One of the most challenging aspects of game development is project organization. Initially, it might seem manageable with a few sketches and notes, but as the project grows, it can become overwhelming. After years of searching for an effective system to plan and organize my games, I finally discovered a tool that transformed my workflow: Millinote. In this article, I’ll share how Millinote has been instrumental in organizing my game, Blizzard Blowout 64.
My journey began in 2009 when I first delved into game development. Back then, I relied on pen and paper, which worked well for smaller projects. However, as my projects grew in complexity, keeping track of everything became a daunting task. This led me to explore various software solutions, but none seemed to fit my needs. I even tried Trello, which offered a visual way to track progress, but it often felt cluttered and cumbersome.
After years of trial and error, I nearly resigned myself to using basic tools like Notepad. Then, a fellow game developer introduced me to Millinote through a devlog. Initially skeptical, I decided to give it a try, and it has since revolutionized my organizational process.
Millinote has become an essential tool for my game development projects for several reasons:
Unlike many organization apps that use tabs, Millinote offers a unique boards-within-boards feature. This is akin to a digital corkboard where you can pin and drag items around, allowing for a highly visual and intuitive design. I can create main boards with sub-boards, enabling me to organize sketches, artwork, scripts, and concepts seamlessly.
The freeform canvas is another standout feature. It allows me to drag, organize, and design my boards freely. I can create mood boards for new areas and concepts, which facilitates communication with my team, even when we’re not brainstorming together directly.
As a graphic designer, I appreciate aesthetically pleasing layouts, but I don’t want to spend excessive time creating them. Millinote’s built-in templates cater to various needs, saving time and allowing me to focus on game development.
We’ve been using Millinote to track our development sprints and set goals for Blizzard Blowout 64. This tool has alleviated many past frustrations, and I highly recommend it to anyone struggling with project organization. It’s free to use and has been a game-changer for me.
As for Blizzard Blowout 64, development is progressing smoothly. We’ve created lists for new characters, sound effects, and the necessary artwork. Collaborating with my team has been a pleasure, and we’re nearing the end of the rough draft phase. With a solid organizational foundation, refining and polishing the game will be much more manageable.
Organization is vital in game development, and while it can be tedious, it doesn’t have to be dull. Embrace creativity, stay organized, and avoid scope creep and distractions from your core game. I hope you find these insights helpful in your own projects.
If you have any questions about task management or team organization, feel free to reach out. Thank you for engaging with this content, and stay tuned for more game development adventures!
Take a deep dive into Millinote and explore its boards-within-boards feature and freeform canvas. Create a mock project to familiarize yourself with its functionalities. This hands-on experience will help you understand how to effectively organize your game development tasks.
Using Millinote, design a mood board for a hypothetical game project. Include sketches, artwork, and concept notes. This activity will enhance your ability to visually organize and communicate your ideas, which is crucial in collaborative environments.
Draft a project plan for a game using Millinote’s built-in templates. Outline the key phases of development, including character design, sound effects, and artwork. This exercise will help you practice setting clear goals and timelines, essential for successful project management.
Simulate a team collaboration session using Millinote. Assign roles and tasks to team members, and use the tool to track progress and updates. This will provide insight into how Millinote can facilitate effective communication and coordination within a team.
Reflect on your current organizational strategies and compare them with the methods discussed in the article. Write a short essay on how adopting Millinote could improve your workflow and project outcomes. This reflection will help you critically assess and enhance your organizational skills.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Do you know what the most challenging part of developing a game is? Project organization. At first, it seems manageable—doing some sketches and jotting down notes—but after a while, it becomes overwhelming. I’ve spent years trying to find a better system to plan and organize my games, but honestly, nothing ever stuck. However, like a refreshing breeze on a hot summer day, the perfect tool appeared to me: Millinote. Today, I want to share my new and improved method for staying on track using Millinote and how it has been crucial for my game, Blizzard Blowout 64.
Our story begins in 2009 when I started getting into game development. I was trying to find software or some way to stay organized with my projects. At the time, I was using pen and paper, which worked fine for small projects. However, after a couple of years, I found it challenging to keep track of everything, especially with larger projects. It became overwhelming, so I decided to look for software to help organize my projects better. This led to a trial-and-error period where I tried different software for a month or two but ended up not liking them.
Finally, a friend suggested I try Trello because it was a cool way to visualize progress. The problem was that Trello often became cluttered and felt like organizing a dictionary instead of managing a game. I need visuals when I organize. After years of searching, I gave up and thought I would eventually write my own software, but for now, I would just use Notepad.
Then, one day, while watching a devlog from my friend and fellow game developer Andrew, I discovered Millinote. Initially, I was skeptical, thinking it would be just another piece of software that wouldn’t meet my needs, but I was pleasantly surprised. I started using Millinote at the beginning of this year, and it has completely transformed the way I work. It is one of the best project organization tools I’ve ever encountered, so I reached out to Millinote to collaborate on this video.
You might be wondering why I like Millinote so much and how it helped me organize Blizzard Blowout. There are three main reasons. First, Millinote’s boards-within-boards feature is fantastic. Many organization apps have tabs, but Millinote is like a corkboard where you can pin and drag things around, allowing for a visual design. I can create boards with sub-boards, which helps me organize my sketches, artwork, scripts, and concepts all in one place without losing track.
Second, the freeform canvas is incredible. I love the ability to drag, organize, and design my board. I can create mood boards for new areas and concepts, making it easier to communicate ideas with my team, even if I’m not brainstorming with them directly.
Finally, the built-in templates are phenomenal. As a graphic designer, I appreciate things that look nice and neat, but I don’t want to spend all my time designing layouts. Millinote has ready-made templates for various needs, which saves time and allows me to focus on my game.
We’ve even been using Millinote to track our sprints and set goals for our game development. I know I may seem a bit overexcited, but that’s because I’ve faced so many frustrations in the past. If you’ve struggled to find a good organization system, I highly recommend checking out Millinote. It’s free to use and has been fantastic for me.
Regarding Blizzard Blowout, I don’t want to spoil too much, but development is progressing nicely. I’ve created lists for new characters, sound effects, and art needed for them. Working with my team has been enjoyable, and we’re almost out of the rough draft phase of the project. After this, it will be about refining and polishing, which is much easier with a solid foundation.
Organization is crucial, and while it can be tedious, it doesn’t have to be boring. Have fun with it, be creative, and make sure to stay organized to avoid scope creep and distractions from your core game.
I hope you found this video helpful! If you have any questions about how I manage tasks or organize for my team, please let me know in the comments. Thank you for watching, and make sure to like and subscribe for more videos like this. A huge shoutout to my Patreon supporters—your support makes these videos possible, and I appreciate you all so much.
That’s it for me! I’ll see you next time for another game development adventure.
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Game Development – The process of designing, creating, and releasing a game, often involving programming, art, and storytelling. – The team used Unity for game development to create an immersive virtual reality experience.
Organization – The structured arrangement of resources and tasks to efficiently achieve objectives, especially in project management. – Effective organization of the project files ensured that all team members could easily access the necessary resources.
Millinote – A digital tool used for organizing notes, ideas, and projects in a visual format, often used by creative professionals. – The designer used Millinote to arrange her ideas and inspirations for the new app interface.
Projects – Planned sets of tasks or activities undertaken to achieve specific goals, often within a defined timeframe. – The software development team divided the work into smaller projects to streamline the process.
Tools – Software applications or utilities used to perform specific tasks or functions in computing and project management. – Developers often rely on version control tools like Git to manage changes in their codebase.
Templates – Pre-designed structures or formats used as a starting point for creating documents, designs, or projects. – The team used templates for their project proposals to ensure consistency and save time.
Canvas – A digital workspace where users can create and manipulate visual content, often used in design and art software. – The graphic designer used the canvas in Adobe Illustrator to create the company’s new logo.
Collaboration – The act of working together with others to achieve a common goal, often facilitated by digital tools in professional settings. – Collaboration tools like Slack and Trello helped the remote team stay connected and productive.
Sketches – Rough drawings or outlines used to convey ideas and concepts, often in the early stages of design projects. – The architect presented several sketches to illustrate the initial concept for the new building.
Artwork – Visual elements created for use in digital or print media, often as part of a design or creative project. – The marketing team commissioned original artwork for the upcoming product launch campaign.
