Development Diary #21

Taking Some Time for Thanks

It's that time of year again where many of us gather around a table and give thanks for everything we're grateful for. There are many things I'm grateful for in my life, but keeping with the development end, I wanted to discuss what I'm grateful for with Kingdoms of Immacus.

The Trail of Dead Darlings

Many creators have a difficult time killing off things that do not work in their writing, game mechanics, or games in general. I've been fortunate enough to get enough good advice from others about what needed to be killed off in Kingdoms of Immacus. Whether that was hero health, building synergy, or unit levels paid by resources, all these ideas have been killed off and has made Kingdoms of Immacus all the better for it. I am thankful for the advice I have been given since the start of this process.

Pro Bono Therapy Sessions

Creating something as large and formidable as Kingdoms of Immacus is fun, but it is also mentally and physically taxing. I have yet to have a full-fledged emotional breakdown (let's save that for the Kickstarter), but there are times when the self-doubt and unrelenting reality of the scope of the game have reached a tipping point. I am thankful that people have been there for me when I needed an impromptu therapy session to go over my doubts, frustrations, and fears. Sometimes a five minute pep talk is all I need, and it has been wonderful having it when I've felt like I needed it most.

Sharing the Vision

I'm very grateful to be able to share my vision for Kingdoms of Immacus with other artists. It has really allowed me to let go of some of the you-have-to-do-it-all obsessiveness I have at times. I used to have a very difficult time letting others do anything for Kingdoms of Immacus, but the sheer size of the game has made me get over this in a lot of ways. Also, I have had the great opportunity to work with some wonderful artists that has made this process easier on me.

Thank You!

So this Thanksgiving, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has helped me and supported me thus far, especially anyone reading this. I'm looking forward to continuing making progress on the game with renewed energy, and that is due in part to all the wonderful people I have around me.