What challenges can you expect when iterating on a game design?

1 Scope creep

One of the biggest challenges of iterating on a game design is scope creep, which means adding more features, content, or complexity to your game than you originally planned. Scope creep can result from changing requirements, new ideas, or feedback from stakeholders or players. While some changes can be beneficial, too many can lead to wasted time, resources, and focus, and make your game harder to finish and polish. To avoid scope creep, you should define a clear vision and scope for your game, prioritize the most essential and fun features, and use a project management tool to track and evaluate your progress and changes.

3 Technical limitations

A third challenge of iterating on a game design is dealing with technical limitations, which means the constraints and trade-offs imposed by your chosen platform, engine, tools, or hardware. Technical limitations can affect the performance, functionality, and aesthetics of your game, and force you to compromise or adapt your design. For example, you might have to reduce the size, quality, or number of your assets, optimize your code, or adjust your user interface. To cope with technical limitations, you should research and understand the capabilities and requirements of your target platform, engine, tools, and hardware, and test your game regularly on different devices and configurations.

4 Creative burnout

A fourth challenge of iterating on a game design is avoiding creative burnout, which means the loss of motivation, inspiration, or enjoyment in your game project. Creative burnout can occur when you work on the same game for a long time, face repeated failures or frustrations, or lack support or recognition. Creative burnout can affect your productivity, quality, and health, and make you abandon or resent your game. To prevent creative burnout, you should set realistic and achievable goals, balance your work and rest time, seek feedback and encouragement from others, and diversify your creative activities.

5 Communication and collaboration

A fifth challenge of iterating on a game design is ensuring effective communication and collaboration, which means sharing and discussing your game design with other people involved in your game project, such as team members, clients, or publishers. Communication and collaboration can help you coordinate your tasks, align your vision, and solve problems. However, they can also present some obstacles, such as misunderstandings, conflicts, or delays. To facilitate communication and collaboration, you should use clear and consistent documentation, choose appropriate communication channels and tools, and establish roles and responsibilities.

6 Iteration cycles

A sixth challenge of iterating on a game design is establishing and following iteration cycles, which means the frequency and duration of your testing, feedback, and refinement phases. Iteration cycles can help you structure your work, measure your progress, and deliver your game. However, they can also pose some risks, such as rushing or skipping steps, losing sight of the big picture, or over-iterating. To optimize your iteration cycles, you should plan and schedule your iterations, define your deliverables and criteria, and evaluate and document your results.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?