probably up until round about now) has been a very long time and for me to change a lot in that time was hardly suprising.
But within these long spans of interest I'd find that I'd lose interest for short periods and just have a blast of playing some old games like swbf2 or aoe2 or even aoe1 when times got dire and after a week or two of that I'd be totally refreshed and ready to do the same old crap for another few months.

Just ride it out on some other interest you have.....OR go impulse buy

yup, thats me, admittedly it was only 10 minutes after I'd first put them on so no jumping

 

[Trypto]

How do you equate new computer into a smaller contest?

Smaller would just be the GPU rather than the whole GFX card, not a whole pc....

My money + New Gear = New PC... but it was more of a what if, and not so much a actual request.

Before I read Vander's post, I thought of a material contest, like everyone has to make 5 ground textures, 10 wood, 10 metal, or something similar. And you could get special forum status/etc as a result.

The new materials would definantly open possibilities to the amount that could be created theme wise... etc.


P.S. Youme, nice roo's. I don't know if thats what you call them where you live, but that's what we call them here... that or moon shoes.

Immortal, take a break, that's my best advice.

 

[YM]

what you call them shouldnt be a regionally decided thing....

they are powerisers, and if you want to give them a shorter name its bocks (inventor: mr alexander bock)

edit: or stilts when talking to people who don't know either powerisers or bocks...

 

[dookiebot]

This forum isn't just for us posting today but for future mappers that will be attracted to TF2 "tomorrow".

When I came onboard I received a wealth of information and I have stayed (though I don't post much).

Forums are a fluid thing, eb and flow, up and down, nothing is static where people are involved. It will pick up I am sure. The main thing is keeping the community relevant to TF2 mapping.

I have lost interest in my map for the past month... due to me buying a new video card so I have been focusing on what has made me want to map in the first place... which is gaming!

I'll come back to my map. Right now I am doing... lets call it... 'homework'. By actually playing instead of mapping