Ex-Phoenix Labs devs reveal now scrapped 'Project Dragon' game
Game Developer
JULY 15, 2024
Concept art for Phoenix Labs' cancelled game reveals a fantasy crafting-RPG in the vein of Minecraft and Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Wrapping up 2024 • Celebrating the life and works of solo developers
PreMortem.Games
DECEMBER 24, 2024
After the loss of my father, I began working on the Bob project and realized that the story and concept had been with me for years, he says. Financial success Solo dev Tuomas Auronen , operating under the name Redbeak Games , looks pretty relieved three days after the launch of his game Mortal Glory 2. Strategic partners are crucial.
Development 
197
197 Join 5,000+
Insiders
Sign Up for our Newsletter
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Trending Sources
Solo dev Esteban Hernandez spent 7 years on Creo God Simulator: “I’ve learned perseverance”
PreMortem.Games
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
It would be great to bounce ideas and concepts off of fellow colleagues when building my games. The toll on your mental health can be quite high for solo devs. The post Solo dev Esteban Hernandez spent 7 years on Creo God Simulator: “I’ve learned perseverance” appeared first on PreMortem Games.
Simulation 118
118 
Visual Concepts Austin reportedly hit with layoffs
GamesIndustry.biz
FEBRUARY 7, 2024
2K Games has reportedly laid off an unknown number of developers at Visual Concepts Austin. I have had a great time over the past couple of years working with some of the finest game devs in the industry," Bowling said.
Concepts 134
134 
Solo dev Vladyslav Pidiashenko “I hope IHAS will inspire players to better their lives”
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 30, 2024
“I wanted IHAS to deal with so many philosophical concepts,” Pidiashenko explains. That’s why I wanted IHAS to deal with so many philosophical concepts.” After finishing IHAS, I will start to build a strong team to work on games that are beyond my scope a solo dev.” How did you get the idea for IHAS?
Dev 104
104 
Dev snapshot: Godot 4.4 beta 1
Mircosoft Game Dev
JANUARY 16, 2025
Normally our Beta 1 release notes summarize all the most exciting changes from the previous dev releases. Input Input saw a lot of incremental improvements and polish this dev cycle. dev cycle slightly too late to be included in 4.3. dev 1 ) and the MetalFX upscaler (mentioned above). down to 0.2 ( GH-97281 ).
Beta 106
106 
Solo dev Feryaz Beer’s debut Super Fantasy Kingdom “A weird mashup of genres”
PreMortem.Games
SEPTEMBER 8, 2023
The Hanover, Germany based solo dev describes his creative process as ‘a mix of perfectionism and empathy’. Only a few weeks in I had the fundamental concept. The post Solo dev Feryaz Beer’s debut Super Fantasy Kingdom “A weird mashup of genres” appeared first on PreMortem Games.
Fantasy 237
237 
Solo dev Jason Nicot on his new project Sanctua “A more mature party game”
PreMortem.Games
MAY 24, 2024
We are lucky to have passionate communities on all subjects, and it’s easy to interact on concepts, techniques, or production. The post Solo dev Jason Nicot on his new project Sanctua “A more mature party game” appeared first on PreMortem Games. You just have to remember that!”
Dev 239
239 
Return to Monkey Island Dev Diary
Grumpy Gamer
MAY 24, 2022
Looking forward to getting a concept artist. Things come alive for me when concepts start to come in. May 25, 2022 Yep, this dev diary didn’t last long. I know we’ll slow down when we have to do all the details. Nov 17, 2020 Starting up diary again… maybe I’ll be able to keep it going this time.
Dev 130
130 
The Last Three by Csaba Putnai “Discipline and planning are essential, but don’t forget flexibility”
PreMortem.Games
JANUARY 6, 2025
The concept for The Last Three stems from Putnais fascination with resilience and the complexities of human relationships. Marketing, unfortunately, hasnt gotten any easier and I still dont feel comfortable in this area, Putnai confesses.
Media 260
260 
A follow up to your answer about veilguard (was really hoping you would touch on that one). Why do game companies that have a “bad” release always seem to start from the bottom of the pyramid when it comes to restructuring and recouping losses? Why fire low level devs who did their best with what they had, when the companies have people in senior positions making hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more) that they could just cut from? Why do the trenches always get the punishment first?
Ask a Game Dev
FEBRUARY 3, 2025
The next factor is that each major experience level up a dev attains tends to be a geometric difference in productivity. [ A large task that would take a junior dev two months to complete might take a mid-level dev one month and a senior dev only a week or two ].
Dev 69
69 
Solo dev Almar works on debut game Repunk “I’ve had some darker moments”
PreMortem.Games
NOVEMBER 17, 2023
Yet, for indie dev Almar, it offered an escape from the corporate rat race he felt trapped in. I usually start with a location or concept from which I build a ‘mind map’. This concept grew organically from a single idea. The toll on your mental health can be quite high for solo devs. What’s your creative process? “My
Dev 160
160 
A common issue with ongoing live service games is that as time progresses, skill designs for new characters necessarily become more complex to differentiate from older characters or to incentivize players to buy them. This sometimes results in things like Fire Emblem Heroes where character skill sheets become page long monstrosities. What are things you can do to maintain the increased complexity without making it seem like a reading assignment?
Ask a Game Dev
APRIL 8, 2025
Instead, World of Warcraft would introduce the concept of the "stat squish" where power and complexity curves would be flattened - a sort of global scaling down of power to keep the complexity and power of new content from getting too ridiculous. What might some alternative options be for reducing power and complexity for legacy content?
Content 59
59 
Bungie recently revealed that the red war campaign in destiny 2 is unavailable, even internally. They said its due to outdated code. How often does that happen in live service games? And what sort of decisions are made that leads to all the work seemingly being put down the drain?
Ask a Game Dev
FEBRUARY 27, 2025
Bungie probably realized that some of their old content would be made obsolete around the time they committed to the "Vault" concept. Short questions: Ask a Game Dev on Twitter Short questions: Ask a Game Dev on BlueSky Long questions: Ask a Game Dev on Tumblr Frequent Questions: The FAQ That's what I suspect happened.
Content 64
64 
Two part question. 1) Where does a decision like taking DA4 from single player to live service back to single player most likely come from? Do studio leads make that kind of call, or project leads? Or is it a publisher-side “mandate” based on market trends? 2) Rebooting like that must come with significant costs given all the “wasted” dev work, so what needs to happen to make them that confident that staying on course will result in smaller returns than starting over?
Ask a Game Dev
FEBRUARY 13, 2025
A big decision like this tends to come from agreement between the dev team's executive producer, the studio head, and the publishing executives. Usually when this happens, there's also some reassignment of the dev team, either layoffs or transfers to other projects. Do studio leads make that kind of call, or project leads?
Dev 59
59 
Solo developer Voidmaw on creating Katanaut: “Done is better than perfect”
PreMortem.Games
JANUARY 30, 2025
Something I want to feel in a game rather than a structured concept. The toll on mental health can be quite high for solo devs. And of course, balancing everything like coding, art, marketing, and playtesting can be exhausting. Whats your creative process? It usually starts with a mix of loose ideas floating around in my head.
Development 138
138 
Return to Monkey Island Dev Diary
Grumpy Gamer
MAY 25, 2022
Looking forward to getting a concept artist. Things come alive for me when concepts start to come in. Yep, this dev diary didn't last long. I know we'll slow down when we have to do all the details. Nov 17, 2020. Starting up diary again. maybe I'll be able to keep it going this time. Thinking about the ui. Nov 18, 2020.
Dev 100
100 
5 Games to Make You a Better Board Game Dev for $64.63
Brand Game Development
SEPTEMBER 4, 2017
This is a neat way to introduce brand new board game devs to odd concepts like modular boards – that is, boards that do not have the same form every time you play. The core concept is dead simple: someone leads each team by giving them one word cues that are intended to associate with words laid out in a 5×5 grid.
Dev 130
130 
20 New Year’s Resolutions for Board Game Devs in 2020
Brand Game Development
DECEMBER 30, 2019
“Accessible” is a loaded word in board gaming, but the basic concepts are simple: make games for as many people as you can. You can read more about that in my article here: Setting Up Social Media as a Board Game Dev: A Primer Course. My first game, War Co. truly became alive when I got the first art from James Masino.
Dev 130
130 
How ex-Blizzard devs Frost Giant got players to invest nearly $1m into the studio
GamesIndustry.biz
MAY 13, 2024
Plenty of GamesIndustry.biz readers are familiar with the concept of crowdfunding, with well over a decade of Kickstarter campaigns helping to bring many a game to market. Less common, however, is equity crowdfunding.
Studios 127
127 
I’m a recent computer science graduate and finished my military duty, where I also developed a strong concept for my first game. Game development is my passion, and I’d love to pursue it full-time, but I’m unsure if going indie can provide enough financial stability at the start. Should I focus on funding and self-publishing, or look for a stable job in the industry or another field and keep game dev as a hobby for now? My friends think I could succeed as an influencer if I started streaming, but I’m also unsure if I want to specialize—programming might be an option.
Ask a Game Dev
NOVEMBER 12, 2024
and programming generally pays a lot better than indie dev work. Short questions: Ask a Game Dev on Twitter Long questions: Ask a Game Dev on Tumblr Frequent Questions: The FAQ You can even consider the day job as a means to earn some funding to build a demo that you can use to shop around for investors and further funding.
Dev 52
52 
Solo dev Tomasz Kaye: “ChatGPT massively sped up the development of Axe Ghost”
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 2, 2024
What started as a simple concept quickly turned into a game that challenges players with a mix of strategic depth and risk-reward mechanics. Solo devs have to be generalists, and that’s not for everyone”. I think this helps with keeping game dev burnout at bay.” And if you like your team (you should like your team!),
Dev 104
104 
Solo dev Mario Malagrino “The psychological pressure is the worst part of game development”
PreMortem.Games
NOVEMBER 3, 2023
I sketch many times, not only my concept art but even game mechanics. Crude will release on 22 December 2023 and Remote Life 2: Fearless on 7 May 2024 The post Solo dev Mario Malagrino “The psychological pressure is the worst part of game development” appeared first on PreMortem Games. What’s your creative process?
Game Development 138
138 
Make a Board Game in 28 Days: A Challenge by Brandon the Game Dev
Brand Game Development
FEBRUARY 1, 2021
Brainstorm game concepts for 30 minutes. The post Make a Board Game in 28 Days: A Challenge by Brandon the Game Dev appeared first on Brandon the Game Dev. Make a Board Game in 28 Days: Printable Download. Stuck along the way? Pick one idea worth pursuing. You can always switch later!). The fear of living in a wasteland?
Dev 130
130 
Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield developer Neil Jones “I’m proud of the story and design”
PreMortem.Games
JULY 15, 2024
Known for his breakout solo project, Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield, Neil Jones has now teamed up with British dev studio BetaJester to bring its successor, Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield , to life. “I shared the concept with them early on, and they were fully on board, which boosted my excitement.
Development 181
181 
Double Fine PsychOdyssey recaps / viewing guide, episodes 01-17
Radiator Blog
MARCH 16, 2023
Last month, game industry documentary makers 2 Player Productions debuted a massive 32-part YouTube game dev doc series Double Fine PsychOdyssey , chronicling the development of Psychonauts 2 from its earliest glimmers of pre-production in 2015 to its final release in 2021.
Art 147
147 
Solo dev Jonathan Barbosa Dijkstra “Learning new skills is a great motivator”
PreMortem.Games
SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
He took some online courses on programming and he was in business, as a solo dev operating under the name of Frambosa , only six months later. So, his solo debut game Billy Bumbum might be the first and last game he made as a one-man-dev-team. But for me it might be different than for other solo devs. This is never a good thing.”
Dev 104
104 
Solo dev Pat Naoum of the handpainted The Master’s Pupil: “Creativity is a tool”
PreMortem.Games
FEBRUARY 13, 2023
Asking and discussing general ideas about themes or concepts, ‘I’m thinking of making my eye game about Monet now… what do you reckon?’. Plus just the act of talking out an idea generates a lot more ideas around it, as well as connecting them with other concepts. The original concept was a game set inside an eye.
Dev 104
104 
Out Now • Solo dev Pat Naoum of the handpainted The Master’s Pupil: “Creativity is a tool”
PreMortem.Games
AUGUST 9, 2023
Asking and discussing general ideas about themes or concepts, ‘I’m thinking of making my eye game about Monet now… what do you reckon?’. Plus just the act of talking out an idea generates a lot more ideas around it, as well as connecting them with other concepts. The original concept was a game set inside an eye.
Dev 104
104 
Solo dev Jonathan C Haman created “the glorious Drift Type C – which no one is buying”
PreMortem.Games
JUNE 7, 2023
Once you have the concept for a game – if it’s an interesting concept – there is always an abundance of ideas that materialize out of nowhere. The post Solo dev Jonathan C Haman created “the glorious Drift Type C – which no one is buying” appeared first on PreMortem Games. WHAT THAT MEAN?
Dev 104
104 
Solo dev Jason Larabie of Rodent Games works after hours on Artificer’s Tower “I live a dual life”
PreMortem.Games
MARCH 13, 2024
This isn’t a truly solo project, as I’ve had some contractors help out immensely in concept art, sound, and on the PR front.” The post Solo dev Jason Larabie of Rodent Games works after hours on Artificer’s Tower “I live a dual life” appeared first on PreMortem Games. How did you get the idea for Artificer’s Tower? “It
Dev 129
129 
Game Dev Glossary: Prototype, Vertical Slice, First Playable, MVP, Demo
Ask a Game Dev
MARCH 29, 2024
Each of the terms are the same basic concept - a demonstration of gameplay - but they each have small but important distinctions. Prototype - A playable example of a single gameplay system to prove out the concept. Short questions: Ask a Game Dev on Twitter Long questions: Ask a Game Dev on Tumblr Frequent Questions: The FAQ
Prototyping 64
64 
Kazakhstan-based Goodwin Games takes us on an emotional adventure in Selfloss
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 28, 2024
Reflecting on the game’s core concept, Khoroshavin shares, “The very first idea was that I want to make a game about an old protagonist that can traverse via boat. Games that are intriguing based solely on their concept and a simple game loop.” Players use a magic staff to battle the dark Miasma overtaking the world.
Prototyping 104
104 
5 C/C++ Programming Books to Elevate Your Skills
That One Game Dev
JULY 13, 2023
If you're a beginner programmer you might find some concepts harder to learn and in this article I would like to suggest some books that I've used to learn and understand programming and some that I've heard are really good even though I haven't read myself.
Concepts 98
98 
Korean indie dev Funnylocks “We made Unstoppable for a global audience”
PreMortem.Games
JANUARY 29, 2024
The concept for Unstoppable, where office workers are infected by a mysterious gas, followed after discussions with Lead Game Designer Cho Si-wook. “We The post Korean indie dev Funnylocks “We made Unstoppable for a global audience” appeared first on PreMortem Games. Yet, because of such experiments, there are victims.”
Indy 104
104 
Left To Rot developer Tarba Paul Cornel “It’s trial and error until you find success”
PreMortem.Games
AUGUST 19, 2024
For Romanian solo dev Tarba Paul Cornel , his journey has been driven by a deep love for storytelling. I was switching a lot between different ideas, concepts and made the mistake of announcing it a bit earlier than expected. How did you get the idea for Left to Rot? “I Don’t we all love a cool ghost hunting game?
Development 197
197 
How to Get Big on Instagram as a Board Game Dev
Brand Game Development
MAY 7, 2018
It may gain a lot of followers, but your leads will probably be bad and the whole concept is deceptive. The post How to Get Big on Instagram as a Board Game Dev appeared first on Brandon the Game Dev. Last but not least, you can always buy Instagram followers. How have your experiences on Instagram been?
Dev 130
130 
I’ve noticed that when I play open world games I can have wildly different emotional reactions to exploration. Like, a new quest hub opens up and sometimes I go “Oh nice, there’s so much to do” and sometimes I go “oh no, there’s so much to do”. Why does this happen and what design choices make the difference?
Ask a Game Dev
JANUARY 16, 2025
In cognitive psychology, theres this concept calledCognitive Load. Short questions: Ask a Game Dev on Twitter Long questions: Ask a Game Dev on Tumblr Frequent Questions: The FAQ It refers to the maximum number of things a person can easily remember and recall at once.
Open World 52
52 
The Kristala Dev Blog - Issue #29
Astral Clock Tower Studios
MAY 27, 2021
Welcome back to another exciting issue of the ever-enchanting Kristala dev blog! We'll be sure to keep you posted on all the sweet deets as we near our Patreon launch date, so be sure to stay tuned to our socials and public dev blogs for updates and announcements (including an exciting kick-off contest where you can snag a FREE PS5 ).
Dev 52
52 
The Kristala Dev Blog - Issue #27
Astral Clock Tower Studios
MARCH 20, 2021
Welcome back to ACS headquarters for another rousing installment of the Kristala game dev blog. In today's issue, we're servin' up some serious updates on a few large-scale, ongoing 3D models and concept pieces. In our last issue of the Kristala dev blog, we showed off the initial model Karena completed for a Nisargan-themed bed.
Dev 52
52 
The Kristala Dev Blog - Issue #28
Astral Clock Tower Studios
APRIL 21, 2021
Welcome back to another magically entrancing issue of the Kristala dev blog. Concept Art. As part of our demo overhaul, we recently welcomed a few new team members into our motley crew in order to help us better establish the dark-fantasy vibe we're going for—including the newest member to our Concept Art team, Harold.
Dev 52
52 
The Kristala Dev Blog - Issue #30
Astral Clock Tower Studios
JUNE 29, 2021
Thanks for tuning in to another exciting issue of the Kristala dev blog! Concept Art. After Concept Artist Harold reimagined each level area in the demo, we then had him concept out the individual props that will be needed to carefully detail each environment. Hello, dear friends and fantasy aficionados.
Dev 52
52 
4 Things to Expect on the First Play-Test of a New Board Game
Brand Game Development
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
Dev Diary posts are made to teach game development through specific examples from my latest project: Highways & Byways. “Fun” is a nebulous and weird concept for game developers. At this point, I don’t even chase “fun” because it’s a vague, poorly defined concept. Click here.
Point and Click 130
130 
Should You Build for the Gateway Gamer or the Hardcore Gamer?
Brand Game Development
DECEMBER 12, 2016
For gateway gamers, you’d prioritize a simple game based on straightforward concepts, understandable strategy, non-gamey language, approachable graphics, a short play time, and general ease-of-use. appeared first on Brandon the Game Dev. You would then have a trade-off.
Build 130
130 
Let's personalize your content