One of the most important considerations for indie video game developers is managing the scope of their creations. Since development time and costs can ramp up quickly, and starting budgets can be as low as nil, developers have welcomed ways to downscope, by using pixel art, minimalist aesthetics, or in some recent cases, a tabletop-inspired look and feel for their digital games.
Luckily, tabletop game designers have already been writing about their experiences in an industry where the inclusion of a few extra game pieces can mean the difference between profit and loss. The subject is broader than simply streamlining aesthetics, as the physicality and directness of interaction with tabletop games creates additional constraints that can help focus the game’s mechanics.
Below is a list of considerations for digital game developers conscious of reducing their workload; those strategies are broadly divided into simplifying assets, streamlining mechanics, and responding to market expectations.
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