   Focus on game development
  I am noticing that many programmers whose main skill is programming only focus on the technical assets of game development rather then both the technical and creative. I see game development as a largely creative field anyway.I started game development learning programming, with basic, gml, some C/C++, learning python (may use python instead now) Worked with a few projects and a few teams, almost have my own graveyard of failed projects, or unfinished projects (they outweigh the actual finish projects). I think the main issue with why it is I have completed few projects and 0 original serious projects is because when I was programming many of those who taught me only had me focus on the technical side of things.what I'm getting at mainly is that shouldn't game development be both about technical and creativity? Some of the students I talk with look down on engines like game maker, while other people who are good programmers (like Paul Eres, or Derek Yu(who is technically an artist))tend to use anything and aren't so prone to look down on low level anything.A question on paul eres Formspring 'Why do you use Game Maker? by telryth'"cause it simplifies unimportant aspects of game development and lets me concentrate on the game"Yet I find it hard to see many people who focus on completing a good original game. What do people focus on in game development? About 2 years ago I decided to do game development as a career (2 years ago I was 16) Not to say I haven't been working with it for longer, I just decided to pursue it as a career instead of a hobby. Mainly I want to do art, but I've been learning programming, and music as well in the hopes that I can do Indie game development and focus on everything.   
  Developing tech which could 'theoretically' be used to create awesome experiences tends to be a lot more fun than actually buckling down and making an experience. It's a lot less work and allows you to feel happy thinking of all the awesome things that 'could' be done with it.Also, generally the technical designs are creative. It's not 'art' creative. It's not creative you would hang on a gallery wall or creative you would show in a theatre. It's behind-the-scenes creative. It's code-monkey creative.Which is why most people do not actually want to make games. They want games to be made. When faced with the harsh reality that content creation is almost always tedious as all hell, suddenly people have lots of projects on their plates and nothing is getting done.As for things like Game Maker specifically, they only cut out unimportant tasks if your game happens to fit perfectly into the functionality they offer. If it does, fantastic! If not, it sucks pretty bad.   ;  Yea I agree with you. Many programmers I know have stuck to creating tech, I more like to focus on the game rather then on the tech.   ;Quote:Original post by Bearrick92I am noticing that many programmers whose main skill is programming only focus on the technical assets of game development rather then both the technical and creative.I think a lot of your post has to do with project scope and size. For example, in a large, well-funded project a programmer whose main skill is programming must stick to programming since he doesn't want to lose focus, anger the producers/managers, or be outclassed in a domain where he has only a modicum of skill, such as 3d modeling, whatever. The other end of the spectrum is the solo project of an individual with very little funding. A jack of all trades is needed here. Superior programming ability without thought provoking artistic creativity will fail without a doubt.Maybe there exists some mythical project where all its participants are equally weighted polymaths and that the project is destined to become a resounding success. If you're on an indie team and some members do diverse tasks, which seem at odds with each other, through the lens of your original post, then that is sublime. I say there is nothing wrong with it and you should go for it if that makes you happy. Just because a person is good at programming doesn't mean they must suck at art and writing, but maybe they will.   ;  Yea for awhile I had worked with big projects but now I'm doing small ones.Many programmers usually don't do much art, even if they are bad at art a large majority ask for help from artist which is fine cause they get someone with experience in the subject, or some just use ripped art.   