What are the best ways to stay motivated on long-term Gaming Industry projects?

Not only should milestones be realistic, but also well defined and understood. Be specific in what each milestone's needs are so that everyone working toward them understands what it is they need to do in order to achieve the goals of the milestone. It can be incredibly demotivating to think you're close or even done with a milestone only to find out that you still have more work to do. This can be doubly problematic if you have payments attached to those milestones or if the defined goals aren't understood at the same level between your studio and your publisher. So make sure the milestone expectations are clear, defined, specific, and understood by everyone involved. Keep it accessible and even displayed prominently.

Building a natural healthy relationship is essential for any team before discussing work. Deliberately practicing one-to-one catchup sessions every month and getting to know each of your team members individually appreciate compassion, gratitude, and empathy. With time this noble practice will ease any conflicts or trouble you may face in the production journey. Always remember to value the creators and they'll ease the process.

Build. Your. Relationships. Live candidly. When you're having a hard time, you likely aren't alone! If something is off to you, it most likely is. Trust your instincts and speak up to someone you have a good relationship with. Sometimes it is just to lighten the load or say something out loud, but if there are substantial issues, bringing up a problem with your solution could be a good way of getting you back on track for your motivation and mindset.

Seeking inspiration and feedback is a dynamic process that reinvigorates your commitment to long-term projects. In my role, I've found that stepping into the user's shoes often unveils insights that can dramatically shift our development perspective. Engaging with a diverse array of genres and platforms also injects fresh ideas into our workflow. Most importantly, cultivating a culture where feedback is actively sought and constructively given is crucial. This not only challenges your assumptions but also galvanises teams towards innovation and continuous improvement.

From the conceptualization stage ask "Why I'm doing it?" and "What is the big reward?". Then print and stick it on your inspiration wall. This is helpful throughout the ups and downs in the production journey. Never take any feedback or criticism personally, and always remember to align yourself and the team on the goal of the product/game.

Aligning your personal goals with the project goals can also help set a direction and give you some additional firepower to make the requests for what you want (education, tools, another person's time). If you can find your interest in you, doing the work on the project definitely becomes easier.

Short breaks are a must! I know it's difficult, but taking a step back and focusing on other stuff is vital for good deliveries. Hang out with your friends or play that awesome new game. FORCE yourself to it if you must. You are NOT a machine. Take a rest. Work will be there tomorrow, but your friends or loved ones may not.

It is important to understand that your team is working as hard as you, therefore the rewards should be equal. Additionally, gift cards with reward points for family members or loved ones will be appreciated enormously, it's empathetic to forward the celebration to every home to show gratitude for their support.

Have a long-term view on the project. Understand the milestones. Understand your progress vs plan. Know where you are on your journey.

Take real breaks to allow yourself the opportunity to re-engage and be excited by the project you're working on. A little healthy distance helps reinvigorate drive and productivity. Don't spend 100% of your time constantly doing the same thing; variety is what makes us more creative. It is also always worth a look at how the game is affecting and enriching players' lives. There is so much energy and inspiration to draw from positive stories of how players are engaging with your game and that can give you a boost in motivation even if a project has been going on for years.

It goes hand in hand with rewarding yourself and setting milestones, but giving yourself something to look forward to in a day, in a week, in a month, in a quarter, in a half-year and/or in a year. They can be work related or not, they can be developmental or just for fun. It breaks up monotony, it shifts your focus into the present and what is in your control and what is now.

Ten una conexión emocional con el proyecto, sobre todo si es a largo plazo, busca un proyecto que te emocioné. Un proyecto a largo plazo tiene muchas subidas y bajadas incluso momentos donde podría estar cerca de cancelarse. Para mantenerte entusiasmado, lo principal, opino yo, es que tengas una conexión emocional con el desarrollo!