The Indie Dev's Guide to Keeping Devlogs vs. Postmortems

The Indie Dev’s Guide to Keeping Devlogs vs. Postmortems

Remember “Project Phoenix,” the pixel-art RPG that promised innovative combat and a gripping story? It launched on Kickstarter with a slick trailer and a passionate pitch. Yet, it crashed and burned, failing to reach even half its funding goal. Why? The postmortem revealed a crucial flaw: a lack of consistent engagement with the community during development. The devs focused on the final product, neglecting to bring potential backers along for the journey.

This leads us to a critical question: Devlog or postmortem? When do you use which?

A devlog is your ongoing record of game development. Its purpose is to share progress, build community, and gather feedback. A postmortem is a retrospective analysis conducted after a significant milestone (launch, major update, cancellation). It’s about learning from successes and failures.

Top Mistakes to Avoid When Keeping Devlogs

Many indie devs start devlogs with the best intentions, but fall into common traps. Let’s look at some of these and how to sidestep them.

Inconsistency

A sporadic devlog is a dead devlog. Aim for a regular schedule, even if it’s just a small update once a week. Batching content creation can help. Set aside a dedicated block of time to write multiple posts or record several videos at once. This prevents the “devlog dread” when you’re busy with core development.

Lack of Transparency

Don’t only showcase your victories. Share your struggles, your experiments, and even your failures. This builds trust with your audience. Show the messy parts of development.

It’s also useful to provide feedback mechanisms and be honest about why feedback feels useful even when it isn’t actionable. Sometimes the user just wants to feel heard.

Ignoring or Dismissing Feedback

Actively solicit feedback. Ask specific questions about gameplay mechanics, art style, or story elements. Respectfully address concerns, even if you disagree. Explain your reasoning. Not all feedback is actionable. Learn to filter it. Is it constructive? Does it align with your vision? Is it feasible within your resources?

Vagueness and Lack of Visuals

Walls of text are a devlog killer. Break up your posts with screenshots, GIFs, and videos. Show, don’t just tell. A short clip of a new mechanic in action is far more engaging than a lengthy explanation.

Treating it Like a Marketing Dump

A devlog isn’t just a place to promote your game. It’s a window into your development process. Focus on sharing insights, challenges, and behind-the-scenes content. The marketing will come naturally as you build a community.

Devlogs vs. Postmortems - A Detailed Comparison

Let’s break down the key differences.

• Audience: Devlogs are for potential players, community members, and fellow developers. Postmortems are primarily for yourself and your team (if applicable).
• Timing: Devlogs are ongoing, updated regularly throughout development. Postmortems are created after a milestone.
• Content: Devlogs focus on current progress, upcoming features, and challenges. Postmortems analyze what went right, what went wrong, and lessons learned.
• Goal: Devlogs aim to build community, gather feedback, and create anticipation. Postmortems aim to improve future development practices.

The Synergistic Approach: How Devlogs and Postmortems Work Together

A well-maintained devlog provides invaluable data for your postmortem. It’s a record of your decisions, your challenges, and your community’s feedback. Use it to identify patterns, track progress, and understand the impact of your choices. Conversely, the insights from your postmortem can inform your future devlog content. Address past mistakes, explain how you’re improving, and involve your audience in the solutions.

Actionable Advice

Here’s how to create effective devlogs and postmortems:

1. Choose a platform: Options include personal websites, game development forums, social media, or dedicated devlog tools.
2. Establish a schedule: Commit to a regular posting frequency (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly).
3. Define your content pillars: What topics will you consistently cover in your devlog (e.g., art, programming, design)?
4. Solicit feedback: Ask specific questions and encourage discussion.
5. Document everything: Keep a running journal of your development process.
6. Reflect regularly: Schedule time to review your progress, identify challenges, and adjust your approach.
7. Use a postmortem template: Structure your analysis with sections for successes, failures, lessons learned, and action items.

Consistently tracking your progress, documenting challenges, and reflecting on your decisions is crucial for growth as an indie dev. Consider using a game dev journal to organize your thoughts, track your progress, and make informed decisions along the way. Start your journey today with our game dev journal template! Start Journaling Now!