Fixing the ‘No Deliverables’ Trap in Indie Game Dev
Fixing the ‘No Deliverables’ Trap in Indie Game Dev
Indie game development is often romanticized. The reality? Many passionate devs get stuck in a loop of endless deadlines and little to show for it.
This isn’t about a lack of effort. It’s about falling into the “no deliverables” trap.
This trap occurs when vague goals and perfectionism create a false sense of urgency, leading to constant work without tangible, shippable features. You’re always “almost done,” but never truly finish.
Here’s how to escape that cycle:
1. Recognize the Phantom Deadline
That looming “end of the month” deadline you set? Is it tied to a concrete deliverable, or just a feeling that you “should” be further along?
Phantom deadlines are fueled by abstract goals. “Improve the AI” is a phantom deadline. “AI can now patrol a defined area and react to player sounds” is a deliverable.
Pitfall: Confusing progress with tangible results. Don’t mistake learning a new shader trick with actually implementing it into a level.
2. Deconstruct the Monolith
Large tasks paralyze. Break them down.
Instead of “Create combat system,” think:
- “Player can attack with a basic sword swing.”
- “Enemy takes damage from sword swing.”
- “Damage is displayed as a floating number.”
Each sub-task becomes a mini-deliverable with a clear “done” state.
Pitfall: Trying to solve every edge case upfront. Focus on the core functionality first.
3. Define “Good Enough”
Perfection is the enemy of done. Aim for “good enough” for now. You can always iterate.
That perfect enemy animation? Get a functional, albeit basic, animation working first. Refine it later.
Pitfall: Polishing a feature that might get cut. Prototype first, polish second.
4. Embrace Iterative Playtesting
Regular playtesting provides invaluable feedback. Get your game in front of real players early and often.
This helps identify what actually needs improvement, rather than what you think needs improvement.
Pitfall: Waiting until the “game is ready” to show it to others. The earlier the feedback, the better.
5. Document Your Progress
Keep a game dev journal. Track your successes, failures, and the decisions you made along the way.
Documenting your progress provides clarity, helps identify patterns, and offers a sense of accomplishment. It’s also an invaluable resource for future projects.
Pitfall: Only documenting code. Record your design decisions, artistic choices, and even your emotional state. This provides a holistic view of your development journey.
Indie devs often benefit from tracking how they grow and evolve their processes to stay on task and avoid repeating similar roadblocks. Consider using our journaling tool to document your experiments with this methodology.
6. Prioritize Ruthlessly
Time is finite. Focus on the core features that define your game. Cut anything that doesn’t directly contribute to the player experience.
That elaborate crafting system? Does it truly enhance the gameplay, or is it a distraction? Be honest with yourself.
Pitfall: Feature creep. Resist the urge to add “cool” features that bloat the scope of your project.
7. Celebrate Small Wins
Finishing a small deliverable provides a sense of accomplishment. Acknowledge and celebrate these wins.
This helps maintain motivation and prevent burnout.
Pitfall: Only focusing on the “big picture.” Recognize and appreciate the incremental progress you’re making.
By focusing on small, achievable deliverables, prioritizing iterative development, and letting go of perfectionism, you can escape the “no deliverables” trap and finally ship your game.