Is Public Devlogs Still Worth It in 2024?

Progress in game development isn’t a single leap; it’s the accumulation of tiny bricks, carefully laid one at a time. Public devlogs, often seen as marketing tools, are actually powerful scaffolds for building that progress, especially in 2024.

Why Devlogs Still Matter for Solo Developers

The game development landscape is noisy. Standing out requires more than just a polished product. It demands authenticity and a connection with potential players. Devlogs, even for small indie projects, offer a window into your process, building trust and generating valuable feedback.

The biggest hurdle? Fear of showing “imperfect” work. Many developers hesitate, believing they need polished demos before sharing anything. This is a trap.

Frame your devlog differently. It’s not just about attracting an audience; it’s about:

• Self-Validation: Documenting progress, no matter how small, proves you’re moving forward. This combats the feeling of being stuck, which is common in solo development.
• Progress Tracking: A devlog serves as a timeline. You can visually see how far you’ve come, motivating you to continue.
• Process Refinement: Regularly reflecting on your work allows you to identify bottlenecks and improve your workflow.

Actionable Steps for Effective Devlogs

Don’t just post screenshots without context. Aim for informative and engaging content. Here’s a template:

1. Start with a Clear Goal: What did you aim to accomplish this week/sprint?
2. Describe Your Process: What steps did you take? What challenges did you face?
3. Show, Don’t Just Tell: Include screenshots, GIFs, or short videos. Visuals are crucial.
4. Explain Your Decisions: Why did you choose a specific art style? Why did you implement a feature in a certain way?
5. Ask for Feedback: Be specific. “What do you think of the UI color scheme?” is better than "What do you think?".
6. End with Next Steps: What are you planning to work on next? This sets expectations.

Example:

“This week, I focused on implementing the player’s inventory system. I initially tried using a grid-based UI, but it felt clunky. After some experimentation, I switched to a list-based system with drag-and-drop functionality. (Include a GIF of the inventory in action). This feels much more intuitive. The biggest challenge was handling item stacking. (Explain the technical solution briefly). Next week, I’ll be working on integrating the inventory with the crafting system. What do you think of the list-based UI compared to a grid? Any suggestions?”

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Inconsistency: The biggest killer of devlogs. Aim for a regular schedule (weekly, bi-weekly). Even a short update is better than nothing.
• Perfectionism: Don’t wait until something is perfect to share it. Embrace the “work in progress” aspect.
• Lack of Focus: Don’t ramble. Stick to the key developments.
• Ignoring Feedback: Actively engage with comments and incorporate suggestions where appropriate.
• Treating it Only as Marketing: Focus on honest documentation and reflection. The audience will come naturally.

Indie developers like Lucas Pope (Papers, Please) have demonstrated the power of raw, honest devlogs. His detailed explanations of technical challenges and design decisions built a dedicated following long before the game’s release.

Extracting Insights from Old Journal Entries

Beyond public devlogs, keep a private game dev journal. This is your personal space for unfiltered thoughts and experiments. Analyzing past entries can reveal valuable patterns.

Here’s how:

1. Review Entries Regularly: Schedule time each month to read through your old entries.
2. Identify Recurring Themes: Are you consistently struggling with the same problems?
3. Track Time Spent: How long did specific tasks take? This helps with future planning.
4. Analyze Emotional State: Were you more productive when you were feeling motivated or stressed?
5. Look for Unexpected Discoveries: Did you stumble upon a solution to a problem while working on something else?

For example, you might notice that you’re consistently underestimating the time required for UI implementation. This indicates a need to either improve your UI skills or allocate more time for UI tasks in future projects. Or perhaps, you find that working in the mornings leads to higher-quality code than working late at night, suggesting that you should block out more time in the mornings for coding.

Keep in mind that devlogs and game dev journals, when used as a system, allow for developers to more effectively track game development progress by allowing the developer to visualize their completed work over time.

Continuously Document Your Journey

The key to unlocking the full potential of devlogs and journaling is consistency. Make it a habit. Experiment with different formats and structures until you find what works best for you. Your devlog is your development diary.

To take your game development journey to the next level, you need a tool to help you stay organized and extract meaningful insights. That’s why we created our game development journal tool. It’s designed to help you track your progress, reflect on your work, and continuously improve your development process.