<![CDATA[hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design]]>hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design

because i have a pretty big problem with that

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/8f3c258c-baa1-45db-aa5a-7581e39be6d2/hey-fellow-gamedevs-how-do-i-internalize-that-thinking-about-game-systems-and-fixing-problems-in-my-head-isn-t-idle-time-but-is-literally-doing-the-work-of-game-designRSS for NodeMon, 25 May 2026 11:03:46 GMTFri, 22 May 2026 10:44:31 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 16:03:33 GMT]]>@eniko @bri7 yeah these lists are kinda duckrabbit if i try to think of them as gendered]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://brain.worm.pink/objects/111a1a08-2aea-4663-a09a-8b8a2a2bf37ahttps://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://brain.worm.pink/objects/111a1a08-2aea-4663-a09a-8b8a2a2bf37aFri, 22 May 2026 16:03:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 14:04:29 GMT]]>@kirtai @erisceleste I dunno I haven't tried it

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116618603354783035https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116618603354783035Fri, 22 May 2026 14:04:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 14:02:50 GMT]]>@eniko @erisceleste
What about physical notes on paper?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/kirtai/statuses/116618596844205786https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/kirtai/statuses/116618596844205786Fri, 22 May 2026 14:02:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 13:30:04 GMT]]>@eniko and to get back to the initial question about internalizing, I think we have more control over creating external reminders to overcome internal convictions that are just incorrect. If I feel unproductive and stop, look at what I did today, and there are problems I can point at that I solved or at least did something toward solving, then that feeling is what's incorrect... And consistently recognizing that devaluing your work is what's wrong is a big step towards moving past those feelings

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://an.errant.cloud/users/Wharrrrrrgarbl/statuses/116618468035567998https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://an.errant.cloud/users/Wharrrrrrgarbl/statuses/116618468035567998Fri, 22 May 2026 13:30:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 12:56:10 GMT]]>@eniko I may be missing the mark, but I believe this is actually a side effect of the whole “productivity push” that the corpo world made up. It needs to invent things to measure, so it puts arbitrary boundaries into what is work and what not.
I imagine someone with a farm, never split sowing vs going to the market time.
This is compounded with the amount of non-explicit things we do as humans when interacting with everything. Talking with a coworker about games IS WORK! Culture is like 50% of the job, but is marked is unproductive
Sorry for the rant

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rebel.ar/ap/users/116142845761035056/statuses/116618334706123600https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rebel.ar/ap/users/116142845761035056/statuses/116618334706123600Fri, 22 May 2026 12:56:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 12:40:51 GMT]]>@eniko Do something physical maybe? It does not have to be "exercise", it can be anything that involves physical labour and movement. The farther you are from staying still, the better.

The theory is that these activities should activate different aspects of your brain/body and divert your brain from "work". I've seen success with some people. And for me, a bit of success by taking care of my kid (he moves a lot and thinks differently).

Maybe this is a bit longer way to say "get a hobby", lol.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/glitchypixel/statuses/116618274503155674https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/glitchypixel/statuses/116618274503155674Fri, 22 May 2026 12:40:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 12:15:38 GMT]]>@eniko aw 🫂💙

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/erisceleste/statuses/116618175363647389https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/erisceleste/statuses/116618175363647389Fri, 22 May 2026 12:15:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 12:14:27 GMT]]>@Wharrrrrrgarbl I mean that makes sense

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116618170725084846https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116618170725084846Fri, 22 May 2026 12:14:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 12:13:41 GMT]]>@erisceleste happens even when I write notes in text files 😕

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116618167679353064https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116618167679353064Fri, 22 May 2026 12:13:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:58:35 GMT]]>@eniko do you write notes?

i used to write A LOT of handwritten notes, not to read but because that structured thoughts in my mind and fixed them in my memory very well

(parker jotter gang unite)

it will depend on what your way of thinking is but simply seeing the physical artifact of thought/design time on your desk afterwards might make it more embodied that you really were doing Work

(i write less now, and feel worse about my output, and im pretty sure these are directly connected so im making a conscious effort to use the pen more again and the keyboard less)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/erisceleste/statuses/116618108313671392https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/erisceleste/statuses/116618108313671392Fri, 22 May 2026 11:58:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:38:41 GMT]]>@eniko I am not a game dev, but one thing to recognize is that your job is not just making computer compute, it is to solve problems. The overarching problem is convincing other people that they should give you money for dungeon isekai/lesbian fox mario/etc (maybe the problem is capitalism but that's not something game design will solve). When you are solving problems you are accomplishing work and when you are doing the gross boring part you are working more, not less.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://an.errant.cloud/users/Wharrrrrrgarbl/statuses/116618030076293909https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://an.errant.cloud/users/Wharrrrrrgarbl/statuses/116618030076293909Fri, 22 May 2026 11:38:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:36:20 GMT]]>@eniko Perhaps refactor yourself to be input oriented rather than output oriented.

Input: "Yes! I spent three hours on task X (but go nowhere)"

Output: "Yes! I wrote 100 lines of code, now I'm allowed to have lunch (finally, been working on this for six hours)"

How? I have no idea.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/mikaeleiman/statuses/116618020844663960https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/mikaeleiman/statuses/116618020844663960Fri, 22 May 2026 11:36:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:33:16 GMT]]>@eniko it is pernicious and ridiculous that the engineer brain will spend six months in meetings with people and then think “now, to get to work”

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/c0dec0dec0de/statuses/116618008742301952https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/c0dec0dec0de/statuses/116618008742301952Fri, 22 May 2026 11:33:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:32:46 GMT]]>@eniko@mastodon.gamedev.place me, on the other end of this particular spectrum: making coffee counts as work because when I'm caffeinated I'll be more productive. Also, taking a few minutes to stretch counts as work, because then I won't be uncomfortable at the keyboard.
I hope you can find your balance.]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://misskey.social/notes/amken2hhgihttps://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://misskey.social/notes/amken2hhgiFri, 22 May 2026 11:32:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:27:14 GMT]]>@bnut for me it depends on if i'm playing for fun, in which case its not work, or for research, which is also not work :'D

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116617985042654478https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116617985042654478Fri, 22 May 2026 11:27:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:18:29 GMT]]>@eniko Amusingly, earlier I posted a photo of some scribblings I made while I've been fiddling with some code to arrange code flow graphs over the past couple days as an artifact of actually doing something even though I have nothing to check in yet (and have rewritten this code several times, though I think I'm finally making forward progress)...

Link Preview Image
Brian Swetland (@swetland@chaos.social)

Attached: 1 image A visual aid while debugging code to identify backward branches, number loops, etc... #Projects #Compiler #PLdev

favicon

chaos.social (chaos.social)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/swetland/statuses/116617950647514617https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/swetland/statuses/116617950647514617Fri, 22 May 2026 11:18:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:15:31 GMT]]>@eniko not a gamedev but I do creative work and to me all of it is work, thinking about the trajectories of a story I'm writing, how to publish, do PR, all work as important as putting actual words on a page. One will not exist without the other. When I worked in events those were all billable hours.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/bangskij/statuses/116617938952716970https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/bangskij/statuses/116617938952716970Fri, 22 May 2026 11:15:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:12:59 GMT]]>@eniko not only is most of the “not work” stuff very much work, but a bunch of it is the shit that you don’t want or feel inclined to do. So, in that sense, it’s more work than the “work” list because you enjoy the stuff on the “work” list.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/c0dec0dec0de/statuses/116617929007650923https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/c0dec0dec0de/statuses/116617929007650923Fri, 22 May 2026 11:12:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:11:20 GMT]]>@eniko I have no idea if this will help, but a lot of time after writing down everything in my brain and plotting how the solution should work, I force myself to take a break, make some coffee or have a snack and get some water

This also tends not to be idle time; usually my brain is STILL WORKING trying to figure out that last piece, or to figure out what to code first

But it does help me clear the mind gremlins. Remind myself that I am both body and mind and both could use a rest and a treat

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kind.social/users/SnyperWolf/statuses/116617922509251703https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kind.social/users/SnyperWolf/statuses/116617922509251703Fri, 22 May 2026 11:11:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:10:32 GMT]]>@eniko
I have a hard time with requirements and bureaucracy. I guess because I need to write everything for the later quality review it feels like work, even if its tedious.

I would say, keep notes for everything? (Probably you already do that). I guess what I mean is, I can relate.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/FromTheFourthPlanet/statuses/116617919357460975https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/FromTheFourthPlanet/statuses/116617919357460975Fri, 22 May 2026 11:10:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:08:02 GMT]]>@eniko my problem was the people around me not viewing any of that list outside of the unpleasant businessy stuff as work lol

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://masto.hackers.town/users/antijingoist/statuses/116617909557839585https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://masto.hackers.town/users/antijingoist/statuses/116617909557839585Fri, 22 May 2026 11:08:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:06:48 GMT]]>@MrL314 oh i will *never* figure this one out

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116617904685715598https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116617904685715598Fri, 22 May 2026 11:06:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:06:05 GMT]]>@eniko girl when you figure it out can I get a slice of that pie too

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://peoplemaking.games/users/MrL314/statuses/116617901834610551https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://peoplemaking.games/users/MrL314/statuses/116617901834610551Fri, 22 May 2026 11:06:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to hey fellow gamedevs how do i internalize that "thinking about game systems and fixing problems in my head" isn't idle time but is literally doing the work of game design on Fri, 22 May 2026 11:02:43 GMT]]>anyway i just spent 2 hours thinking about the combat systems for You Have Died and solving problems and writing down notes about the systems and when i was done with that i told myself "wow i should really hunker down and do some actual work"

what the fuck?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116617888635474292https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/eniko/statuses/116617888635474292Fri, 22 May 2026 11:02:43 GMT