From Big Ideas to Small Scope: How to Build Your Dream Game!

[@acquij]

Question from a newcomer: Can an idea be *too* small? What's the smallest viable game idea? Taking your fishing game example, there were oodles of Fishing Games released in the aughts from what I remember. Those were full fledged titles; I imagine that's not what you were talking about but rather the mini games inside a "proper" game. So, what could my game loop be here? (like: choose a bait, pick a spot, catch a fish or don't; run out of bait > game over ?) There might even be something there just focusing on the bait part, if we're looking at the more recent inventory management games. So you could even leave out the actual fishing part; it's like an auto-angler. Sorry for the rambling, I'm really just getting into game design and saw your video pop up in my recommendations; I enjoy your vibe and approach.👍

[@NeonDreamGames]

Good questions. Can something be too small? I don't think any game can be too small but there is a question of what will people pay for it? You have to bring value to the customer in some way and be realistic about what you're making. I don't have a solid answer for you, but I think you viably release any game if the loop is good enough or it has a unique something to it. I would never worry about naysayers, but make sure you know your game is good. I abandoned my last game because it wasn't fun. I couldn't think how to make it fun. As long as your "fishing" game is fun to play, who cares how small it is. Just call it a cozy fishing game and sell it. I like your ideas on how to make it loopable. Just be careful not to go beyond the scope you intend it to be. If you want to add more to it then finish the first game and make a sequel for it with additional features etc. The main goal here is to release games and release them as quickly as possible but still work towards something larger. That's my goal at least.

[@018FLP]

Hey! Really cool though process, i think it's a good idea and i'm trying it myself too! This video made me realize that i'm 500% scope creeping, ahsuohasuohas because my idea was to first start with the movement mechanics that will be used in a lot of future projects, but the lore justification of this first "simple" game suddenly became a massive titan and my own creativiy became my nemesis. I'm realizing now that i already did what i proposed myself to do, so the ideal now is to simplify, trim a lot of things and focus on gameplay and level design so i can ship it.

[@NeonDreamGames]

That's awesome! I'm glad my video helped out and I would love to see how this idea works with more people. I'm glad you're trying it because I know you can get to that bigger game but why not make some money hopefully and refine your skills along the way to making it? Keep my updated on your journey, I love to hear about what other developers are doing and accomplishing, it helps keep me motivated as well!

[@018FLP]

​@@NeonDreamGames yeah, exactly! I mean, like your example with stardew valley, my future objective is to make a MMORPG, so i HAVE to perfect tons and tons of little systems, but if i spend years in every single little project, i'll die before i have the skills to make it. My objective is to make a lot of short games that have very different objectives. So for example: the first game will be a 3d platformer, the second will have some procedural and roguelike mechanics, the third is combat focused, the next will have multiplayer, and so on, but everytime i use the past game systems, i'll twist them and add a bit. i'll make a lot of micro-games too that i'll convert to other mechanics (example: a rythm game that will be used as prototype to a parry mechanic). Some games won't have much lore or even dialogues to force myself to use more intuitive design and understand how the players play in a more objective way. I want to make games with emergent and very deliberate gameplay with brutal difficultyy and a ton of tools to find your own creative way to solve anything, and this will be my dev signature ;D

[@NeonDreamGames]

@@018FLP Love it, keep going, I too want to work on a similar path. Love how you're thinking though!

[@w1ck3dz0d1ac]

Ever play the Dinosaur Game on Google? Small scope like that right? A running and jumping mechanic. Add better graphics you have Canabalt. Still needs color and music. Add guns and turning you have Megaman 3. Make it better 16, maybe 32 bits. Add wall grabs and you have Megaman X. You want to make Dark Souls, Armored Core, Cyberpunk 2077, but you haven't even made Hello World... Make the Dinosaur Game.

[@NeonDreamGames]

That's exactly it. We get too deep too early on. I know I did. And I was even trying to make something small and it was still too big. Love your analogy