Game Vision Blurred? Journaling Reality Checks That Work.
Game Vision Blurred? Journaling Reality Checks That Work.
Behind-the-scenes looks are often glamorous. This isn’t one of those. This is about the messy, frustrating, yet ultimately rewarding process of keeping a game dev journal to wrangle an overly ambitious game into something achievable and, more importantly, fun.
Let me introduce you to Sarah. A solo indie dev with a dream: to create an sprawling RPG with intricate crafting, dynamic factions, and a branching narrative that would rival the classics. Her initial game vision was epic, a testament to her passion. She envisioned countless hours lost in her world, players captivated by its depth and complexity.
But then reality hit. Hard.
The Scope Creep Monster
Sarah’s initial exuberance quickly morphed into overwhelm. Deadlines were missed. Burnout loomed. Early playtesters were confused, overwhelmed by the sheer number of systems and options. The dream game was turning into a nightmare. This is a common pitfall: falling in love with the idea of your game, not the reality of its development.
She tried to add "just one more feature", then another, and another. This scope creep is a devious beast, easily disguised as “player value” or "necessary depth". Without a system to combat it, Sarah was spiraling.
This is where the game dev journal saved her.
Journaling to the Rescue: Facing the Truth
Sarah realized she needed to take a step back. Instead of blindly coding, she needed to reflect. She started a game development log. At first, it was just a stream of frustrated thoughts. But gradually, she introduced structured journaling prompts to force herself to confront the core issues. Here are some of the prompts she found most helpful:
What is the core experience I want players to have? Not what features will they use, but how should they FEEL?
- Sarah’s Reflection: “Initially, I wanted them to feel powerful and free. But right now, they probably just feel lost and confused. I’m focusing on systems instead of emotional impact.” This realization was crucial. It highlighted how far she’d strayed from her original intent.
If I could only keep THREE features, which would they be and why? This forces ruthless prioritization.
- Sarah’s Reflection: “Okay, core movement, combat, and the main questline. Everything else is secondary. The crafting system, the dynamic factions… these can be simplified or cut entirely for now.” Ouch. But necessary.
What am I avoiding working on and why? Often, the most important tasks are the scariest or most tedious.
- Sarah’s Reflection: “The tutorial. I hate making tutorials. But players are bouncing off the game because they don’t understand the basic mechanics. I need to tackle this head-on.”
What player feedback consistently comes up and what am I doing about it? Listen to your players; they are seeing your game with fresh eyes.
- Sarah’s Reflection: “Everyone says the UI is cluttered and confusing. I’ve been ignoring this because I don’t want to redesign it. But it’s clearly a major problem.”
She didn’t just answer the prompts; she analyzed them. She looked for patterns, inconsistencies, and underlying fears. It wasn’t easy. It forced her to confront her own limitations and the flaws in her initial vision.
Impact on the Game: From Bloated Mess to Focused Fun
The impact of this journaling process was profound. Sarah started ruthlessly cutting features. The crafting system was simplified. The dynamic factions were streamlined. The tutorial was completely rebuilt. She focused on polishing the core gameplay loop, making it tight and engaging.
Early player feedback improved dramatically. Players understood the game’s core mechanics. They enjoyed the combat. They were engaged by the main quest. The game wasn’t as sprawling as Sarah initially envisioned, but it was fun. And it was achievable.
Sarah learned a valuable lesson: a focused, well-executed game is far more rewarding than an ambitious, but ultimately unfinished, one. Her game dev journal became her compass, guiding her through the turbulent waters of game development.
Avoiding the Pitfalls: Consistency is Key
The biggest challenge with game development journaling is consistency. It’s easy to fall off the wagon when you’re busy coding or feeling discouraged. Here are some tips to stay on track:
- Schedule dedicated journaling time: Treat it like any other important task.
- Keep it short and sweet: Even 10 minutes a day is better than nothing.
- Don’t edit yourself: Just write. Get your thoughts out.
- Review your entries regularly: Look for patterns and insights.
- Use a tool that works for you: Whether it’s a physical notebook, a text editor, or a dedicated game dev journal app, find something that fits your workflow.
Level Up Your Dev Process
Sarah’s journey highlights the power of reflection and structured thinking in game development. A game dev journal, or game development log, isn’t just a diary; it’s a strategic tool for staying focused, combating scope creep, and ultimately creating a better game. By regularly tracking your game development progress, analyzing your decisions, and learning from your mistakes, you can avoid the pitfalls of an unclear vision and bring your game to life.
If you’re ready to take control of your game’s development and avoid the trap of scope creep, a dedicated game development journal can be a game-changer. Check out our selection of game development journaling tools to find the perfect fit for your workflow and start building your dream game, one well-documented step at a time.