How Much Can You Make with Game Dev Journaling?

The Ghost of Project Mirage: A Post-Mortem in Memory Loss

“Project Mirage” was meant to be my magnum opus, a sprawling RPG that would redefine indie gaming. It ended, not with a bang, but with a whimper, buried under a mountain of forgotten details and repeated mistakes. My fatal flaw? Believing my future self would remember everything.

We developers often operate under “the memory myth.” We trust our brains to recall design pivots, bug fixes, and playtest feedback, even weeks or months later. The truth is, our memory is fallible, especially when juggling the myriad tasks of solo game development. This reliance on an internal hard drive, prone to corruption and data loss, is why “Project Mirage” became a cautionary tale. A proper game dev journal could have saved it.

The Pain Points of Forgetfulness: Mirage’s Downfall

Imagine this: two weeks into development, I decided to scrap a complex combat system for a simpler, turn-based approach. A month later, debugging a UI element, I found myself re-implementing logic for the original combat system, completely forgetting the pivot. That was a week wasted, pure and simple. A game development log would have documented that crucial design shift, with a timestamp and the reasons why.

Then there were the bugs. A persistent animation glitch kept reappearing. Each time, I’d spend hours re-tracing the same steps, re-trying the same fixes. It was only after the third or fourth recurrence that I realized I was repeating myself. A game dev journal with a dedicated bug and solution log would have immediately highlighted the previous attempts, guiding me to a different, ultimately successful, solution.

Early playtest feedback was another casualty. Players loved the concept, but pointed out specific UI annoyances. I jotted down a few notes on a scrap of paper, which, predictably, vanished. Weeks later, those same UI issues were still present, leading to frustrated re-tests and a significant re-work. Capturing this feedback in a structured way, perhaps in a game development log, would have made addressing it a priority.

Perhaps the most insidious issue was the “why” behind features. An elaborate crafting system, conceived in a late-night burst of inspiration, seemed brilliant at the time. Months later, it felt clunky and unnecessary. I couldn’t for the life of me remember the original justification for its complexity. Had I documented the thought process, the alternatives considered, and the expected outcomes, I might have course-corrected earlier, saving countless hours of development time. This highlights the importance of using a game dev journal to track game development progress beyond just tasks.

The Turnaround: How Journaling Saves the Day

Let’s imagine a parallel universe where “Project Mirage” flourished. This developer, wise to the pitfalls of memory, started a game dev journal from day one.

When that combat system pivot happened, they wrote down the date, the old system, the new system, and the rationale: “Simplified combat for faster pacing, better for mobile optimization.” Later, facing the UI debugging, a quick glance at their journal confirmed the combat system change, preventing wasted effort.

That pesky animation bug? Documented meticulously in their game development log: “Date, Bug: Player character sometimes T-poses after dodging. Attempt 1: Checked animation blend tree, no issues. Attempt 2: Verified script order, still persists. Attempt 3: Found conflicting physics collider, resolved by disabling on dodge.” With this clear history, the repeated mistake was impossible.

Playtest feedback was logged systematically: “Playtest Session 1, Player A: UI buttons too small on mobile. Player B: Inventory scrolling feels janky.” This allowed them to prioritize fixes, ensuring all feedback was addressed.

And that sprawling crafting system? Their game dev journal entry read: “Idea: Complex crafting system with branching recipes. Why: Adds depth, encourages exploration. Alternative: Simpler ‘pick-up-and-use’ system. Expected Outcome: Engaged players, but risk of overwhelming.” Months later, reviewing this entry, they realized the “risk of overwhelming” had become a reality. They then made an informed decision to simplify the system, saving precious time. This systematic approach to a game dev journal helped them track game development progress with precision.

Checklist for Effective Game Dev Journaling

Ready to salvage your own “Project Mirage” and truly track game development progress? Here’s a practical checklist for your game dev journal:

• Daily Log: At the end of each dev session, briefly note what you accomplished, any obstacles you encountered, and new insights gained. This creates a chronological record of your efforts.
• Decision Tracking: Whenever you make a significant design or technical decision, document it. State the decision, the alternatives you considered, the reasons behind your choice, and the anticipated outcome.
• Bug & Solution Log: This is critical. For every bug, record when it appeared, its symptoms, the steps you took to diagnose it, and the exact solution. Also, note the root cause if you can identify it.
• Idea & Brainstorm Capture: Our brains are great at generating ideas, terrible at holding onto them. Jot down every fleeting inspiration, game mechanic, or narrative twist. Even if you don’t use it now, it might spark something later.
• Emotional & Mental State: Game development is a rollercoaster. Briefly note how you’re feeling. Are you hitting burnout? Feeling incredibly motivated? Recognizing these patterns helps you maintain long-term well-being and productivity.
• Retrospectives & Learnings: Schedule regular check-ins (weekly, bi-weekly). Review your progress, assess what went well, what didn’t, and what lessons you’ve learned. This meta-reflection is invaluable.
• Tooling & Consistency: The best tool is the one you’ll actually use. Whether it’s a simple text file, a dedicated app, or a physical notebook, pick something you find easy to access and maintain. Consistency is key. Make journaling a habit.

Don’t let your next great game become another “Project Mirage.” Start documenting your journey today. If you’re looking for a simple, intuitive way to kickstart your game dev journaling habit and consistently track game development progress, explore our specialized tools. You can find out more and get started on your own comprehensive game development log right now.