5 things I suck at in game dev

#indiegamedev #gamedev #gamedevelopment #godot #devlog
Here's 5 things I suck at in game development. Nobody's good at everything...right?
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[@mthw]

The best project management technique is the simplest one, and in my case it's a paper notebook and pen next to my keyboard. Every day when you decide to stop working just write down what you're going to do next time you sit down at your desk as a bulletpoint list. That's it, and it works. The rest takes care of itself by you making that list at the end of every day - it self-rights your path to finishing a project.

[@LandonDevelops]

Wise words, I also rock a notebook but I use it for more like life stuff

[@simongassenschmidt7995]

Also simply tag your code with comments or have a readme, changelog, todolog in your vcs. but given, this problably works just for me, because my project is a browser-game... with no pictures or music atm.

[@LandonDevelops]

I try adding comments in the code the problem is...you have to remember to look for the todo... 🤣

[@loijz1740]

I am a project manager. AFter trying out a lot of software, I still stick to my paper notebook and a pen. Of course you need some software to inform all stakeholders and when working in teams, but keep it simple is key.

[@LandonDevelops]

@@loijz1740 Yeah I feel like most of that stuff is for stakeholders so as long as you all don't start requesting my burndown stats I'll stick with my dum-dum system 🤣🤣

[@gamedevreasearch]

5 things I suck at when it comes to game dev: - Everything - I'm so bad at everything - Please help me - Why do I like this - How do I enjoy this

[@LandonDevelops]

Sisyphus is that you?

[@ItsCiaPro]

Having an art backgroud made it easier for me to think of game ideas, because i knew how to apply the ideas i had artistically. Programming is my 2° biggest issue, my first is making music wich i'm still bad at.

[@sebastercats6123]

Funny how outsourcing and finding free stuff on the internet into a game can be so simple and so alluring. But when trying make everything by yourself, it becomes a colossal task, especially when it comes to 3D development. Learning 3D game logic, modeling 3D asset, 3D sound design. I swear, the human mind is not capable of being a solo game developer unless you're super efficient and talented, not for the mentally weak, I mean.

[@LandonDevelops]

Haha yeah, you either need a massive brain or a lot of time, probably both! I'm always in awe of the devs who do everything themselves, I just don't think I'm that capable lol

[@PinStudiosOfficial]

bro thought he could make that joke in the beggining and we wouldn't notice "game dev is hard. If you've even tried to make a game, you DEVinately know this" great video tho

[@LandonDevelops]

Hahaha 🤣 I wish I had thought of that

[@collinvisser7108]

neat - good to be honest with your self.

[@LandonDevelops]

Thanks!

[@Kin0ti]

Lovely video

[@LandonDevelops]

Thank you!

[@NihongoWakannai]

Most project management software is made for teams so it's easier to assign and manage tasks across a team. If you're solo you really only need the bare minimum of whatever it takes to stay on task and not forget what you have to do later. I like trello just because it feels more organized to drag a finished task to a different area, but I've also just used checklists in obsidian plenty of times in the past. Game balance is incredibly hard literally everyone messes it up across the entire industry, that's why most solo devs should probably pick a genre that is easy to test by yourself and iterate on quickly. If you try to make a game like Civilization or something I think you simply NEED playtesters or design your game in a way that it's fun even if it's unbalanced af. When it comes to finishing a game, finishing takes a reeaaaaally long time if you're putting in the proper polish, the last 20% takes 80% of the time as they say. In terms of enjoyment and improving skills making lots of prototypes is usually the way to go. If you want to finish something then I'd recommend a very small project which you know for sure you have the skills to confidently complete. Otherwise only try to finish something if you truly believe in it.

[@LandonDevelops]

Very true about the project management, I feel like the market for the software is for managers who are trying to "maximize productivity" lol, not for the actual engineers 🤣 Picking a genre that's easy to balance is huge and something I feel like a lot people don't think about, I certainly didn't. Yeah finishing is definitely the hardest part IMO, I definitely get a bit of shiny object syndrome but I also jump into projects without first thinking them all the way through haha

[@theConcernedWyvern]

I'm one of those artists who is also a game dev. Pixel art makes me want to throw things, if I'm honest. So does the fact that it has essentially become synonymous with indie game art in general. Pixel art is, in my opinion, super hard because youre imposing additional restrictions on how your art is conducted. Its like using a limited amount of colors, in a way, but more extreme. Theres probably a term for it I'm forgetting. I guess it makes things easier for some people, but I am not one of those people. I'm still learning my way around Godot, and my personal biggest struggle is just finding resources that arent saying the same thing over and over. There are a million beginner "first game" tutorials out there, but once you get slightly past that point, you feel like you're drowning. It's very fun as a hobby, but man most programmers are not teachers and it shows. I'm glad to see someone else who is iffy on the whole marketing and "selling a million copies" thing. It seems like a lot of advice is geared towards making development a career as fast as possible. I've actually noticed a lot of similar problems in the art community, where it's automatically treated as a job once you start to care about it. Art also has the tutorial issue as well. I personally really like your art. Its cute and you do especially well with color choice. Don't sell yourself short and make sure to make things you find fun as well. ^-^ Only doing exercises, practice and final pieces can make art more stressful than it needs to be. Try to let loose and have fun with it when you can. It will help art feel more like a creative process and less like a chore.

[@LandonDevelops]

Thank you! That's some good advice! I've considered trying to move away from pixel art but I'm not really sure what I would do. I don't even know how other styles of art work haha! As far as Godot tutorials go, what do you think would help you move beyond the beginner tutorials? A few people have asked me to do tutorials, but I'm not sure what I would do them on so maybe I could help get people over that beginner "tutorial hell" hump.

[@NihongoWakannai]

Pixel art is a style that is easier to pick up for a beginner as you can get away with not having a lot of foundational art knowledge and hide it behind the low resolution. A pixel artist on low resolution never has to worry about the planes of the face or skull geometry. It's also much easier to copy other peoples styles and then adapt them to your game with pixel art which is again great for people without much experience with art. But if you already have art experience and are comfortable with regular illustration then the limitations of pixel art are going to potentially be quite frustrating.

[@LandonDevelops]

That makes a lot of sense! I think the reason I like pixel art is it feels more iterative so it's easier to just bang my head against a piece until it looks decent. That and I just jumped on the bandwagon like everyone else after playing Hyper Light Drifter 🤣