Here's how you can overcome challenges in harnessing your creativity as a game developer.

Constraints in game development can actually drive creativity because they push developers to find innovative solutions within a limited framework. When budget, technology, or resources are restricted, it forces you to think outside the box, leading to unique gameplay mechanics and storytelling techniques that might not have emerged otherwise. Many iconic games were created under such limitations, demonstrating that boundaries can guide creativity and result in groundbreaking ideas. Constraints provide a clear framework, focusing creative efforts and often leading to more inventive and resourceful outcomes.

Constraints play a big role in shaping a game and this makes them an equally big reason why even similar titles still end up being vastly different, like Valorant and Rainbow Six Siege, or Warthunder and World of Tanks. Ultimately this makes every game unique in its own way and this variety is what makes players like certain games that other players don't. This is why you should percieve constraints as an opportunity for creativity rather than an obstacle.

In game development, constraints can spark creativity. Instead of seeing limitations in budget, technology, or resources as obstacles, view them as a framework for innovation. Take mobile games as an example—early games had to run on very low-end devices. These limitations pushed developers to think outside the box, leading to unique gameplay mechanics and storytelling techniques. Some of the most iconic games were created within strict limitations. Use these boundaries to guide your creativity in new and unexpected directions.

You can gather inspiration in many ways, for example you can check similar titles to the one you're creating but you have to take notes of things you like and things you want to avoid. It is also possible to use a GPT like ChatGPT or Gemini to help you with brainstorming. Asking players who play titles of the same or similar genre as the game you're making about what mechanics or concepts they would like in a game can also come in handy. At the end you should gather all your inspiration and start making your own plan, try not to copy your inspiration too much but rather use it to enhance your ideas.

Like most of us in Game Development, we are avid video gamers to the core. A decade ago, in one of my classes when I was new to the field, my teacher told me "if you want to be a successful designer, you should start trying a new game for 10-30 minutes, and learn what you can from it, and put it down. Don't get stuck chasing the purple armor." In my travels when I'm reaching for inspiration, I download 20 new games, and play them for a bit, screenshoting UI and features I like, and then save those screenshots to labeled folders, thinking about how I can make them my own. Inspiration can strike anywhere, but you have to be looking like a game designer.. not just a game player..!

In my experience creating my own apps and having worked on other projects, everything can be subject to the dreaded **FEATURE CREEP** You start building and realize "hey I think I want to add this feature.. well if I have that Ill need this too.. and maybe also...." This is natural in most projects as you start to get the creative juices flowing, but the best way to combat this time suck is by spending time BEFORE you start diving into development, to dream up the features and UI of the app. If you dont, I promise the app will begin to slowly turn into the Winchester Mansion (my favorite anology). You will have staircases that lead to ceiling, doors that open to 2nd floor drops, and clunky code that has unnecessary dependancies.

"If you want to go fast, go by yourself. If you want to go far, go with a team" words to live by. Dont be afraid to run your ideas past other people, just know you cant ask everyone everything because *nobody will care about your project as much as you will* So don't worry if people arent receptive to answering your questions, be persistent in creating and try as many solutions as possible. Pick and choose your chances to pick peoples brains.. but also remember, if you ask 10 people, you may get 10 different opinions, so usually 3 people is a good amount of brains to pick for one problem! Keep pressin!

I've learned a lot about managing stress creating my own apps for 4 years now. 1) Its a marathon not a sprint: try and stick to a 5 day work week, come back fresh on monday, and enjoy your weekend! (Its easy to try and push when youre in the zone to days you perhaps shouldn't work, but working late and making mistakes and working late and seeing code in your dreams isn't helping, I promise haha) 2) Get exercise! Even if its just shooting a basketball and chasing after it with nobody to play with (critical!) 3) Try and get natural light as much as possible, sitting near a window, taking 30 seconds off to look out a window every 30 minutes or less, will open your brain up! 4) Relax your jaw and muscles, life is gunna be fine!

The people who are the most successful, are the most persistent. Everything that has been invented all started because someone was just playing around for the fun of it, being an explorer of sorts. That is what's required to be a great at anything, curiously and taking time to play and figure out different solutions to things. Remember LIFE IS FUN! So enjoy it all and keep playing!