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How long before a design solidifies?

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Wed, 01/23/2013 - 22:32
senorbaub
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A couple weeks ago I came up with the core movement mechanic for a new game design. I spent some time making rough prototype components and trying to figure out what direction to take this design and what other mechanics to mix in with it. I've basically not had any solid ideas until today when I came up with an obstacle mechanic that would make a good compliment to the movement mechanic. Now I'm feeling like this design is starting to get some traction but I know I'm not out of the design woods yet.

Anyway, based in this experience I wanted to ask how long before game ideas really solidy for other designers.

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Wed, 01/23/2013 - 23:51
#1
Orangebeard
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Variable

For me, it has taken between a few hours and 1-2 years; I never know when a particular Muse will be with me!

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Thu, 01/24/2013 - 09:51
#2
Dralius
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Other than games that are

Other than games that are very simple my fastest development on a game it about 12 month from the point I started playtesting it.

I do tend to work in spurts moving from one game to another. If I added the number of weeks I actually worked on refining the system it might be as little as 5 months. I find that letting a game set and moving on to something else for a bit gives me a fresh perspective when I return to it.

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Thu, 01/24/2013 - 10:29
#3
fantopwarmatel
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Solidification of your design

Solidification of your design just comes when it comes, that simple.

Follow these steps:

1) Brainstorm, obsess, and reword your rules until you feel you are totally finished (no seriously totally finished this time I promise)
2) Update the prototype
3) Playtest
4) Come up with a list of things that didn't go as planned.
5) Identify why they didn't go as planned.
6) Brooding, sulking, etc.
7) After being struck by a bolt of lightning, come up with a new (or pilfered) idea to bring balance to the universe.
8) Repeat.

Just do this over and over again. You'll start noticing the list in step 4 gets shorter and shorter, and steps 5-7 happen at a faster pace.

When you're done, you'll know it down to your bones.

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Thu, 01/24/2013 - 10:47
#4
lewpuls
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Depends on what you mean by solidify.

Depends on what you mean by solidify. If you mean, gets to the point where you can make a prototype (whether you actually do or not), it can take a few days up to years.

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Thu, 01/24/2013 - 12:30
#5
senorbaub
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attempt to clarify

lewpuls wrote:
Depends on what you mean by solidify. If you mean, gets to the point where you can make a prototype (whether you actually do or not), it can take a few days up to years.

Yes the word 'solidify' is a little vague in this question. I guess I'm using it to mean when the design goes from a rough concept to when it really starts to take shape and have a definate feel which resembles what you want in the finished product (even in prototype form).

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Fri, 01/25/2013 - 13:09
#6
larienna
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I interpret solidify as

I interpret solidify as playable with anybody.

Right now, I have a problem solidifying games, this is why I made some post about toy play recently. There is a game that I worked for 6 years and it's still not functional.

Personally, I use the proto-rushing technique, where you want to make a prototype as quickly as possible (that you'll play alone) to get feedback and make your game progress. Else you get stuck in the infinite loop of design where you are constantly designing without ever knowing if it's going to work.

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Thu, 05/09/2013 - 10:15
#7
eponym
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As long as it needs to

I'm in my second year of fiddling with this design. I had complete designs a long time ago, but they were terrible in the end. It's taken this lo g for the muse to get it feeling right.

I suppose it's partially a matter of how much time you put in each day/week/month.

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Thu, 05/09/2013 - 17:27
#8
Stormyknight1976
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First game to present game prototype

First game; 2 full years to draw the top view dungeon. Its in prototype form. It will cost to much to finalize for a production run. So I play it solo. Second game is my survival horror board game. Started in 1999; still in prototype form. Current game; The NCCG format started in 2004. Still in prototype form. Small games are from 1 week to 6 months all in prototype format.

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Thu, 05/09/2013 - 19:44
#9
McTeddy
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It takes as long as it takes.

It takes as long as it takes. I know this is the cheap answer, but its the only one I feel comfortable giving.

I have some designs that have been in various stages of development for years. Some have broken mechanics, others lack the marketing power, and some just don't have that special stuff. While I believe that these games will be solid one day, I have no clue when that day will be.

Others... just work. Two of the games I'm getting published worked within hours of popping into my head. The game-play was fun, the balance was reasonable, and everything was solid. Sure, I spent time tweaking rules and updating parts, but games definitely qualified as solid from the get-go. Heck... I tested a random idea today and I had a fantastic response and people loved it. The core game is solid despite it being a whim.

The reality is that any predictions on "When my game will be solid" would be blind guesses. There are too many factors that play into the equation that make every project different.

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Fri, 05/10/2013 - 15:46
#10
larienna
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I think we would all love to

I think we would all love to be more productive. And we do tons of stuff to help ourselves design faster and better. But it's still not enough to be consistent and be able to pop out a game each year or each 2 year.

There are tons of variables where many are out of our controls that prevent use to finish games on a regular basis. It's boring and annoying, but you have to learn to live with it.

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Tue, 05/21/2013 - 19:18
#11
kpres
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fantopwarmatel

fantopwarmatel wrote:
Solidification of your design just comes when it comes, that simple.

Follow these steps:

1) Brainstorm, obsess, and reword your rules until you feel you are totally finished (no seriously totally finished this time I promise)
2) Update the prototype
3) Playtest
4) Come up with a list of things that didn't go as planned.
5) Identify why they didn't go as planned.
6) Brooding, sulking, etc.
7) After being struck by a bolt of lightning, come up with a new (or pilfered) idea to bring balance to the universe.
8) Repeat.

Just do this over and over again. You'll start noticing the list in step 4 gets shorter and shorter, and steps 5-7 happen at a faster pace.

When you're done, you'll know it down to your bones.

I like this. This is important. Especially step 8.

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Tue, 05/21/2013 - 19:27
#12
bonsaigames
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Subconscious Time

I think we need gaps of time and distractions to do our best design work.
How many times have you guys woken up with a solution to a problem for a game you haven't looked at in months?

I will often play Minecraft on my XBox to keep my hands busy while my brain works out an issue that is not obvious to my conscious self.

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Wed, 05/22/2013 - 12:09
#13
silasmolino
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No defined time

I was going back and forth on 5 designs for a while until I hit a breakthrough on one design. Ever since then I have hit the ground running and in two months I have created a working set of mechanics. It solidified after the last few play tests when people ran out of things to critique and played the game.

Mind you, this game has yet to be submitted to any publishers so who knows how much more work there is before it's considered acceptable for the public.

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Wed, 05/22/2013 - 13:29
#14
Shoe
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Orangebeard wrote:For me, it

Orangebeard wrote:
For me, it has taken between a few hours and 1-2 years; I never know when a particular Muse will be with me!

Ditto, Ive scrapped games even and then several years later had a random EUREKA moment that brought it back to life. Also, sometimes I have made a single (simple obv) game just while taking a 5 min shower.

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Wed, 05/22/2013 - 17:22
#15
Magnaslinger
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Wow

I am going to write this down ( yes i still use pencil and paper for notes). That is pretty plain and simple . Thanks for posting it.

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