Troubleshooting Risks: Project Tracking Step-by-Step Solutions

Posted by Gemma Ellison

July 31, 2025

Troubleshooting Risks: Project Tracking Step-by-Step Solutions for Indie Game Devs

So, you’re building a game. Great! But “building” isn’t enough. You need to know if you’re building, what you’re building, and how fast you’re building. Untracked projects quickly become untethered from reality. Let’s talk about how to avoid that.

Step 1: Define Your Tracking Metrics

What are you actually going to measure? “Progress” is too vague. Instead, focus on tangible milestones. For example:

Code: Number of lines of code written (per feature). Number of bugs fixed. Commits per week.
Art: Number of assets created (characters, environments, UI). Time spent on each asset.
Design: Number of levels designed. Game mechanics implemented. Playtest feedback documented.
Audio: Number of sound effects and music tracks created. Integration into the game.

These are just examples. The key is to pick metrics that directly reflect your game’s development. Avoid vanity metrics like social media followers; focus on actual progress.

Step 2: Choose Your Tools (Keep it Simple)

Don’t overcomplicate this. For solo devs, a spreadsheet can be surprisingly effective. Rows are tasks, columns are metrics (status, estimated time, actual time, dependencies, etc.). Project management software (Trello, Asana, Jira) can be helpful, especially for teams, but don’t spend more time managing the tool than managing the project.

Remember that a simple tool, consistently used, is infinitely better than a complex tool you abandon after a week. Don’t chase the newest shiny app.

Step 3: Estimate, Then Track Everything

Estimate the time needed for each task before you start. This is crucial. Your initial estimations will be terrible. That’s okay. The point is to improve them over time. Track the actual time spent on each task. Compare estimated vs. actual. Analyze the discrepancies. Are you consistently underestimating art tasks? Are coding tasks taking longer than expected due to unforeseen bugs? These deviations are risks in disguise.

For example, if you constantly underestimate the time it takes to create character animations, that reveals a risk: your art pipeline is slower than anticipated. This could lead to feature cuts or delays down the line. Tracking highlights the problem early.

Step 4: Regular Reviews (The Retrospective)

Set aside time each week (or every two weeks) to review your progress. Look at your tracking data. Are you on schedule? Are there any tasks that are consistently behind? Why? Dig deeper.

During these reviews, ask yourself:

What went well?
What didn’t go well?
What could be improved?

Document these reviews. The act of writing forces you to think critically about your process.

Step 5: Communication is Key (Even for Solos)

Even as a solo dev, you’re communicating with yourself. Be honest. Don’t sugarcoat your progress. If you’re stuck, admit it. If you’re demotivated, acknowledge it. Writing things down makes them real and addressable.

If you’re working with a team, transparent communication is even more critical. Share your tracking data. Discuss roadblocks openly. Don’t let problems fester.

Common Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)

Inaccurate Estimations: This is inevitable early on. Track everything, analyze the data, and refine your estimations over time. Break down tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.
Scope Creep: Adding features without adjusting the timeline. This is a classic. Ruthlessly prioritize your core features. Defer nice-to-haves until later (or cut them entirely). Use your tracking data to illustrate the impact of new features on the timeline.
Communication Breakdowns: Not sharing progress or roadblocks. Establish clear communication channels. Use project management software to track tasks and communicate updates.
Ignoring the Data: Collecting data but not analyzing it. What’s the point? Make time for regular reviews.
Over-Reliance on Tools: Spending more time managing the tools than building the game. Keep it simple. Use what works for you.

Why All This Matters

Tracking isn’t just about knowing where you are; it’s about uncovering hidden risks. A task consistently running over budget isn’t just a tracking error; it’s a potential sign of an inefficient workflow, a lack of skill, or an unrealistic scope. By addressing these tracking issues, you’re proactively mitigating underlying risks that could derail your entire project.

Clear records and consistent note-taking are invaluable when reviewing your progress. Being able to look back at your daily work and track key insights makes it much easier to identify roadblocks. Imagine how much easier it would be to identify those roadblocks with a comprehensive record!

Track project risks efficiently with our journaling tool. It’s designed to help you log your daily work, track key insights, and recall important details during reviews. Start turning your struggles into learning opportunities today!