The Cost of Perfect Assets vs "Good Enough" in Indie Games
The Cost of Perfect Assets vs “Good Enough” in Indie Games
Indie game development is a marathon, not a sprint. Obsessing over flawless assets can derail your project before it even has a chance to find its audience.
Perfection is a mirage, especially for solo developers or small teams. Chasing it leads to burnout, feature creep, and ultimately, unfinished games.
This article guides you through the balancing act of asset quality and development time. Learn to identify where “good enough” is, in fact, great.
Recognizing the “Good Enough” Zone
Not every asset needs to be a masterpiece. Focus your artistic energy where it counts most.
Consider the player’s perspective. Will they notice the minute details of a background object during a fast-paced action sequence?
Prioritize key elements: the player character, essential UI, and prominent environmental features. These deserve more polish.
Everything else can often fall into the “good enough” category. This might mean using simpler models, lower-resolution textures, or even placeholder assets initially.
Sourcing and Modifying Assets Effectively
Creating everything from scratch is a time sink. Explore readily available resources.
Asset stores like the Unity Asset Store and Unreal Engine Marketplace are goldmines. Find models, textures, and sound effects that fit your game’s style.
Don’t be afraid to modify existing assets. A simple recolor, texture swap, or model tweak can make an asset feel unique to your game.
Free asset packs are another option, but be mindful of licensing and quality. Ensure the assets are truly free for commercial use.
The Consistency Conundrum: A Warning
Inconsistent asset styles can kill player immersion faster than low-fidelity visuals. A perfectly rendered character in a world of simplistic sprites feels jarring.
Strive for visual cohesion. Choose an art style and stick to it.
A consistent, albeit simpler, art style often provides a more polished and professional look.
Mixing drastically different asset styles creates a disjointed experience, immediately signaling an amateur production. This undermines player engagement.
Shifting Your Mindset: Completion Over Flawlessness
Embrace imperfection. The goal is to finish the game, not achieve visual perfection.
Early feedback is crucial. Get your game into the hands of players as soon as possible.
Iterate based on feedback, focusing on gameplay and overall experience rather than minor visual flaws.
Remember, a fun game with “good enough” graphics is far more valuable than an unfinished visual masterpiece.
Managing Expectations and Emotions Through Development Journaling
Game development is an emotional rollercoaster. Track your progress to stay motivated and manage expectations.
A game dev journal is more than just a log of tasks. It’s a space to record your thoughts, frustrations, and victories.
Documenting your challenges and breakthroughs provides valuable insights into your development process.
It serves as a reminder of how far you’ve come, especially during challenging periods. This is vital for maintaining momentum.
Dedicate time each day to write down what you accomplished, what problems you encountered, and how you feel about the project’s progress.
Consistent note-taking can reveal patterns in your workflow, highlighting areas for improvement.
If this sounds useful for keeping on track with your development cycle, then you may be interested in using our development log tool: documenting your game dev journey.