Dev log #1 - Excitment

I'm going to start to write about my process more since I like reading about how other game devs make their games so maybe someone will find this useful and it helps me to write about it.

The game I'm working on is a walking sim and it's about living with a limitation and acceptance. The player is moves very slow and its frustrating and I found that to be a good metaphor for my struggles with illness that I work to accept.  It's made in Godot.

It's still in the early stages and nothing I want to show yet but I have learned a few things making it I want to share.

(above is art I made for another prototype and I want this game to have watercolor art like the above)

The MDA framework

I came across the MDA framework a few months ago and it has changed the way I approach game design. It's not prefect but I am more focused on what I want the player to feel and experience. Before that I would just make something that I thought would be fun and didn't specifically think I want people playing my games to feel more than just entertained. I also thought that because of the bitsy games I have played which are more focused on a story and were more meaningful to me than fun. 

check out this bitsy game that I found more meaningful: https://treelet.itch.io/delivery

link to learn about the MDA framework: for more search the MDA framework on youtube.

While brain storming based on what I learned about, I wrote I wanted to make a game about acceptance and inner work. I then thought what would the player behavior would be and the idea I had was 'letting go'. Then what would the main mechanic would  be and I couldn't think of anything. I thought of the letting go behavior because of my experience with mediation and I think my thoughts on acceptance were about not being attached and holding on to what ever negative thing you don't accept.

(note: I now think acceptance is something a bit hard to understand and that it is felt not just thought and is understood by my sub conscious)

So I left that idea and kept searching until I found a twine game where in a chapter the text was scrolling by very slowly and that gave me the idea that what if my player character moved slowly. That would be frustrating and the player might have to learn how to accept it.

The twine game here and the slow text is in chapter six https://tastelight.itch.io/existence

I tried it and liked it and I have many more ideas on mechanics and story moments to put in the game. It also reminds me of my mediation practice and I was thinking about having the game test your patience but I don't want people to not play it or not finish it because they are very bored.

I was struggling for a while on making a prototype I connected with and I was very excited when had the player character move slow and played it.

Other things

I am now learning more about creative writing and I'm making the content for the game. I'm still thinking about how autobiographical I want to make the game and trying to keep it small but big enough to tell a story. I'm not sure how literal and specific I want to make the game or leave it more open.

Thanks for reading and my aim is to post these once a month.