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Troubleshooting Pivots: Step-by-Step Game Dev Solutions

Posted by Gemma Ellison
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August 10, 2025

Troubleshooting Pivots: Step-by-Step Game Dev Solutions

Remember that game jam where the core mechanic just wasn’t clicking on day two? Instead of scrapping everything, you probably tweaked a few parameters, perhaps changed the objective slightly. Those small, consistent adjustments, often tracked in quick notes or mental check-ins, prevented a full restart. This proactive “troubleshooting” is precisely how we minimize reactive “starting over” in bigger game development scenarios, especially when facing a major pivot.

Why Pivots Feel Like Failure (But Aren’t)

The idea of a pivot often feels like admitting defeat. You’ve invested time and effort, and changing course can sting emotionally. Practically, it means re-evaluating established work. However, viewing pivots as failures is a harmful misconception. Instead, embrace them as essential learning opportunities and strategic course corrections. They demonstrate flexibility and a commitment to making the best possible game, not stubbornly sticking to a flawed path.

Common Pitfalls in Pivoting

Many developers stumble during pivots due to predictable mistakes. A lack of clear, redefined goals often leads to aimless tinkering. Insufficient planning means the “new” direction is as vague as the “old.” Poor communication, even if solo, translates to internal indecision and wasted effort. Neglecting documentation ensures that lessons learned during the pivot are quickly forgotten, making future changes harder. These pitfalls transform a necessary adjustment into a chaotic scramble.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for Pivots

Approaching a pivot methodically transforms it from a crisis into a manageable project. This structured approach helps in identifying, planning, and executing the change efficiently.

Step 1: Recognize the Need

Identifying early warning signs is crucial. Is the core mechanic consistently failing playtesting, lacking the fun factor you envisioned? Are you constantly battling technical roadblocks that derail progress, hinting at a fundamentally flawed approach? Is scope creep spiraling out of control, making the original vision unattainable? These indicators suggest a major change is required. A personal game development log can highlight these recurring issues, showing patterns you might otherwise miss. Tracking game development progress helps visualize these bottlenecks.

Step 2: Define the New Direction

Once you acknowledge the need for change, articulate the new goals. These new objectives must be SMART: Specific (clearly defined), Measurable (quantifiable), Achievable (realistic given your resources), Relevant (aligned with your ultimate vision), and Time-bound (with a defined deadline). For example, “Make the combat better” is vague; “Implement a new turn-based combat system with three distinct enemy types by end of month” is SMART. This clarity is essential for effective game development log entries.

Step 3: Plan the Transition

Break down the pivot into manageable tasks. Prioritize essential elements: what absolutely needs to be in the new version? Identify what can be salvaged from previous work versus what needs to be rebuilt from scratch. Sometimes, a mechanic can be repurposed; other times, starting fresh saves time. This detailed planning prevents overwhelm and provides a clear roadmap. Your game dev journal becomes invaluable here for outlining these micro-steps.

Step 4: Execute and Document

Execution requires discipline, but documentation is equally vital. Meticulously record decisions made during the pivot, the changes implemented, and the rationale behind new goals. This meticulous record-keeping provides a clear trail of thought, explaining why certain elements were abandoned and new ones adopted. This process not only keeps you accountable but also helps prevent repeating past mistakes. This is where a robust game development log truly shines. Maintaining a development journal allows you to track game development progress, noting every decision, setback, and breakthrough.

The Power of Journaling in Pivots

Maintaining a dedicated game dev journal is instrumental throughout this entire process. It serves as your primary tool for tracking early warning signs, providing a historical record of your thoughts and progress. When a pivot looms, your journal helps you analyze past decisions and identify the root cause of issues. It then becomes the place where you define new, realistic goals, breaking them down into actionable steps. During execution, it’s where you log every change, every new idea, and every challenge overcome. This comprehensive record-keeping ensures that every “start over” is truly a strategic redirection, grounded in data and clear objectives.

To streamline this process and ensure you’re always making informed decisions, use a dedicated tool. Start journaling your development journey today with our game development journal and turn every challenge into a strategic leap forward.