When to Use Brief Notes Instead of Long Design Docs

When to Use Brief Notes Instead of Long Design Docs

External factors often dictate how we approach game development documentation. Whether you are a solo developer juggling multiple roles or part of a small indie team working on a jam game, the pressure to document can swing between meticulous detail and complete disorganization. This often leads to either procrastination from over-documenting or chaos from under-documenting.

We interviewed a few developers to explore how they navigate this delicate balance. Their experiences highlight how essential it is to discern when a concise note is more effective than a lengthy design document. This understanding can accelerate development without sacrificing clarity.

The Problem with Over-Documenting

Over-documenting often feels productive but can quickly become a bottleneck. It might seem like you are being thorough, but the reality can be quite different.

“I once spent weeks writing an exhaustive game design document for a relatively small feature,” shared Alex, an indie developer. “I meticulously detailed every possible player interaction and edge case. By the time I finished, the game’s core design had shifted, and half of my documentation was already obsolete. It felt like I was constantly playing catch-up, and the feature still took longer than it should have.”

The pain points are clear: Over-documenting becomes a significant time sink. It leads to analysis paralysis, where the sheer volume of detail prevents actual implementation. Information quickly becomes outdated, forcing constant revisions. This rigid approach also discourages iteration, a vital part of agile game development.

When should you avoid writing a full document? Think about early-stage brainstorming sessions. Avoid lengthy docs for rapidly changing mechanics or short-term tasks. UI/UX mock-ups and internal dev notes are also prime candidates for brief, agile documentation.

The Problem with Under-Documenting

On the flip side, under-documenting can lead to its own set of problems. While it might seem faster initially, the long-term consequences can be severe.

“Early in my career, I prided myself on just ‘diving in’ and coding,” recounted Maria, a game student. “I’d skip notes, relying on my memory. Soon, I was forgetting design decisions, doing redundant work, and encountering miscommunications with my collaborators. It was pure chaos; important ideas would just vanish into thin air, and onboarding new people was a nightmare because there was no record of anything.”

The pain points here are equally disruptive. You risk losing crucial ideas and wasting time on rework. Miscommunication becomes rampant, leading to friction within a team. Onboarding new members is incredibly difficult without any structured game development log. Developers also forget previous design decisions, leading to inconsistent gameplay or art. This lack of a proper game dev journal makes it hard to track game development progress effectively.

When should you avoid going bare bones? Core game loops require clear documentation. Unique selling points should be well-defined. Major system architecture needs careful planning, and any extensive lore Bibles demand proper organization.

The Power of Brief Notes: When and How

The sweet spot lies in using brief, actionable notes that keep ideas alive without stifling progress. It is about capturing enough information to be useful without becoming a burden.

“My system now relies on quick, targeted notes,” explained Ben, a solo developer. “For a new mechanic, I’ll jot down a few bullet points about the core interaction and its purpose. If it involves a UI element, a quick screenshot with an arrow and a few words works wonders. This keeps me moving forward while still ensuring I don’t lose track of important details.”

Here is actionable advice for implementing this approach:

• User Stories/Epics: Use these for high-level features. For example, “As a player, I want to craft basic tools so I can gather advanced resources.” This clarifies the “what” and “why” without getting bogged down in implementation details.
• Bullet Point Lists: These are perfect for quick task breakdowns or brainstorming sessions. Need to list potential enemy types? A simple bullet list suffices. Brainstorming combat abilities? A few bullet points per idea are enough.
• Flowcharts/Diagrams: Visually represent logic or player paths. A simple diagram can quickly convey how a quest progresses or how data flows through a system, far more efficiently than paragraphs of text.
• Screenshots with Annotations: For UI/UX changes or bug reporting, a screenshot marked with arrows and short descriptions is invaluable. It removes ambiguity and quickly communicates visual information.
• Voice Memos/Video Demos: Capture fleeting ideas or demonstrate functionality rapidly. A quick voice memo about a level design idea or a short video demonstrating a new jump mechanic can save hours of writing.

Adopting these methods helps you track game development progress without getting stuck. It keeps your game dev journal concise and practical. This approach ensures your documentation serves as a helpful tool, not a development roadblock.

To truly streamline your workflow and maintain an effective game development log, consider a dedicated journaling tool. Our game dev journaling tool is designed to help indie devs like you keep concise, actionable notes, allowing you to focus on building your game while effectively organizing your creative process.