5 Scope Trends Every Dev Should Know
The thrill of starting a new game project is electrifying, a burst of creative energy that makes anything seem possible. Yet, as days turn into weeks, that initial spark can dim, often eclipsed by an ever-growing list of “must-have” features and an increasingly blurry finish line. This struggle with ballooning ideas is a common rite of passage for indie developers.
Trend 1: The “Everything But the Kitchen Sink” Syndrome
Imagine a chef determined to create the ultimate dish by throwing every single ingredient into one pot. The result is rarely a masterpiece; it’s usually an unidentifiable mess. Similarly, the “Everything But the Kitchen Sink” Syndrome describes the urge to cram every cool idea into your game, leading to an over-complicated, unfocused experience.
To avoid this, first, define your game’s core loop in one sentence. Next, list all desired features. Finally, ruthlessly cut anything that doesn’t directly serve that core loop, prioritizing only the essential mechanics.
Trend 2: The “Just One More Feature” Trap
This trap is like trying to build a house by adding “just one more brick” without a blueprint, never declaring a wall finished. Each small addition feels minor, but cumulatively, they derail your project, making it feel endless.
Combat this by setting strict feature lock-downs. Before starting a development phase, define exactly what features will be included in that phase. Once the phase begins, resist adding anything new until that set of features is complete and reviewed.
Trend 3: The “Perfectionist’s Paradox”
Consider an artist endlessly refining a single brushstroke on a masterpiece, never deeming it perfect enough to declare the painting finished. The “Perfectionist’s Paradox” is the endless polishing and tweaking that prevents your game from ever seeing the light of day.
Establish clear “done” criteria for every task and feature. Once those criteria are met, move on. Embrace imperfection for timely launches; a released, imperfect game is always better than a perfectly unfinished one.
Trend 4: The “Unrealistic Timeline” Delusion
Planning a cross-country road trip without accounting for gas stops, food breaks, or unexpected detours is an analogy for the “Unrealistic Timeline” Delusion. It’s the common underestimation of development time, leading to burnout and missed deadlines.
Break down your project into the smallest possible tasks. Estimate the time for each task individually, then add a significant buffer—at least 20-30%—for unexpected challenges. Regularly track game development progress against these estimates.
Trend 5: The “Solo Dev Overload”
A one-person band trying to play every instrument simultaneously quickly becomes overwhelmed and ineffective. This illustrates the “Solo Dev Overload,” where individual developers try to do every aspect of game creation themselves.
Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. For areas outside your expertise or where you’re struggling, consider simplifying the concept, outsourcing specific tasks like art or sound, or finding a collaborator. Keeping a game dev journal can help you identify these areas early.
By understanding these common scope trends, you can actively steer your projects toward completion. Recognizing these patterns early allows you to pivot effectively, maintaining your motivation and ensuring your grand vision translates into an achievable, enjoyable game. To effectively track your game development progress, manage features, and maintain consistency with your devlogs, consider utilizing a dedicated tool. Many indie developers find immense value in keeping a game development log, and for good reason. It’s an invaluable practice for keeping tabs on your progress, documenting decisions, and staying accountable. We built a powerful tool specifically designed for this purpose. Discover how our game development log tool can help you maintain your vision and ship your game.