Reflecting on Our Game Development Journey: Lessons Learned and Future Steps

Introduction
Game development is a multifaceted process, combining creativity, technical skills, and teamwork. Our recent project presented us with a unique set of challenges and learning opportunities. In this post, we share our experiences, focusing on what went right, what didn’t, and how we plan to move forward. 

Changes from the Initial Plan
Movement System and Level Editor
We made significant changes to our initial plan, particularly in the movement system and the level editor. Adapting our strategies to these changes was critical in keeping the project aligned with our vision. 

Triumphs in Our Project
Visual Design and Core Mechanics
One of the most rewarding aspects was our success in visual design and the implementation of core game mechanics. These elements came together to form a cohesive and engaging player experience. 

Challenges Faced
Time Management and Task Allocation
Our biggest hurdles were in managing time effectively and allocating tasks efficiently. These issues often led to delays and reduced our overall efficiency. 

Lessons for Future Projects
Prioritizing Core Game Development
In hindsight, delaying the creation of visual assets until the core game was more polished would have been beneficial. Also, having a more detailed game design from the beginning would have provided clearer direction and focus. 

If Only We Had More Time...
Given an additional week, we would have loved to add more levels, art assets, and animations to enrich the player experience. 

Navigating Collaborative Challenges
Working with Unity and Git
A significant lesson was understanding the complexities of multiple collaborators working on a Unity project using Git. Avoiding merge conflicts often resulted in reduced efficiency. A more task-specific division could have streamlined our workflow. 

The Importance of Deadlines and Scheduling
Our approach to deadlines and scheduling was too lenient. Stricter deadlines and better scheduling, despite individual challenges, could have mitigated many delays. 

Proactive Strategy Adjustments
We realized too late the importance of adjusting strategies proactively to make up for lost time. This reactive approach impacted our project's timeline and final quality. 

Conclusion
Our journey in game development, while challenging, was immensely educational. We've learned the importance of detailed planning, efficient task allocation, and the need for flexibility in managing a collaborative project. As we move forward, these lessons will be invaluable in refining our approach to game development and achieving greater success in future projects.

Playtester: Simon Kwong
First Impressions What were your initial thoughts when you started the game?

It was an interesting idea to use the slots to put in the music notes to move. 

How did you find the game's visual and audio design?
The background and the level looked good, but it didn't really feel like a music game. 

Gameplay Experience
Did you find the game's controls intuitive and easy to use?
It didn't tell you how many steps you took when you used the notes. 

How would you rate the difficulty of the game?
3/10

Were there any moments in the game that felt particularly satisfying or frustrating?
Figuring out the controls was pretty confusing.

Story and Engagement
How engaging did you find the game's storyline or theme?
I guess I understood that you have to avoid the enemy after I died, but that's all I got from the sense of story.

User Interface and Accessibility
How easy was it to navigate the game's menus and user interface?
The UI and menus were fine. It was easy to use.

Overall Experience
What was your favorite aspect of the game?
I liked the movement system, it was a pretty interesting idea.

What aspect of the game needs the most improvement?
It's just lacking content and feels like a prototype.

How likely are you to recommend this game to others (on a scale of 1-10)?
3

Playtester: Keene Ho 
First Impressions 

What were your initial thoughts when you started the game?
The animated character looked nice. I was surprised to find out later that it was made from scratch by the team. 

How did you find the game's visual and audio design?
It was fun and pretty lighthearted. Good for a casual game. 

Gameplay Experience
Did you find the game's controls intuitive and easy to use?
I watched someone else play it so I understood, but it would probably be difficult to figure out without instructions.

How would you rate the difficulty of the game?
1 as it is since there are only 2 levels. 

Were there any moments in the game that felt particularly satisfying or frustrating?
I wanted to play more of the game. It was lacking content. 

Story and Engagement
How engaging did you find the game's storyline or theme? 
The whole vibe was very cutesy. Reminded me of Fall Guys. 

Were there any characters or elements that you felt particularly drawn to?
I liked the artwork for the environment. It was pleasant to look at. I can see this being a chill game that I would play after a long day. 

User Interface and Accessibility
How easy was it to navigate the game's menus and user interface?
I just clicked around but I didn't really need to use the menus for anything. 

Overall Experience
What was your favorite aspect of the game?
I liked the whole visual atmosphere. 

What aspect of the game needs the most improvement?
I would like to see more levels or gameplay mechanics.

 How likely are you to recommend this game to others (on a scale of 1-10)?
7. When they add more content I would give a higher score