Gameloop in Game Development: The Heart of Gameplay
Ever played a game and thought, “Just one more round,” only to realize it’s 3 a.m.? That’s the power of a good gameloop. A gameloop isn’t just about keeping players busy—it’s what keeps them engaged. It’s the rhythm of your game: the cycle of actions, rewards, and progression that players repeat without getting bored. Think […]
Time Estimation in Game Development: Smarter Forecasts
Every game developer knows the pain: you look at a task and think, “This will take a few hours.” Days later, you’re still in the weeds. The truth is simple: humans are terrible at estimating time. And in game development, where bugs, scope creep, and constant discoveries derail even the best-laid plans, hour-based estimates are […]
How to Find Game Inspiration and Build Meaningful Games
Ever sat down to work on a game and thought, “Okay, where do I even start?” You’re not alone. Every great game starts with a spark, that “aha!” moment that makes you want to build something new. But inspiration doesn’t always show up like a pizza delivery. Sometimes, you’ve got to hunt it down. Maybe […]
Story Mapping in Game Development | Guide & Free Tool
Writing a game story without a plan is like building a house without a blueprint. You might end up with something, but it’ll probably have shaky foundations, missing walls, and a roof that leaks. That’s where story mapping in game development comes in. When I started my consultancy, I was struck by how often indie […]
Engine Proof in Game Development | Test Before You Build
Day #272. You’ve spent months building your dream game. The world feels alive, the mechanics are tight… and then your engine crashes. Progress halts, frustration sets in, and you wonder: “Could I have avoided this?” That’s where engine proof comes in, the unsung hero of game development that could’ve saved your bacon. If you’ve read […]
Game Prototyping: How to Test Ideas Before You Build
Imagine this: you’ve spent months building your dream game. The concept feels gold, the art looks fantastic… but when players finally test it, the gameplay just doesn’t click. They’re confused, or worse, bored. What went wrong? Now, rewind. What if you could spot these problems in the first week, not six months later? That’s the […]
Vertical Slice in Game Development: Meaning, Benefits & How It Works
If you’ve been around game development circles, you’ve probably heard the term vertical slice thrown around like the latest power-up. Some swear by it, others confuse it with a demo, but almost everyone agrees it’s a turning point in development. So what is a vertical slice, and why does it matter so much? In this […]
Scope Creep in Game Development: Causes & Fixes
So, you’ve got this epic game idea. You can see it now: stunning graphics, a compelling storyline, gameplay so addictive it’ll have players forgetting to eat. You gather your team, set your deadlines, and start the work. But then… it happens. A wild idea appears: “What if we added an extra feature here?” And then […]
Scrum Master vs Product Owner in Game Development
Picture this: you’re in a sprint planning session, coffee in hand, and two voices clash.On one side, the Scrum Master argues that without process discipline, nothing ships.On the other, the Product Owner insists that vision and priorities drive the project’s success. Who’s right? In truth, both. But here’s the catch: in game development, you won’t […]
Waterfall vs. Scrum vs. Kanban in Game Dev
So, you’ve got a killer idea for a game. Maybe it’s a sprawling MMORPG with dragons and dungeons, or a cozy farming sim with that pet cow you’ve always wanted. But here’s the real question: how do you manage the journey from idea to launch? In game production, three frameworks dominate: Waterfall, Scrum, and Kanban. […]