Last week I hit the first milestone in my solo development journey of Isopyr. Bring out the fireworks! This is an acomplishment mostly due to its rarity as it is a seldom occurence in my projects to get this far. Now do not get me wrong when i use the word far, this is still but a fraction of the path needed to finish the game, but I think it is an important step.

I find great joy in starting something new. Initially my interest is peaked and I am excited with dreams of what it can become. Thinking mostly of the final project in all of its potential. This ecstatic demeanor last for a day or two before reality hits in. The hours of bugging, the uninteresting complications of it all and an understanding of the work required. This is where most of my projects dies (I would show you my project graveyard, but...). If you work through this phase you will feel many things, a few being pride, acomplishment and "long-term happiness".

The latter of the three is what I am trying to get better at achieving, but I feel it requires discipline. It is so easy to get distracted with anything from social media to short cat videos. Youtube is my kryptonite and I have spent many hours in its firm grasp. It gives me an entirely different type of joy, namely "short-term happiness". While I am happy in the moment it quickly fades away, heck I am not sure I can tell you what videos I watched whilst writing this post. Therefore I mostly feel regret and being wishful I spent my time otherwise after using Youtube.

With this in mind I want to iterate how important this first milestone is to me. If anything it is a battle won in the war against Youtube. I prevailed and did something meaningful, I have no regrets of my time spent the last weekends and will live on this for a while. In writing this I look forward to the next milestone, for the war is not over yet.

//Julian