Journal #7773

Posted 12 years ago2012-05-04 07:53:53 UTC
monster_urby monster_urbyGoldsourcerer
The quickest way to lose your passion for something is to make a career out of it. That's my opinion anyway.

I used to mess around with HTML and CSS from time to time and I used to genuinely enjoy it. The thing is, that was the occasional 3 hour session at most. When it comes down to "You WILL do this between 9am and 5:30pm!" it is a totally different story.

I think that is why I wouldn't go into game design full time. I usually map for a couple of hours at a time and I enjoy it. If I was told to build levels for 9 hours straight, I would rapidly get fed up with the processes involved and the quality of the work would suffer. Job security is another issue of course. If I make a bad website I spend a few hours fixing it up. If you make a bad game, you stop making games. :P

Another factor about doing design as a hobby is that if you're not sure how to approach a problem or if you simply get tired of working on a project, you can have a break, maybe leave it for a day or 2 and come back to it. At work, I have the option to say "I don't know what to do with this" but all that happens is the site moves down the list 1 place and I am given ANOTHER site to work on. It's draining. In the end of course, you HAVE to come back to the project within a reasonable amount of time or the client gets pissed off.

urgh...

Sorry for the wall of text.

18 Comments

Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 07:56:38 UTC Comment #43516
I think similar as well.
Thats why i am searching for a profession that wont take much time and wont tire me so easy.
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 09:31:37 UTC Comment #43509
Sounds more like a problem with the company than with web dev in general.

Was in the same boat ~2 yrs. ago. The company I worked for basically wanted half-assed shit done quickly, and I just couldn't do it. Ended up being sacked after a year of work, was absolutely burnt out on web dev after that.

While we're on the subject, some of the worst things in this type of work are the small business clients. They treat "this web thing" as if it's some sort of fad they reluctantly need to get on with. Also most of them think you're ripping them off. After all, they got to where they are from nothing, so surely if they had 4 spare hrs, they could hop on MS Word and do a way better job than you!

[/rant]
^ 90% of our clients. I'm glad they fired me.
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 10:39:03 UTC Comment #43508
If you want to continue programming (and not go down the game dev route), I suggest you get yourself into a large(ish) corporation doing internal company development instead. Should be a MUCH better work environment. As Daub said, dealing with small business clients is just terrible, much better to work for corps who actually know what they want. (...well, most of the time)
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 12:16:37 UTC Comment #43501
"The company I worked for basically wanted half-assed shit done quickly, and I just couldn't do it."

Ha. That is practically our motto.

It's also so nice when clients pay attention isn't it?

Just got of the phone to a client after explaining the integration phase and their involvement. The usual process: "Good Afternoon, my name is Andy and I'm calling from etc..."

The guy just grunted his way through the conversation not really taking an interest at all and ended the call with. "Ok. Thanks Grady."

...

Might just have to "lose" his file for a day or two.
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 12:35:02 UTC Comment #43506
Have you heard enough?
I have to put up with this shit on teamspeak almost every night.

Louis, Louis. Still whining Louis.
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 13:49:08 UTC Comment #43502
You love it.

TeamSpeak + BF3 later?
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 14:05:22 UTC Comment #43507
Ofc
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 14:38:24 UTC Comment #43500
I disagree. I love doing the stuff I do, and to money at it is great.
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 15:07:19 UTC Comment #43513
You're absolutely right. I always thought I could be a genius at mathematics.
[End of sarcasm]
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 15:26:17 UTC Comment #43503
There are exceptions of course. If I could do level design for my own project while making money then Hell yes I would enjoy it.

Working to someone else's specification is the problem. Well, working to an idiot's specification anyway.

Anyone wanna make an indie game? :P
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-04 20:11:41 UTC Comment #43517
Well, from my experience, people need to think similar for any team work to work :)

Also, dont forget that the best solution is always the simples one (As GLaDoS said)
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-05 02:00:08 UTC Comment #43510
man. im training to be a webdev. dont kill my aspirations!
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-05 03:35:31 UTC Comment #43514
Working to someone else's specification is easy. Working to your own specification is impossible. I never finish my own site because I'm never too sure of what I should put in it.

In my line of work, things are a bit different. You generally can't go back to fix things. You take good photos, it's your skill and experience and everything is good. You take bad photos, you blame it on bad lighting and everything is still good.

:P

Actually no, if I fuck up I have to give out a discount or something. But most of the work can't be redone, so I don't have to do extra work.
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-05 06:33:41 UTC Comment #43511
I didn't read your journal, I just want your old avatar back. (hope journal entry wasn't impirtant) =/
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-05 15:27:16 UTC Comment #43504
Old avatar? The 'U' or the fsjal one?
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-05 16:46:45 UTC Comment #43512
u did it again! the one two generations ago, the little urby guy ;)
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-06 06:34:01 UTC Comment #43505
The fsjal meme. Meh. Not really big on meme based avatars. I'd rather have something I made.
User posted image
Commented 12 years ago2012-05-06 20:33:28 UTC Comment #43515
Add facial hair.

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