Watch This Before Making Your Next Indie Game!

Summary

In this open letter, Jonas, an indie game developer, reflects on past mistakes and offers advice to himself for future game projects. He emphasizes the importance of managing excitement, considering team development, and prototyping early on. Jonas discusses the need for appealing, marketable games and the value of researching similar games. He also highlights the benefits of creating an MVP, getting feedback early, and having multiple exit points. Ultimately, he stresses the importance of understanding personal strengths and weaknesses and building a strategy that leverages them. His insights are valuable for indie developers aiming for success in the industry.

Takeaways

• 😀 Temper your excitement when starting a new game project; focus on being methodical and taking things slowly for better results.
• 😀 Consider whether making your next game alone is the best option. Team-based development can be more efficient and produce faster, better results.
• 😀 Reflect on whether it's the right time to start a big project or if working on smaller games first could help you learn and refine your skills.
• 😀 Appeal and marketability should be your main focus from the very beginning of your game development process.
• 😀 Always prototype your game ideas. Prototyping allows you to test mechanics, find unique ideas, and improve the overall appeal of your game.
• 😀 Be open to experimentation. Avoid going into the project with a fixed idea, and instead, explore different solutions to find something interesting and original.
• 😀 Conduct thorough research on similar games to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and use this to inform your own game design.
• 😀 Identify what makes your game unique, and design the game around this unique feature to make it stand out and be memorable.
• 😀 Create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) quickly. Launch early demos to get feedback and ensure the game is fun and appealing from the start.
• 😀 Build your game in a way that it always looks like a finished product, adding content and polishing instead of leaving it feeling incomplete.
• 😀 Consider having multiple exit points for your game. Start small, and if it doesn’t resonate with your audience, you can quit or pivot early.
• 😀 Let people play your game early on to get valuable feedback, which helps you make better decisions and improve the game.
• 😀 Set up your Steam page early in the development process. Having even a small number of wishlists can help build momentum for your game.

Q & A

Why does Jonas warn himself against getting too excited when starting a new game project?

Jonas warns himself against getting overly excited because excitement can lead to tunnel vision, where he might overlook important considerations. He stresses the importance of being methodical and taking things slowly to create a commercially successful game.

What does Jonas suggest about working alone versus working in a team on a game project?

Jonas reflects on his past experience, stating that working with a team is often more efficient than working alone. He encourages himself to reconsider if making a game alone is the best choice, as teams can produce faster and better results.

Why does Jonas think it's important to work on smaller game projects before diving into a large one?

Jonas believes that working on smaller projects helps with learning new things, finding game ideas, and gaining valuable experience. It also helps him stay flexible and avoid burnout before committing to a large project.

What does Jonas mean by 'appeal and marketability' in the context of game development?

Jonas emphasizes that while making a game fun is important, creating something that is both appealing and marketable is a greater challenge. He suggests that from the very start of a project, developers should focus on ensuring their game has these qualities.

Why does Jonas stress the importance of prototyping in game development?

Jonas believes that prototyping is essential because it allows developers to test and refine ideas early on. It helps to discover interesting mechanics, ensures the game is enjoyable, and improves overall design before committing to the full development process.

What advice does Jonas give about the attitude toward experimentation during game design?

Jonas advises developers to approach game design with an open mind, encouraging experimentation. He suggests that by being open to new ideas and solutions, developers can find unique and original aspects for their games.

How does Jonas recommend researching similar games before starting a new project?

Jonas suggests researching similar games by playing them and reading reviews. This helps developers identify what works and what doesn’t, what players like, and whether there is a potential audience for their own game.

What is a unique selling point (USP), and why is it important in game design?

A unique selling point (USP) is a feature or aspect that sets a game apart from others. Jonas stresses that once a game has a strong USP, it should be built around that feature to maximize its appeal and success.

What does Jonas mean by 'building a finished game' versus an 'unfinished game'?

Jonas suggests that games should be developed in a way that they always appear finished, with new content and polish added over time. This approach ensures the game is ready for release at any point and reduces the risk of the project feeling incomplete or losing momentum.

Why does Jonas recommend setting up a Steam page early in the game development process?

Jonas recommends setting up a Steam page early to start generating interest and collecting wishlists. Even a modest number of wishlists can help gauge potential demand and provide valuable feedback before the game is fully developed.