Top 5 Journals to Track Indie Game Feel: Dev Logs

Top 5 Journals to Track Indie Game Feel: Dev Logs

Indie game development blends creativity and technical skill. Many developers focus on mechanics, code, and art, often overlooking the subtle element of “game feel.” This intangible quality, the way a game feels to play, can make or break the entire experience. This article will guide you on using dev logs as “game feel” journals to iteratively improve your projects.

The Overlooked Power of Game Feel

It’s easy to get caught up in features and forget how they feel in practice. A jump might work technically, but does it feel satisfying? Does the camera movement enhance the experience or distract from it? These subjective elements are crucial.

Ignoring game feel is a common pitfall. Developers assume mechanics are fun, skipping crucial iterative improvements. A clunky animation, a delayed sound effect, or an unresponsive camera can kill player enjoyment, even if the core gameplay loop is solid.

Dev Logs: Your Game Feel Journal

A game dev journal, or development log, isn’t just about tracking progress. It’s a tool for self-reflection. A well-maintained dev log allows you to track not only what you’re building but how it feels while you’re building it.

Track game development progress by incorporating “game feel” observations into your dev log. Document your subjective impressions, experiment with different tweaks, and record the results. This structured approach helps refine your game’s feel.

Structuring Your Game Feel Log

Don’t just write “feels bad.” Be specific. Break down your game into key “feel” elements and address each separately:

1. Camera: Movement, responsiveness, FOV, smoothing.
2. Character: Animations, movement speed, responsiveness, weight.
3. Sound: Effects, music, timing, impact.
4. Controls: Mapping, input lag, responsiveness.
5. UI: Responsiveness, feedback, clarity.

For each element, record:

• Current State: Describe how it feels currently.
• Problem: Identify what’s not working.
• Hypothesis: Propose a solution or change.
• Experiment: Implement the change.
• Result: Did it improve the feel? Why or why not?

Before and After: Game Feel in Action

Let’s look at examples demonstrating how dev logs can transform game feel.

Example 1: Camera Movement

Before (Dev Log Entry - Day 17):

• Current State: Camera follows the player.
• Problem: Feels jerky, especially during fast movement. Motion sickness reported by playtesters.
• Hypothesis: Implement camera smoothing.
• Experiment: Added a Lerp function to smooth camera movement.
• Result: Slightly better, but still feels sluggish. Reduce Lerp speed.

After (Dev Log Entry - Day 22):

• Current State: Camera follows the player, smoothed with Lerp.
• Problem: Initial smoothing felt too slow, unresponsive.
• Hypothesis: Increase Lerp speed, add a slight “lookahead” to anticipate player movement.
• Experiment: Adjusted Lerp speed, added lookahead based on player velocity.
• Result: Significantly improved! Camera feels responsive but smooth. Motion sickness complaints gone.

Example 2: Character Animation

Before (Dev Log Entry - Day 42):

• Current State: Simple walking animation.
• Problem: Animation feels stiff and unnatural. No sense of weight.
• Hypothesis: Add more animation frames, introduce slight head bob, add footstep sound effects.
• Experiment: Created new animation frames, added head bob, implemented footstep sounds.
• Result: Better, but still lacks impact. Head bob too exaggerated. Footstep sounds are off.

After (Dev Log Entry - Day 48):

• Current State: Refined walking animation with head bob and footstep sounds.
• Problem: Head bob was excessive, distracting. Footstep sounds lacked bass and were slightly delayed.
• Hypothesis: Reduce head bob amplitude, adjust footstep sound timing, add more bass to the sound.
• Experiment: Fine-tuned head bob, adjusted footstep timing, modified audio.
• Result: Much improved! Walking feels more natural and grounded. Players commented on the satisfying feeling of movement.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Inconsistency: Skipping days or failing to document properly. Schedule dedicated time for journaling.
• Vagueness: “Feels bad” is useless. Be specific about why it feels bad.
• Ignoring Feedback: Don’t dismiss player feedback, even if subjective. Use it to guide your experiments.
• Fear of Experimentation: Be willing to try radical changes. You can always revert.
• Premature Optimization: Focus on feeling good before optimizing performance.

Consistency is Key

Refining game feel is an ongoing process. Consistently track your observations, experiment with different solutions, and iterate based on the results. Over time, you’ll develop a better understanding of what makes your game feel great.

If you’re looking for a way to stay consistent and keep all of this information organized, consider using our built-in journaling tool designed for game developers to streamline your documentation and track your progress on improving the game feel. start journaling