Originally, we had a single game development project, but over the last four years, we’ve expanded our portfolio to include three exciting projects. While handling multiple projects can be challenging, especially for an indie game development studio, we’ve found ways to effectively manage them. In this article, we’ll explore how we handle these diverse game development ventures.
Each of our games are unique in terms of genre and gameplay. For instance, Chomp ‘N’ Cheeky is a puzzle adventure game that puts a new twist on the classic Pacman formula, adding an engaging narrative to the mix.
Another project, After Realms, is an RTSRPG (Real-Time Strategy Role Playing Game) that combines the strategic elements of real-time strategy games with a character-driven role-playing experience. It offers players extensive control over their in-game avatar, making it a truly immersive experience once it’s complete.
Our most recent addition, Janticity, is a platformer role-playing game that stands out as a one-of-a-kind experience. While some may draw comparisons to modern-day Super Mario, Janticity has its own unique gameplay mechanics and world.
Although these projects share a 2D art style, their development processes differ in terms of time commitment. Balancing multiple projects becomes more complex when you can only dedicate part-time hours due to a full-time job. However, we prioritize Chomp ‘N’ Cheeky as our primary development project, allocating more time to it. Once a milestone is reached, we take a break from that project and shift focus to another, such as Janticity, to avoid monotony and maintain a fresh perspective. Call it a ‘change of scenery’, if you like.
While discipline is crucial for game development, our progress is significantly influenced by our motivation and mood. Thus, our work on these projects is primarily mood-driven. Despite this, we have a structured plan in place.
To ensure progress on all three projects, we employ a rotating schedule. We switch between the primary and secondary projects based on milestone completion. For example, after completing a major graphical update for Chomp ‘N’ Cheeky’s shareware demo version, we start working on Janticity to create a playtest version. Once that’s accomplished, we return to Chomp ‘N’ Cheeky to tackle the next milestone before shifting our attention to After Realms. This pattern allows us to maintain momentum across all projects.
Each project is organised and managed using similar principles. By keeping documentation up-to-date within their respective repositories and maintaining organized code and events, we can easily switch between projects and resume work seamlessly.
We’ve made a conscious decision not to take on additional projects until these three are complete. Balancing multiple projects can be overwhelming and is not the most efficient way to ensure productivity. However, for now, we find joy and fulfillment in working on all of them simultaneously. With our methods in place, we can make progress on all projects.
Don’t forget to join us on our Twitch Channel to watch our live streams and see what we’re currently working on. You can receive notifications for our live streams by following our channel.
Do you also have multiple projects on your plate? We’d love to hear about your experiences and discuss them on our discussion forums!
Play Chomp ‘N’ Cheeky Shareware Version
Play After Realms Playtest Version
Janticity is not yet available to play. We are currently working on a playtest version. Stay tuned for more on this.