How to Build a Game Design Journal for Deeper Understanding

Project Chimera: How a Game Dev Journal Saved Us From Disaster

We’re here today to discuss a near-fatal incident: Project Chimera. What began as a passion project – a genre-bending RPG with innovative crafting mechanics – nearly imploded due to a lack of clear documentation and consistent design decisions.

Internal reports point to a chaotic development process, riddled with feature creep and conflicting design philosophies. Early builds showed promise, but as the project scaled, the lack of a centralized design vision became painfully obvious. Core mechanics were reworked multiple times, art assets were created and then scrapped, and team morale plummeted.

The autopsy revealed the core problem: a failure to track design intentions and rationale. Decisions were made in isolation, feedback was inconsistently implemented, and emergent design insights were lost in the noise.

However, Project Chimera wasn’t canceled. Instead, we implemented a new strategy: a comprehensive game design journal.

The Game Design Journal: A Retrospective Rescue

Think of a game design journal as your project’s single source of truth. It’s a living document that captures the “why” behind every design choice, tracks iterations, and records key feedback. It’s not just about listing features; it’s about understanding the reasoning behind them.

We started the Project Chimera journal mid-development, which was challenging, but ultimately successful. We recommend starting yours from day one.

Step-by-Step Guide: Building Your Game Design Journal

Whether you prefer a physical notebook or a digital document, the principles are the same. Here’s how to create and maintain a game design journal that will prevent future “Chimera-like” disasters:

1. Choose Your Medium

• Physical Notebook: Offers tactile feel and freedom from distractions. Great for brainstorming and sketching.
• Digital Document (Google Docs, Notion, etc.): Searchable, easily shareable, and allows for multimedia integration (screenshots, videos).
• Dedicated Software (like our tool): Offers structured templates, version control, and collaborative features.

2. Structure Your Entries

Every entry should follow a consistent format. Here’s a template you can adapt:

• Date: Essential for tracking progress over time.
• Topic: A concise description of the design area you’re focusing on (e.g., “Combat System Revision,” “Level 3 Layout”).
• Design Intention: What are you trying to achieve with this design? (e.g., “Make combat more engaging,” “Improve player flow in Level 3”).
• Rationale: Why are you making these specific choices? (e.g., “Increased enemy aggression will force players to use cover,” “Widening the corridor will reduce player frustration”).
• Implementation Details: How will you implement this design? (e.g., “Increase enemy attack frequency by 20%,” “Widen corridor by 1 meter”).
• Iteration Feedback: What feedback have you received on this design? (e.g., “Playtesters found the combat too difficult,” “Players got lost in the widened corridor”).
• Next Steps: What actions will you take based on the feedback? (e.g., “Reduce enemy damage,” “Add visual cues to guide players”).
• Emergent Insights: Unexpected discoveries or learnings. (e.g., “Players enjoyed using specific weapon types,” “The widened corridor actually made the level feel less claustrophobic”).

3. Example Prompts

Stuck on what to write? Use these prompts to get started:

• “What problem am I trying to solve with this design?”
• “What are the potential consequences of this change?”
• “How does this design align with the overall vision of the game?”
• “What assumptions am I making?”
• “What are the risks associated with this approach?”

4. Consistency is Key

The value of a game design journal comes from consistent use. Aim to make at least one entry per development session. Even brief notes are better than nothing. The key is to make it a habit.

Common pitfalls to avoid:

• Skipping Entries: Leads to gaps in your knowledge and an incomplete record.
• Being Too Vague: Specificity is crucial for understanding your thought process later.
• Ignoring Feedback: The journal is a tool for incorporating feedback, not dismissing it.
• Letting it Gather Dust: Regularly review your journal to identify patterns and insights.

5. Real-World Advice from Indie Developers

We spoke with several indie developers who use game design journals. The consensus is clear: a well-maintained journal is invaluable for staying organized, making informed decisions, and avoiding costly mistakes.

One developer noted, “My journal saved me from scrapping a feature I had previously dismissed. Rereading my initial notes, I realized I had overlooked a key element.”

Another developer emphasized the importance of tracking feedback: “I use my journal to document every playtest session. This helps me identify recurring issues and prioritize fixes.”

6. The Project Chimera Turnaround

After implementing the game design journal, Project Chimera experienced a significant turnaround. Design decisions became more deliberate and consistent. The team had a centralized reference point for understanding the game’s vision. Feature creep was minimized, and morale improved.

The journal also revealed several critical flaws in the initial design that were previously overlooked. By addressing these issues, we were able to salvage the project and release a game that, while not perfect, was a significant improvement over the initial trajectory.

Take Control of Your Project

A game design journal isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s an essential tool for any serious game developer. It helps you track your progress, stay organized, and make informed decisions. More importantly, it fosters a deeper understanding of your design choices, preventing future development catastrophes.

Ready to take control of your game development process? Start tracking design intentions and rationale using our comprehensive journaling tool today and avoid your own “Project Chimera” scenario! start your design journey