Shaking Boundaries

I am working on tile images. To reduce the feeling of repetition, I am making slight variations by adjusting the colors based on the basic tiles. However, as I progressed, I realized that it was difficult to clearly distinguish the properties of each tile just by looking at the design. So, I assigned different colors to the borders based on their properties. Now, even if the tile shapes vary, they can be easily distinguished by color.

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As I continued working, various questions arose. “Is this the right approach? Do I really need this many tiles? Won’t the diverse tiles and colors make the game look cluttered? What if the border colors are not as effective as I expected in distinguishing the tiles?” I know that perfection is impossible, but if my current work turns out to be useless, not only would my time and effort be wasted, but I would also have to come up with a new approach. These concerns lingered in my mind throughout the process.

While writing this journal, a thought suddenly occurred to me — I have often written about failure. This tile project could also end in failure, and failure always comes with a price. However, when faced with the moment of paying that price, the beliefs I held firmly began to waver. Is this a natural part of being human? Or is it simply a sign of inexperience? If it’s inexperience, then I should take bolder steps, fail boldly, and grow my capabilities. Big mistakes make small ones seem insignificant. But if this is just a natural process, then there’s nothing I can do but accept it and move forward, enduring the pain along the way.

Once I finish the work and implement the tiles in the game, I won’t be able to escape these questions until I see how they actually appear on screen. Only after checking the results will I find the answers. It won’t be perfect, but will it at least resemble what I envisioned? Or will it look clumsier than expected? In the end, the only way to end this frustration is to finish quickly and see the results.

Today’s journal reminds me of how I used to write in the past. I used to organize my thoughts by writing them down whenever I had concerns. It felt good to revisit that old habit after a long time.