PLEASE START US OFF BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF:
PLEASE START US OFF BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF:
Hi, I’m Diesel Laws, a designer and game dev from Australia, the creator behind Milly’s Meadow.
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TELL US ABOUT MILLY'S MEADOW.
TELL US ABOUT MILLY'S MEADOW.
Milly’s Meadow was inspired by the recent push for cozy games, and a few key games like Rusty’s Retirement and Ropuka’s Idle Island. It’s a desktop idler, in which you watch Milly rake leaves, take naps and just enjoy a peaceful life. She’s there while you work, and while you play. It’s a really cozy experience.
But back a little further - I’ve been a hobby game dev for about 10 years and kept running up against the challenge of delivering a game within a decent scope made largely by myself. I love designing, creating and building interactive games, but this tends to balloon into massive games that would take me many years to get to alpha. With this recent refocus, I was able to really bring the scope down while also aiming to deliver a complete self-contained world that feels full.
HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY BEEN
HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY BEEN
Development has been flying! I’m now in month 2 and have quite a well rounded game within a few extra pieces to go.
WHICH GAME ENGINE DID YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
WHICH GAME ENGINE DID YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
I chose Godot as the engine as I’ve made a few game concepts in it before, and it’s such a flexible and enjoyable engine to use. It’s very approachable for new game devs and experienced alike, and I highly recommend it.
WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT HURDLE SO FAR?
WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT HURDLE SO FAR?
The biggest hurdle has been the ease at which I can add scope - and justify it! As I’m driving a lot of this development based on feel, and past experience, it’s easy to add an activity (like fishing), then expand that idea all the way to custom rods the player can unlock! So I’m often trading one idea for another and seeing which enhances the world the most.
ADVICE FOR FELLOW DEVS?
ADVICE FOR FELLOW DEVS?
My biggest piece of advice is for others who have similar issues - Reduce scope before you start building! In my case I chose a genre that removed a lot of scope by its nature (no enemies, no maps and minimal interactions) so as to hopefully provide a more ‘complete’ experience. I’d much rather play a small focused game than a large open world with nothing in it.
ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?
ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?
To the new developers, game development is truly something magical. We’re crafting something from nothing, pushing ideas until they become real. If you’re keen on getting involved and you’re brand new, just start doing one tutorial. If it doesn’t click with you, try another. Learn by watching and copying until you understand how something works. Then start making it your own. Expect this journey to be long and try to enjoy as much of it as you can!
Diesel Laws
❤️
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