HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY BEEN

I published Xenospore in June 2022 and released update 1.1 nine months later. After spending the next year on other projects, I’m now focused on bringing the game to Steam.

When I first published Xenospore on http://itch.io, I didn't expect much, but I was pleasantly surprised by the reception from both players and other developers. I was amazed when it was featured in an article by The Gamer and attracted the attention of several developers whose amazing games have inspired me over the years.

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT HURDLE SO FAR?

Puzzle games are challenging to create, and Xenospore is no exception. Designing levels for Xenospore is particularly tough—there's no single method or approach that always works, and it involves a lot of trial and error. With countless combinations of tiles, puzzles can have multiple solutions, ranging from easy to difficult, making it hard to find the right balance. Moreover, creating a puzzle is a puzzle in itself; you need to ensure it's solvable by actually playing through it, and it must be challenging without being frustrating or overly complex. The puzzle should also be engaging and provide that "eureka" moment that makes players go "aha!"

Another challenging aspect has been Xenospore's infrastructure. After developing this game, I continued learning and created several new projects, significantly improving my skills in game development, Godot, and programming. As a result, I often find myself having to dismantle and reassemble parts of the game when making updates or changes. It’s a valuable lesson—you work with what you have and make the best of it. It doesn’t have to be perfect as long as it works.

Additionally, working on the same game for a long time can be exhausting. There’s always a "creative urge" to dive into other exciting projects, but I can only focus on one at a time (with the occasional jam game thrown in). Despite this, I'm incredibly proud of Xenospore, grateful for every player, and thrilled to see it on Steam. I'm excited to return to it after working on several smaller projects, and the positive feedback from players really boosts my motivation.

ADVICE FOR FELLOW DEVS?

Do you have any advice for me? I’d be happy to hear it! 😉

While it may sound like a cliché, my advice is to keep doing what you love and be kind. Manage your expectations, and focus on being inspired by others rather than comparing yourself to them. Get as many people as possible to play your game early on, and participate in game jams—you’ll learn a lot from both experiences!

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

Game development is a long and challenging process, requiring dedication, patience, and continuous learning. For someone who loves immediate results, it’s a humbling experience that teaches the value of patience. As I continue making my first steps into commercial-ish game development, I know the journey will be lengthy, but I’m excited for the future.

It would be great if you could check out Xenospore on Steam and, if you find it interesting, consider wishlisting it!

You can also follow me on Twitter: http://x.com/le_aviv

Or check out my other games on http://itch.io: http://avivlevy.itch.io

Thanks for featuring my Gamedev Journey 😎

Cheers!

-Aviv

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3034960/Xenospore/

❤️