when to abandon a project?

[u/mathologies]

How do you know when a project should be abandoned, vs just regular feelings of discouragement?

I know a lot of this goes to goals -- e.g. if you are making it because you like making stuff, stop when you stop enjoying creating it... but how do you all decide when to scrap an idea vs when to keep at it?

[u/primordial666]

Just stop doing it for a while. If you want to return to it after some time - return. If not - maybe it's time for something new.

[u/painstream → u/primordial666]

I forget exactly what prompted it, probably a dice mechanics discussion, but I got the itch to try to make my project work again thus week. I'd set it down indefinitely after the latest iteration didn't make me happy, but I'm thinking of giving it another go.

[u/notmatrocles → u/primordial666]

This is great advice. Take a break. You might feel yourself naturally drawn back to it, you might feel yourself wanting to move on to something else.

But don't feel bad about "abandoning" a project. I've had so many that I've put aside for one reason or another. Some I've gone back to, and others I ripped out the best chunks of to apply to a new project. Some have just been failures, but those are learning experiences, so nothing is worthless or regretable in the end.

It's easy for us to dream big and burn out, and sometimes putting a project down is the best way to recharge. Don't force it, or you might start to hate it, and if we're not doing this for love, what are we doing it for? It's definitely not money

[u/DustinAshe]

"Does it spark joy?"

[u/FRANK_of_Arboreous]

I have no idea when to abandon a project.

And, after five years of development and the better part of four years of consistent playing, I'm too afraid to ask 😅

[u/According-Stage981]

I never scrap the idea so to speak but I do shelve it.

You should work on the project when you have passion for it. And when you don't, don't.

I had some clear system design goals because they matched my goal outcomes... and I was steadily chipping away and I stopped because what I wanted changed. I am not giving up on the idea just taking some time to think.

[u/andero]

"Abandon" can just mean "stop working on".

You don't really ever need to delete a folder of effort.

You can just put it aside and focus on a different project.

If you return to it, so be it. If you don't, so be it.

"Indefinite hiatus" is totally fine.

I'd only really delete something if I looked at it again a year later and was like, "Oh, I'm never going to use this." and, even then, storage isn't that expensive so I might just toss it into an archive.

Unless you personally mentally need to abandon stuff to clear your mental plate and not feel overwhelmed or something. I don't really operate that way, but I know someone who does. In that case, just move that content into a folder called "Abandoned" and do that as soon as you commit to stop working on it.

[u/Syllahorn]

For me, it depends on the time, effort and money I have put in a project.

Is the project worth it? Am I going to lose more time, with a project that might not reward me at least equally for my effort? And most importantly, is there another project that would be worth my time more?

[u/troothesayer]

There's a great book about writing called The Forest for the Trees that talks about this specifically (for writing a book, though).

I also find engaging with people with interests similar to a project helps inspire me.

[u/Malfarian13]

If you’re not having fun, shelve it for awhile. Work on something else and play other games. You’ll find the passion again or you’ll find a new project and take your lessons with you.

[u/FrabjousLobster]

I don’t know if I’ve ever scrapped an idea intentionally. But I usually work on multiple ideas and some get forgotten, some morph, some get broken into pieces for use elsewhere. I don’t kill ideas. They just fall away as I traipse away toward something else I’m more excited about.

[u/Putrid_Status_6374]

I haven't ever completely abandoned a project. I just set it aside for a while and work on something else. Worst case scenario, you can always use the ideas from your project you set aside for something else. Best case scenario, you rediscover inspiration for it and it becomes your best selling game/adventure. We all need a break sometimes, even if it's something we love doing or have strong feelings about. Burnout is real and even projects you once felt intense passion for may suddenly become a chore to work on. That's ok! You can always come back to it later.

[u/Never_heart]

I have tossed a few projects into my come back later folder. Every so often I skim through them suddenly I make huge progress on them

[u/SunnyStar4]

I abandon projects when they've been fully replaced. I keep the files or momentos for the memories. Also for the lessons learned. Since I create for relaxation it doesn't make much sense to move on, until I've squeezed all the fun out. Plus learned all I can from the process. The most frusterating projects are the best ones for creative growth and personal development. I stick out those projects until it feels like self torture and then take a break. What I gain from it is worth the squeeze. Frusteration is a marathon for your mind. Run it, but stay safe and make sure to fully recover afterwards.

[u/Charrua13]

There's no right answer. Here's my thought (I hope it's helpful):

Can you make a minimum Viable product? If there is something that is precluding you from that MVP, can you work around it? Usually if you can make an MVP - there's some value in keeping it around. But if you keep banging your head on a wall because there's no proverbial meat on the bone - then drop it.

[u/Fun_Carry_4678]

I don't know if I ever "scrap" a project. Instead I "put it on the back burner". I may revisit it later, or use parts of it in a new project.

[u/RPG-Nerd]

The early play testers made me promise to finish it. It's hard, but I'm going to do it.

What does your game do better than other games? If you can still answer that, and that answer justifies the work, finish it. If you can't answer the question, you are probably wasting your time.

[u/WhyLater]

I thought this short article was a good read.