Essential 7 Rules for Successful Early Game Demo Feedback

“The first 20 hours are the funnest part of making a game. Then it gets hard.” - Jonathan Blow

That quote stings because it’s true. The initial excitement of a new project can mask fundamental flaws. Early demo feedback is crucial, but it can also be misleading. A positive initial reaction doesn’t guarantee a polished, engaging game. This post will give you seven rules to get real feedback, not just polite nods.

1. Demo With a Scalpel, Not a Sledgehammer

Don’t throw everything you’ve built into your first demo. Focus on the core loop. Is the fundamental gameplay satisfying? Is movement intuitive? Does the core mechanic work?

Each demo should target a specific question. Trying to get feedback on everything at once dilutes the value of the responses. If you want feedback on combat, the demo should emphasize combat. If you want feedback on exploration, the demo should focus on exploration.

2. Ditch the Cheerleaders (Friends & Family)

Your friends and family love you. They probably also want to spare your feelings. Their feedback will likely be biased towards positive reinforcement. That’s nice for your ego, but terrible for your game.

Seek out players who aren’t afraid to be critical. Look for communities focused on your game’s genre. Post in relevant subreddits, Discord servers, or forums. Be prepared for blunt honesty.

3. Ask Specific Questions

“What do you think?” is a terrible question. It’s too broad and invites generic responses. Instead, ask targeted questions that address your specific concerns.

For example, instead of "Did you like the combat?", try:

• “Did the enemy telegraphs feel clear?”
• “Was the dodge roll effective at avoiding damage?”
• “Did the weapon feel impactful?”

The more specific your questions, the more actionable the feedback will be.

4. Embrace the Data Avalanche

You’re going to get conflicting feedback. One player will love the art style; another will hate it. One will find the difficulty too easy; another too hard. Don’t panic.

Resist the urge to immediately implement every suggestion. Instead, look for patterns. Are multiple players struggling with the same obstacle? Do most players find a particular mechanic confusing? These recurring issues are your priorities.

5. Avoid Feature Creep (The Siren Song)

Feedback can be seductive. Players will inevitably suggest new features, mechanics, and content. It’s tempting to chase these ideas, especially if they sound cool.

However, adding features based on early feedback can quickly lead to feature creep. Focus on polishing the core loop first. Only consider adding new features once the fundamentals are solid.

6. Iterate, Don’t Overhaul

Don’t throw away your entire game based on a single piece of negative feedback. Instead, use the feedback to identify areas for improvement and iterate on your existing design.

Small, incremental changes are easier to test and refine. They also allow you to track the impact of each change on the overall gameplay experience. Big changes are hard to revert if you mess them up.

7. Track Your Decisions (The Secret Weapon)

This is where a game dev journal becomes essential. Record all of the feedback you receive, your thoughts on that feedback, and the changes you make to your game in response.

Documenting your development process provides invaluable context. It helps you remember why you made certain design decisions and track the impact of your changes over time. It also allows you to identify patterns in your own thinking and avoid repeating past mistakes. A consistent development log keeps you on track and helps organize your creative process.

Indie developers like Rami Ismail and Brandon Sanderson have spoken extensively about the importance of consistent tracking and reflection in their creative processes.

A game dev journal provides historical context:

• What did you try?
• Why did you try it?
• What were the results?
• What’s next?

Many indie game developers and students swear by it.

For example, if you’re considering changing the movement speed of your character, document your reasoning in your game development log. Note the existing speed, the feedback you received, and your rationale for making the change. Then, after implementing the change, record your observations on how it affects the gameplay experience. It’s also important to document how you arrive at conclusions to stay confident in your game-dev journey.

It’s also essential to track game development progress by maintaining a game dev journal. This practice offers insights into your workflow, identifying potential bottlenecks, and fostering a more efficient creative process. Consider your journal to be a personal repository of knowledge to improve your indie game.

Ready to level up your game development process? Start tracking your progress and recording your insights with our dedicated journaling tool. Click here to start your free game dev journal. It’s specifically designed to help you stay organized, reflect on your decisions, and build better games.