Devlog: setbacks and damage control (Patreon)

I have zero improvisation skills. Whenever something unexpected happens, I always freeze in panic before I can start solving anything. I need a plan to function. I learned that for my comics and I have learned it now for videogames.

I haven't been able to get any proper progress done for weeks because I wrongly assumed that level design wouldn't be that hard, if I knew which key details were important for the story. Yeah, it turns out that it very much is that hard. I can't just throw props in the scene and get something functional and navigable.

But that's okay. From mistakes we learn. I have stopped the modeling phase until the design phase is complete, and I'm going to make sure this time I'm thorough. I'm writing down every last detail of the story, every nook and cranny of every area of every level, so that when I start modeling, I know exactly what I have to do and how. Other people can skip that step and I admire them, but I can't.

I'll have to be subtle on the devlogs involving those designs, to avoid spoiling the plot twists of the story, but I can show the concept art and development schematics I draw to describe the levels.

I am not giving up yet. Setbacks happen. And I will freeze in panic whenever they do. But then we plan again.