Game Producer Blog

Currently working on to get the blog updated. Hope this shows ok in Twitter.

Still need a good way to post things to twitter.

Wonder why photos won’t show.

Wondering if this works any better.

Hmm. Testing wp for ios.

One thing, I’ve been really focusing is getting rid of stuff, and here’s a short list of things what I’ve removed my computer:

• Tons of old emails (pardon me something important went there, but I just had too much stuff there – now it’s all “archived”). I’m also cleaning my inbox and arraging it differently. Most of the stuff I get goes right to the archive/trash pile from now on.
• I’m also removing more email stuff, in fact, I’m checking out if I could remove email from my computer – and move it solely to gmail & use it only from iPod Touch (Maybe in some emergency case I could have it on computer too). (More on this below)
• I removed Twitter access (Tweetdeck program) from my computer. It’s now only in my iPod Touch. My work computer cannot handle it anymore.
• I’m still pondering if I should switch this blog to a new platform to help publishing, although WordPress has done an app which should be able handle many things. I check this out. I’m considering switching to tumblr.com – it seems to be easy platform to publish stuff.
• I’m also thinking what I will do with the Insiders system. Answering emails about the service takes some extra time, and while it’s not so much about time, but also about focus. We have nice 100ish members community and place to discuss things & ask for help. I could just focus on “being member” instead of thinking of getting new members in.

Why remove email and twitter programs?
Email is very close to necessity, and twitter is good tool for various stuff (networking, keeping in touch with the industry etc.) but when these programs are on my main computer, they are also a distraction. It’s so easy to “check email” or “check twitter” in case “there’s something”. I’ve removed Tweetdeck and have it only on my ipod. Now checking if I can do the same for my email and see how it goes.

Since iPod touch isn’t fast to type, it also forces me to send short & to the point messages.

Dunno if this works, but the good thing about trying stuff is that you can always switch back.

It’s in my interest to minimize distractions/projects/stuff… to have even more room to focus.

It’s that time of the year once again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody!

(Might not be blogging for a few days now… trying to stay away from computer.)

Alrighty. I have this iPod touch thing here. What apps should I get? Already tested “weather app” – it shows weather! And also a clock app, which… *drums*… shows clock!

I heard rumours there’s some other apps too that I might be using, so bring ‘em on.

I already got Tweetdeck app, Gmail thing set up, Zen Bound 2 app, Spotify app working.

Illness thing. Not cool at all…

Stuff is cluttering on my desktop.

I’m now a parent, and having a baby to take care has made me think much more carefully how I use my time.

I have been doing many things, testing many things, and gathering all sort of new things in the past year (and well, years). Some of the stuff is good and help reach where I want to go. Some of it is bad. Just a distraction, disguised as something useful.

I’ve started to take more drastic action. First of all, I’m getting rid all sorts of “maybe later”, “might be useful”, “material for later use”. I don’t need to delete stuff if I want, but I can simply throw them in archives. They are there if I ever need them ever again. (Which, most likely, won’t happen).

For example, I once had some sort of “books to read” list. (Or couple of them). Sometimes they were up-to-date, many times not. Now I’m throwing them in the trashcan (or “archives”).

I also have had way too many domain names hanging there. I just let them expire. I don’t need those.

I have many newsletters and just “stuff” coming to my inbox. I’m unsubscribing from those and marking junk/blocked the emails that give me hard time unsubscribing.

I shall also clearly define what it is that I really want to aim to. I shall compare my projects to that goal, and it will help me prioritize. (By projects I mean not only game projects, but like even small few day projects – like for example “getting table to my office room”).

I’m reading quite a bit about GTD (and asking some help from guy who has been using it). My needs are somewhat simpler than the GTD and I have my own some sort of “lite” version in place. Perhaps one key item is – mentioned already – that I won’t be using “maybe/someday”. My “maybe” folder is the trashcan (or “archive”) at best.

Sure… I might “miss opportunities” or “lose something important”, but with this approach I *get* more focus on what is important to me. And if something trashed was really that important, I’m quite certain it will present itself some day.

Of course I’m just starting this thing up… and my aims is to reduce the amount of stuff I have dramatically. This doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t draw a pixel dwarf or two sometimes (that’s fun!), or that I wouldn’t do some random irrational things (heh) – I shall, but the point is that I dramatically decrease the stuff I’m doing.

One thing that I notice is that earlier, I’ve had several different domains for different games. I even setup blogs/forums for different games. I’m now leaning into thinking that this approach somewhat scatters things (it has benefits in terms of advertising value though), so I’m thinking of bringing things together. For example, I think that keeping The Infected blog updates nor the twitter account is somewhat difficult, maybe bringing that stuff more closely under this blog would be sensible thing to do. I have mixed feelings about combining blogs and things together, but maybe I find a way.

One thing I also shall – most likely – get is some sort of smartphone (thinking iPhone 4) and try and see if this can help me with certain stuff. For example, I could keep my PC more as “working station” and then do twittering and brief emailing/organizing using it (things that I feel are somewhat important in staying connected. Not sure if any gadget will help with anything, but at least that’s one way I think of reducing stuff that I’m facing when sitting on computer.

Same goes to game development. I will look closely on what I plan to do and what I won’t do. What I think will help me reach my goals? What is hindering them?

Some of this stuff might sound really simple: “aren’t you already doing that?” And… yes, I’ve been thinking/doing things I say here. I have kept some things more organized, some things less organized.

Now it’s my intention to greatly reduce doing things. (I was even considering if I could stop using email, heh).

Instead, I eliminate, eliminate, eliminate stuff. Gotta get rid of stuff. And then organize what’s left. And if I could benefit from smartphone or something, then I get one.

Earlier my approach was “I don’t risk the chance of eliminating something important.” Now trying approach “I don’t wanna risk the chance of having some junk hanging around.” (This isn’t part of GTD as is, this is my approach on GTD)

Now back to reading GTD.

I had my own mailing system for things to handle… and I’ve somewhat interested about the way GTD organizes stuff, but I might want to rework my whole “do stuff” possibly the GTD (“Getting Things Done”) way. I’ve read one GTD book – but for some reason never really got into it.

Couple of points:

How do you sort your email?

Do you use GTD or similar approach? If yes, any tips/hints examples for starting points?