Game Dev Workflow

2025-09-03 12:39

STATUS: #sapling

TAGS: writing workflow,

Game Dev Workflow

Obsidian Documentation Structure for Your Team

1. Homepage & Project Overview

📄 Project Vision & Pillars
📄 Core Story Summary (One Page)  
📄 Target Audience & Game Tone
📄 Development Timeline & Milestones

2. Story & Narrative Hub

📁 Core Narrative/
├── 📄 Three-Act Story Structure
├── 📄 Character Profiles & Arcs  
├── 📄 World Lore & Setting
├── 📄 Dialogue Style Guide
└── 📄 Cutscene Scripts & Timing

📁 Implementation Guides/
├── 📄 Text Integration Specs
├── 📄 Dialogue System Requirements
├── 📄 Cutscene Technical Specs
└── 📄 Localization Guidelines

3. Team-Specific Sections

For Developer:

📁 Technical Requirements/
├── 📄 Story Integration Points
├── 📄 Dialogue System Architecture
├── 📄 Save System Story States
├── 📄 Cutscene Trigger Locations
└── 📄 UI Text Requirements

For Artist:

📁 Visual Narrative/
├── 📄 Character Design References
├── 📄 Environment Mood Boards
├── 📄 Cutscene Storyboards
├── 📄 UI/Menu Art Specifications
└── 📄 Asset Priority Lists

4. Production Resources

📁 Asset Lists/
├── 📄 Character Art Needed
├── 📄 Environment Art Needed  
├── 📄 UI Elements Needed
└── 📄 Audio Cues Required

📁 Review Materials/
├── 📄 Completed Scenes
├── 📄 Feedback & Iteration Notes
└── 📄 Version History

Development Order & Process

Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1-3)

1. Core Vision Documentation[1][2]

2. Story-Gameplay Integration Planning[4][5]

Phase 2: Pre-Production (Weeks 4-8)

3. Detailed Story Planning[4][2]

4. Technical Documentation[3][2]

5. Art Direction Guidance[6][3]

Phase 3: Production (Weeks 9-20)

6. Content Creation Priority[7][3]

7. Iterative Integration[9][8]

Phase 4: Polish (Weeks 21-24)

8. Narrative Polish[7][10]

Team Collaboration Workflow

Daily Coordination:

Weekly Reviews:

Key Documentation Principles:

This structure ensures your developer has clear technical requirements, your artist understands the visual narrative goals, and you maintain creative control while providing actionable guidance for your small team[9][14][15]. The key is starting with story-gameplay integration from day one rather than treating narrative as an add-on[4][5][8].

Sources
[1] How Games are Made: 4 Stages of Video Game Development Process https://gamedesignskills.com/game-development/stages-of-game-development-process/
[2] What Are The Main Stages Of Game Development? | GameMaker https://gamemaker.io/en/blog/stages-of-game-development
[3] Game Development Process: Key Phases and Insights https://rocketbrush.com/blog/game-development-process-guide
[4] Video Game Narrative: The Different Types and How-to Start Writing https://pinnguaq.com/learn/video-game-narrative/
[5] Game Narrative Design Complete Guide + Principles & Tips https://pixune.com/blog/game-narrative-developing-a-story-that-works/
[6] Creating Visual Narratives and Storytelling | Art Rocket https://www.clipstudio.net/how-to-draw/archives/158243
[7] How Video Games Are Made : The Game Development Process https://www.cgspectrum.com/blog/game-development-process
[8] Good tutorials on how to create a story-driven 2D Platformer ... - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/y2t8cl/good_tutorials_on_how_to_create_a_storydriven_2d/
[9] Workflow for indie gamedevs - Indiedevcasts https://www.indiedevcasts.com/posts/workflow-indie-gamedevs
[10] 6 Stages of Game Development: From Idea to Release & Support https://rocketbrush.com/blog/going-through-phases-of-game-creating
[11] Collaborate on a Publish site - Obsidian Help https://help.obsidian.md/publish/collaborate
[12] Publishing for teams - Obsidian Help https://help.obsidian.md/teams/publish
[13] How to Write a Novel in Obsidian: Templates, Workflow, and Tools https://pdworkman.com/write-book-with-obsidian/
[14] Indie Dev Insights #3: How to build a successful small indie team https://gamecity-hamburg.de/news/indie-dev-insights-how-to-build-a-successful-small-indie-team/
[15] How To Form A Solid Indie Game Development Team - NYFA https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/forming-solid-indie-game-development-team/
[16] 2D Platformer Game Guide - AI Prompt - DocsBot AI https://docsbot.ai/prompts/creative/2d-platformer-game-guide
[17] Advice for my small indie team? : r/gamedev - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/173pkqc/advice_for_my_small_indie_team/
[18] Building a best-selling game with a tiny team – with Jonas Tyroller https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/thronefall
[19] Creating a 2D Platformer Game Using Stride3D Tutorial Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiPzWupYEI0
[20] Design 2D Platformer Levels - Scenario https://www.scenario.com/post/design-2d-platformer-levels
[21] The art of storytelling for developers by Dave Kiss : Juha-Matti Santala https://notes.hamatti.org/sources/talks/the-art-of-storytelling-for-developers-by-dave-kiss
[22] Best order to dev? : r/gamedev - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/182v13a/best_order_to_dev/
[23] Any Examples of Narrative Design Docs? : r/gamedesign - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedesign/comments/4gtitr/any_examples_of_narrative_design_docs/
[24] [GENERAL] Game Development Production Pipeline - - kitatus http://kitatusandfriends.co.uk/general/productionpipeline/
[25] The guide to implementing 2D platformers | Higher-Order Fun http://higherorderfun.com/blog/2012/05/20/the-guide-to-implementing-2d-platformers/
[26] How to Write Technical Documentation with Empathy https://pathtosenior.substack.com/p/the-art-of-documentation-how-to-write
[27] A look into our game production pipelines - Tactile Games https://tactilegames.com/the-role-of-producer-at-tactile-a-look-into-our-game-production-pipelines/
[28] The Artistic Journey: Documenting and Organizing Your Creative ... https://www.theartistnextlevel.com/blog/the-artistic-journey-documenting-and-organizing-your-creative-legacy
[29] Game Development Process : Game Production Pipeline - GDKeys - https://gdkeys.com/game-development-process/

REFERENCES