Meta in game design - If you can't identify the meta in your game then it likely means you're missing a strong core loop. Most players tend towards a meta whether we see it or not. If you can't identify meta builds, meta money makers, meta approaches - neither can your players.

I've been developing games for years... But I've only been designing them for 3 months.

Buffs and nerfs in game design - The tricky part really is what to buff and what to nerf. You may have systems that buff a stat, only to find that actually it's more interesting to buff the regen speed. It's a good idea to investigate buffs around absolutely every aspect.

Iteration - We iterate on a project many times, some people think it's to add missing features. But really it should all be about refinement. Is this feature hitting the marks? Why do players stop after X time? That boss is pretty boring... - Iteration lets you improve.

Playtesting - Even I still don't know how to do this right. If you do a playtest and afterwards all you do is fix bugs - thats not a playtest. Thats just QA. Making sure things work. Playtesting needs more focus, ideally screen recordings. And communicating with players.

Imposter Syndrome is just self doubt in face of real challenge. It's fine. Crack on ;)

Just a fun little universe simulator jamdonutgames.com/lilverse.html #gamedev

My childhood right here, Flash MX.

#gamedesign #gamedev

Stellaris has huge replayability potential, it always has me wondering how it achieves it so well and the phases the player goes through. I tried to map it out for myself with Paragons (unique leaders). #gamedesign

Messing around in space again just for fun. They trade with each other until strong and then challenge each other until one survives.... #gamedev