Your First Game: Ship It or Sink It

Your First Game: Ship It or Sink It

Launching your first game as a solo developer or student is a gauntlet. The biggest mistake is not finishing. You need a strategy to get your game out the door, not just dream about it.

Define Your Core Loop Early

Before writing a single line of code, establish your game’s fundamental gameplay loop. What is the player doing most of the time? This core loop dictates everything else.

Keep it simple. A complex core loop for a first game is a recipe for an unfinished project. Focus on one or two mechanics that are fun and polished.

Design for Completion, Not Perfection

Your first game is a learning experience, not a magnum opus. Aim for a small, complete project. This means cutting features ruthlessly from the start.

Many aspiring developers get stuck in an endless cycle of adding features. Learn to say no to scope creep, even your own ideas.

Leverage Game Design Documents

Even for a solo project, a clear Game Design Document (GDD) is invaluable. It forces you to define your vision and scope before development.

A GDD acts as your north star, guiding decisions and preventing feature bloat. Use tools like Blueprint to quickly draft your GDD and maintain focus.

Prototype Relentlessly

Don’t commit to full development until your core mechanics feel good. Rapid prototyping allows you to test ideas quickly and discard what doesn’t work.

Use placeholder art and basic shapes. The goal is to validate fun, not create stunning visuals at this stage.

Master a Single Engine

Resist the urge to jump between game engines. Choose one and stick with it. Deep knowledge of a single engine accelerates your workflow.

Learn its quirks, its strengths, and its limitations. This focused learning will pay dividends in development speed.

Asset Management: Build or Buy Smart

As a solo developer, you can’t create every asset from scratch. Decide what you absolutely need to build and what you can acquire.

Utilize asset libraries like Strafekit for high-quality, royalty-free assets. This saves immense amounts of time and effort.

For example, if your game needs specific UI elements or sound effects, explore Sound Effects or 2D Assets to speed up your development.

Playtest Early and Often

Don’t wait until your game is ‘finished’ to get feedback. Start playtesting with friends and family as soon as there’s a playable build.

Early feedback helps identify critical flaws before they become deeply ingrained. Be prepared to hear tough truths about your game.

Marketing Starts Day One

Don’t view marketing as something you do only at launch. Build a presence throughout development. Share progress, screenshots, and dev logs.

Platforms like your Devpage allow you to showcase your work in one centralized location. Consistent visibility builds anticipation.

Plan for Launch, Not Just Development

Consider your launch strategy well before release. Where will you sell your game? How will you reach your target audience?

Tools like Forecast can help estimate potential revenue, giving you a realistic picture of your game’s commercial viability.

Embrace the Iteration Cycle

Game development is an iterative process. Your first version won’t be perfect. Release it, gather feedback, and plan for updates.

Shipping your game is a huge accomplishment. Learn from the experience, celebrate your success, and then start planning your next project with newfound knowledge.

Your goal is to ship. Focus, simplify, and use the right tools to get your game into players’ hands.