Your "OCD" in game making.

[Saireau]

I'm a pretty orderly guy when it comes to my projects, so something I constantly struggle with is ordering the database and the events on the maps. If you open my released games in RPG Maker, you'll notice that (hopefully) everything is in perfect order.

With my newest project, I'm trying not to obsess about common events being unordered, since, you know, common events naturally come and go while you develop the game, and ordering them from time to time is nothing else than a lot of wasted time that could be spent more productively. I know that, but it still bothers me to see the list having turned into a mess by now.

 

[HankB]

When things start getting messy, I just expand the number of variables/switches/common events, and reassign things. Then, when I run out of space, I copy-paste a new project, and rename everything, which usually takes a few days. Then, when I finally have everything in place, I completely abandon the project and start a new one from scratch.

My most recent project involves chickens in space. I think this is the one!

 

[cthulhusquid]

I just redo stuff. Over and over and over.

That's literally me right now. If the game's not exactly how I imagine it in my head, I need to figure out a way to get it there. Even if it means re-doing everything from the ground up again. I swear, I will release demos one of these days...

 

[Sword_of_Dusk]

Do not show, what they have already seen.
Do not say, what they have already heard.

When I realize what I'm implementing in my game, will be associated as 'similar' to a specific game.
I immediately get rid of it. Or change it.

(It is okay if it is being said to explain something. But when it can be said to suggest I copied off of it, or got inspired from it. I have OCD level of reaction to it.)

I wouldn't trip on this idea. Being inspired by something is common in all entertainment mediums. Constantly trying to do new things because you don't want to copy anyone else leads to a lot of unnecessary drama with yourself.

 

[themebattle]

Sorry to barge in here, but I'm not sure using the term "OCD" is really appropriate here? OCD is an extremely debilitating mental health condition, not a silly term you can use for things that bother you... As someone with the disorder it's really disheartening to see people use the name of something that genuinely makes things extremely hard for me and many others used in an incorrect and lighthearted manner, and contributes to misinformation about the disorder that prevents people who actually have the disorder from getting treatment. If you need education on the disorder I'd be glad to hand you resources.

I'm not saying you need to change this or else, but please, could you at least consider rephrasing the title and body of your thread? I came on this forum to ask a question and saw this thread and thought you just may not know, so I'd let you know.

 

[TheoAllen]

@themebattle
I was expecting people to get offended by that for the exact reason you mentioned it. And there was a reason why I put this in quotes. There was no intention to make fun of people who actually have the disorder. I thought you would get that hidden message.

I am personally fine with the thread title. Everyone seems to agree. No one actually makes fun of the people who actually have the disorder. I don't believe they are actually offending them. Or at least it seems. We (or at least me personally) believe if people actually have a disorder or literally any issue to seek help from the professional, regardless of what kind of label of their issue (let it be OCD, ADHD, etc) is.

 

[ericv00]

Sorry to barge in here...

If you need education on the disorder I'd be glad to hand you resources.

thought you just may not know, so I'd let you know.

You're right. We're dumb-dumbs.

We prefer to look at something in a light-hearted way instead of a dire and oppressive force weighing us down into the dirt. We must be so stupid...

The world will be a better place when everyone views every quirk of human existence through the lense of pain and misery!

 

[HexMozart88]

Sorry to barge in here, but I'm not sure using the term "OCD" is really appropriate here? OCD is an extremely debilitating mental health condition, not a silly term you can use for things that bother you... As someone with the disorder it's really disheartening to see people use the name of something that genuinely makes things extremely hard for me and many others used in an incorrect and lighthearted manner, and contributes to misinformation about the disorder that prevents people who actually have the disorder from getting treatment. If you need education on the disorder I'd be glad to hand you resources.

I'm not saying you need to change this or else, but please, could you at least consider rephrasing the title and body of your thread? I came on this forum to ask a question and saw this thread and thought you just may not know, so I'd let you know.

I was a little iffy on the title too, and I agree that things like OCD and bipolar aren't adjectives. However, I think you might be reading too far into this. Because on one hand, yes it's a debilitating disorder and it shouldn't be taken lightly. On the other hand, the title was made so that people would understand what the thread is about. It's not meant to make fun of people with the disorder, and as Theo said, he put it in quotes because that's what people refer to it as and not necessarily what he thinks OCD is all about. But it's not an insult in this case, and as a neurodivergent person myself, I think we should be focusing on things that are actually meant to degrade us and not on something like a completely harmless thread with questionable phrasing.

EDIT: Also, I'm not sure how it prevents people from getting treatment? I get autistic and the r slur thrown around constantly and I'm still getting treatment. If a misuse of the word is really causing you to avoid getting treatment for your disorder, I'd suggest going offline until things clear up a bit for you.

 

[The Stranger]

It's also a term used casually by countless people to describe things they're kinda fussy or picky about. Kinda like how depressed is used to describe general sadness. Yeah, it can be annoying to hear random folk say they're depressed, when they're actually not, while you struggle day after day with the illness. Still, most people know what they're talking about, and beyond minor annoyance I don't find it particularly offensive.

These words will likely be swapped out for something else in the future. This is just how language works. People don't tend to stick to rigid definitions of words, adopting random words that mean one thing, and using them to mean something totally different.

 

[RachelTheSeeker]

Wellllllll... I mean, I do have literal OCD. But as shorthand, I get what you mean. For my quirks...

• It's hard for me to use a single word for a weapon or physical skill's name.
• However, magical skills are specifically single-word names. Sometimes this is a pain, other times I learn a new word.
• No character is allowed to have a "Skill" command. Any time I can customize the names for each class's skill slots a la RM2k/3, I will. Monks get "Aura", Fighters get "Bravado", etc.
• The default HP is 40 for mages, 60 for warriors, and 50 for everything else.
• If the player only plays as one character, there must be a tweaked Guard command that restores MP and/or TP. It actually adding the Guard effect is optional.
• I must include a book that references something as an interactive object. Usually I reference others' RM games, but I've also included D&D and even Celephais as these optional reads.
• Everyone needs an identical, usually even, amount of skills. For a current WIP warriors get two skills and a passive, mages get six skills, and everything else gets four skills.
• Leveling up gives a static amount of boosted stats each time -- usually increments of 2 -- and if the max level's stat isn't a multiple of 5, I make it so.

 

[Dolorre]

Oh gosh, I feel like I have so many OCD quirks.

I would say my biggest one is making sure my pictures are aligned when making picture events. It bugs me if they're even off by a pixel. I usually end up combining the different sections, such as for my main menu, into one picture, then putting that as the lowest picture. I then place the other pictures on top and align them until they're pixel-perfect. It's tedious, but oh so worth it. I've spend literal hours doing this.

 

[Milennin]

Proper capitalising in database entries. I know it doesn't matter because I'm the only one looking at it and it doesn't affect the game in any way, I just want it to look good when I work on my projects.

I also avoid database entries from having so many characters that they get the "..." at the end. I'll shorten the name if I have to. Exception for names that actually show up in the game, which occasionally happens with skill names.

 

[VegaKotes]

Proper capitalising in database entries. I know it doesn't matter because I'm the only one looking at it and it doesn't affect the game in any way, I just want it to look good when I work on my projects.

I also avoid database entries from having so many characters that they get the "..." at the end. I'll shorten the name if I have to. Exception for names that actually show up in the game, which occasionally happens with skill names.

I feel this one.
Although even in game if the name is so big it makes the text smaller I start going into overdrive trying to think of how to rename it to avoid that while still getting across the point. The latest of which was to rename the stat "Maneuverability" to "Mobility."

 

[The Stranger]

Proper capitalising in database entries. I know it doesn't matter because I'm the only one looking at it and it doesn't affect the game in any way, I just want it to look good when I work on my projects.

I also avoid database entries from having so many characters that they get the "..." at the end. I'll shorten the name if I have to. Exception for names that actually show up in the game, which occasionally happens with skill names.

I do this, too. Hate seeing the ... in the database, even if it is sometimes unavoidable.

I also hate seeing text squished in-game, and will try to change the names of things, or even swap out the font for something else, to avoid it.

 

[ScorchedGround]

I do this, too. Hate seeing the ... in the database, even if it is sometimes unavoidable.

I also avoid database entries from having so many characters that they get the "..." at the end. I'll shorten the name if I have to. Exception for names that actually show up in the game, which occasionally happens with skill names.

This happens to me aswell.

Though for me, it's specifically common events and switches/variables.

Since I want to give them meaningful names AND there are a LOT of them, I have to give them longer names so that I can distinguish them when looking at events.

 

[BK-tdm]

• I'm incapable of making less-than-cute playable/main characters. NPCs? Don't care; I'll take whatever crazy mess the random generator spits out at me. Main characters, playable characters, main antagonists? I can't do it. I just can't!
• Ridiculous equipment names. Probably because of all the time I spent playing Diablo games - the best thing I ever found was the 'Smashing Steppes Smasher of Incineration'. Borderlands games also hit me with some stupid names, and now I find myself using equipment based on its name in games, so it just feels...wrong to have simple names?
• Puns. Everywhere. Obvious, hidden, personal, obscure, I can't help it. They just worm their way into my writing and my text

Ah a fellow dev who follows the same principles as me, praised be the puns!

As for me? I cant for the life of me use placeholders...
Oh this little sequence needs some custom assets which involve a giant tank that will only be seen this once? Cue me for the following 40 hours making and testing the sprites to actually finish the scene of the event...

 

[TheoAllen]

I cant for the life of me use placeholders...

I have no idea either how people could bear to use a placeholder.

If it is a placeholder, at least it should be closer to the real thing so I can fix it later or make it better. Not by using cow or chicken for every character that doesn't have the sprite yet. Like... seriously?

 

[The Stranger]

@BK-tdm Hellow fellow can't use placeholders for whatever reason dev! xD I honestly don't know why I can't use placeholders, I just can't. I know that they don't matter, and that only I will ever see them, but I still can't use them.

 

[ericv00]

Well, placeholders are practically necessary for teams. If you are the only one working on it, though, visual 'completeness' is more satisfying and motivating, I think.

 

[BK-tdm]

My problem with 80% of placeholders is that i can make them exactly how i want so i deviate from the eventing to pop the image editor... and there goes the rest of the day