Tim Schafer has worked on a colorful collection of games over the years, from The Secret of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle to Psychonauts and the upcoming Brutal Legend. Speaking to Destructoid, Schafer commented on the creative process.
"I always believe there's, like, a goose in your head, and the goose either lays golden eggs, or it doesn't," noted Schafer. "I learned that there's this internal sensor you have in your brain that kills your own creative ideas because you are afraid other people will laugh at you ... And you are afraid someone will come by and say to you, 'That's WRONG!,' so you censor yourself."
"Doing that experience with Monkey Island is what taught me that, 'No, actually, you're right.' The stupid ideas that you have are often the best you have, and who cares what anyone else thinks about them? ... So take those dumb ideas and run with them," he continued. "That's what I would encourage people to do: run with their stupid ideas more."
Schafer's advice is not only good for game designers but for anyone who chooses to write in any medium; learning to trust your own internal instinct and being willing to pursue your ideas are vital to creative creations.
