I have a bit of an unconventional approach to indie game development, and its not one that’s easy to defend.
The ideal way for most indie developers to start a game project is to prototype different core gameplay concepts until a really original, fun idea pops out. Once the wild gameplay has been captured, its mined into a full game with appropriate visual and audial dressing and a narrative structured around the gameplay.
I can’t argue that this is probably the most efficient and proven way to discover and develop a new game concept, especially for a small team.
Unfortunately, I always start by imagining a character and the world in which they live. Then I build a basic narrative and gameplay mechanics around who that character is, and what I would be most interested in experiencing from inside that character.
The thing is, I have a hard time – as a player – connecting to game ideas that are purely gameplay motivated. I love games with good, deep, responsive gameplay, but the experience hits a whole other level of immersion when fused with a compelling atmosphere and narrative.
