LudumData

Theme Dread…

[raw] LD28LD #28 11. Dec 2013 · 01:59 UTC · 46 hours before compo start by csanyk · 0

The last few LD jams, I’ve noticed I’ve been having a mental problem with the last couple LD jams that I’ll call “theme dread”.

Basically, I find that the announced theme is counter-productive for me.  It’s supposed to provide a creative focus so I can just start designing a game.  Instead, I end up in a panic because nothing comes to mind when the theme is announced.  Leading up to the Theme.announce(), I watch the vote tallies come in from the early rounds, and try to think of what I’d do if the theme ends up being one of the popular results from each round.  I end up filling with dread for whatever the announcement will be, feeling uninspired by most of them.

Does anyone have a good way for coping with this response and conditioning yourself to respond in a more productive, positive manner?  Any mental exercises you can recommend to unleash creativity?

Comments

11. Dec 2013 · 04:03 UTC
I don’t try to think of anything beforehand. When the theme comes out, I say, “YAY! THEME” on IRC and Twitter and then close my laptop and do housework or play some game for a couple of hours, letting the theme mull over in my head. I’ve learned it’s better to just let something come naturally. And don’t stream while you’re trying to think of an idea. The pressure of an audience makes it harder.
11. Dec 2013 · 04:20 UTC
I’ve yet to stream my development — I don’t think doing so would add anything to my experience as I build, and fiddling around with setting it up takes away from doing other things that could more directly contribute to the success of my project.
11. Dec 2013 · 05:40 UTC
There’s kind of a way to cheat your way out of it. Like… I’m gonna make a zelda clone!, and when the theme “potato” comes out (for example), you’re making a “zelda clone with a potato dude holding a french fry” as the sword!… something like that
11. Dec 2013 · 08:44 UTC
I remember having this problem with minimalism.
Benn
11. Dec 2013 · 11:06 UTC
The theme is supposed to help provide a starting point for game ideas, with the ultimate goal of Ludum Dare being to encourage people to make games. If you are finding that the theme is working against you, that you cannot make a game due to the theme, then feel free to ignore the theme completely.
11. Dec 2013 · 11:11 UTC
You don’t have to care about the theme right away, just start working on something. In my experience, if I do nothing and just wait to find a “great idea” I get frustrated or I get ideas for games that would require months to make.
11. Dec 2013 · 11:39 UTC
There are themes I don’t like such as “you only get one”, and then there are ones that really fill me with dread such as “Bieber” or “downvote me”.
sorceress
11. Dec 2013 · 11:39 UTC
I agree with the above comments. You can waste hours trying to come up with a good interpretation of the theme. That time could be better spent getting some code down — generic stuff that you will use whatever you decide to make. While you’re writing that, look over the website and IRC channel every half hour or so, to see what others are up to. Their interpretations of the theme may help to give you some ideas.
Ithildin
11. Dec 2013 · 12:01 UTC
For LD26 and specially LD27 I did some brainstorming with the most popular themes for some hours before the announcement. Taking advantage of the fact that the theme reveal takes place late at night here in Spain I can come up with some ideas (some of them, even, ), then go to sleep with my brain still working on them behind the curtains and then wake up in the morning to know about the final theme, decide on the idea and start working.
Ithildin
11. Dec 2013 · 13:25 UTC
Oops, I forgot to finish the part between parentheses.