So i have autism and im 20 but yet im not sure where to go in life and parents dont really know what to do with me. Im bored and depressed way too much, i feel like i need a outlet or a way to express my possible ideas but im unsure how. Im considering gamedev or working my way up to make games but are there any other things to do alongside? what do you enjoy doing?
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Streaming, vtubing, miniature modeling, woodworking, reading fiction, programming your own videogames, etc.
Just try out new things. You might end up abandoning 99% of them but still you’ll end up knowing more than you knew before trying them out.
Streaming can be a good fit. It’s a way to be social on your own terms from your comfortable space. You get to involve whatever other hobbies or hyperfixations you have at the moment. Almost anything works: games, programming, art, cooking, lego - I’ve even seen people do writing streams. Streaming itself is also as deep of a rabbit hole as you want to go down. You can just dip your toe in or you can learn all about audio, video, and other technical aspects of streaming depending on what catches your interest.
Just, if you do it, just don’t expect anything out of it. Do it for fun and learning. Enjoy the process. I’ve seen many people burn themselves out fast expecting money or viewers just because they go live. But that’s backwards. It’s the people who enjoy it that stick with it and learn. They stream regularly. They hang out in other streams and make friends. Then it doesn’t matter if they only have five people in chat, they’re still happy and having fun.
Collecting shit. Making a list of places to see/visit and tackle it (Museums, antique stores, national parks, brutalist buildings, breweries etc)…
At your age? Just try things. Dont knock it until youve tried it. Theres bound to be things youll enjoy enough to want to do them again.
If you like games and game dev, you are probably better off getting a job doing regular boring non-game programming for some boring company, working 9-5, and then making games as a hobby. Then you can make the game you want at the pace you want with the people you want.
There are plenty of us who enjoy board and card games. I know others have suggested TTRPGs, but those can have an extra layer of anxiety (for me at least) because of all the extra social stuff that goes along with it. Board games typically go faster and each has it’s own rules, so you can find one that suits your needs or even one that is themed around another interest you have.
3D Printing and Modeling
Meshtastic
Learning to fix things (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, automotive, etc)
These are my latest or ongoing hyperfixations.
What’s worked for me is taking things I enjoy as a consumer (computers, music, movies, etc) and trying to learn how to make those things for myself or at least learn more about how they’re made. It gives you amazing amounts of insight into what it takes to get those results and why you might specifically like them.
For computers, learning programming at the low level like a Commodore 64 or similar will help wrap your mind around how modern computers do things.
For music, learning even the basics of making your own will help you pick up on things in your favorite songs that you never noticed before.
For movies, diving into behind-the-scenes material and watching some plot theory channels like Every Frame A Painting or Lessons from the Screenplay will help you catch more intricate and subtle plot elements like foreshadowing that you might not have caught onto.
I started (and partially gave up) music, drawing, woodworking. I stuck to computers, and I am working as a devops engineer. I also read, as much as I can. I guess what I’m trying to say is try things out. You’re young. You’ll find your passion eventually :)
- role playing games, if you can cope with other people
- making models
- skating
- exploring the outdoors; hiking, walking the dog, updating OpenStreetMaps
Tabletop miniature painting and games!
I’ve fallen in love with diamond painting. Doesn’t matter the subject matter, it’s something to do while listen/watching YouTube.
Back in the 90s I was trying cross-stitching, but it took too much concentration for not that much result, but diamond painting is easier to pick up and put down for a while.
Im a bad example, as im also not autistic.
Coding is good if you enjoy puzzles. Drawing is good if you enjoy practice. Music production is good if you enjoy music and music theory.
All 3 of these help in game dev, but can also be used for other things.
Reading, or creative writing yourself! Literally only takes a pen and paper :)
I like baking.
