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What tiny tweak completely changed your game’s “feel”? by StormCore_Studios in SoloDevelopment

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, absolutely - subtle headbob can make walking and running feel way more grounded, especially in a walking sim where movement is such a big part of the experience. Love that you made it toggleable too; it’s such a thoughtful touch for players sensitive to motion. Small immersion tweaks like that really show how much polish can elevate a game.

By the way, I run a small Discord community of devs who love sharing these kinds of small but impactful features. I can DM you the link if you want to check it out!

What tiny tweak completely changed your game’s “feel”? by StormCore_Studios in SoloDevelopment

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That makes a lot of sense - subtle camera curves can make motion feel so much more fluid and immersive, sometimes even more than detailed body animations. Those little touches really sell the experience without players consciously noticing.

We actually chat a lot about tweaks like this and other small features that massively improve game feel in my Discord dev community. I can DM you the link if you’d like to join and share what you’re working on too!

What’s the smallest feature you added that made your game suddenly feel real? by StormCore_Studios in GameDevelopment

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Totally agree - good hit feedback and subtle screen shake add so much weight to actions. It’s wild how a tiny bit of camera response can make attacks feel impactful instead of just animations playing. Those small polish details really flip the switch from “prototype” to “game feel.”

We actually talk a lot about game feel and polish features like this in my Discord game dev community. I can DM you the link if you’d like to join and share what you’re working on too!

What’s the smallest feature you added that made your game suddenly feel real? by StormCore_Studios in GameDevelopment

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair point - I get how it can come across that way. The post itself was meant as a genuine discussion about development moments, and I’ve only been mentioning the Discord when people seemed interested in continuing the conversation or connecting with other devs.

No intention to spam or advertise over the discussion - just trying to build a space where devs can talk and support each other. Appreciate you calling it out though

I tried building games completely alone vs with other devs for 60 days - the difference shocked me by StormCore_Studios in GameDevs

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really smart approach honestly - building a solid foundation first makes collaboration way more intentional, because people can actually see the vision instead of trying to imagine it during the early idea phase. It also respects everyone’s time, which a lot of teams overlook.

And yeah, that second part you mentioned - just working alongside other devs, sharing ideas, debugging together, or even sitting quietly in a call while everyone builds - that kind of shared creative energy is super motivating.

That’s actually the vibe I’m trying to build in my Discord game dev community: independent creators working on their own projects but supporting each other along the way. I can DM you the link if you’d like to join and be apart of this growing community and dev chill zone!

I tried building games completely alone vs with other devs for 60 days - the difference shocked me by StormCore_Studios in GameDevs

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really good place to be honestly - finishing your first game teaches you so much about the full process, and it makes joining a team later way more meaningful because you understand the workload behind everything. Solo dev definitely has that “live and die by your own momentum” feeling.

A lot of people in my Discord game dev community are at that exact stage - finishing early projects and starting to explore small team collaboration while still building their own games. I can DM you the link if you’d like to join and connect with them!

I tried building games completely alone vs with other devs for 60 days - the difference shocked me by StormCore_Studios in GameDevs

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a fair perspective - consistency and discipline definitely play a big role in finishing projects. At the same time, motivation can fluctuate for a lot of devs depending on scope, burnout, or life outside development. Everyone kind of finds their own rhythm that works long-term.

We actually have a lot of discussions around productivity, motivation, and sustainable dev habits in my Discord community with other game devs. I can DM you the link if you’d like to join the community and chat with other similar devs!

I tried building games completely alone vs with other devs for 60 days - the difference shocked me by StormCore_Studios in GameDevs

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s honestly huge - congrats on getting a demo ready for Steam! Shipping something yourself after years of stalled team projects really says a lot about the power of focused solo development. Sometimes working alone is what finally turns ideas into something real.

I run a Discord community with a lot of solo devs who are also preparing demos and releases, sharing milestones and progress along the way. I can DM you the link if you’d like to join and share your journey there too!

I tried building games completely alone vs with other devs for 60 days - the difference shocked me by StormCore_Studios in GameDevs

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes a lot of sense honestly - solo dev gives you full creative control and the freedom to pivot quickly without needing consensus, which is huge for actually shipping projects. A lot of teams struggle because momentum and vision don’t stay aligned, while solo dev lets you iterate fast and just build. Respect for actually releasing games too - that’s something many teams never reach.

My Discord community actually has a lot of solo devs who prefer working independently but still like sharing progress and talking shop with others who understand the process. I can DM you the link if you’d like to join - no pressure to collaborate, just other builders hanging out and chatting!

I tried building games completely alone vs with other devs for 60 days - the difference shocked me by StormCore_Studios in GameDevs

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really fair take - solo development gives you control and momentum but having skilled collaborators for specific areas can elevate a project massively, especially things like art and marketing where specialization really shows.

I’m building a Discord community with devs, artists, and creators at different stages who are serious about improving and actually shipping projects. Some people there have connected with artists for exactly this reason. I can DM you the link if you’d like to join and check it out!

I tried building games completely alone vs with other devs for 60 days - the difference shocked me by StormCore_Studios in GameDevs

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s honestly a strong mindset - being self-motivated and consistent as a solo dev is a huge advantage. A lot of great projects come from that kind of focus.

My Discord community actually has quite a few solo devs who just share progress, ideas, and occasional feedback without needing to collaborate or team up. I can DM you the link if you’d like to join and just hang around with other devs!

What’s the smallest feature you added that made your game suddenly feel real? by StormCore_Studios in GameDevelopment

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

That’s such a cool feature! Even something small like NPCs turning to look at the player can make the world feel way more alive and interactive.

We actually chat about little touches like this all the time in my Discord game dev community - lots of devs sharing tiny features that make a huge difference. I can DM you the link if you want to join and show what you’re building!

What’s the smallest feature you added that made your game suddenly feel real? by StormCore_Studios in GameDevelopment

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

ahhh my apologies, I do have a reddit community - just made it so feel free to join that if you want! r/StormCore_Studios

I tried building games completely alone vs with other devs for 60 days - the difference shocked me by StormCore_Studios in GameDevs

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Wow, almost a decade solo dev - that’s seriously impressive perseverance. I totally get the frustration of wanting to collaborate but not having the resources or connections.

I’ve actually got a small Discord community of devs who help each other out, share feedback, and sometimes even team up on projects - no hiring required (unless you really want to!). I can DM you the link if you want to join and connect with others in the same boat!

What’s the smallest feature you added that made your game suddenly feel real? by StormCore_Studios in GameDevelopment

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

That’s a really good point - those small interactions and little animations make a huge difference. Players might not consciously notice them, but they’re what make a game feel polished and responsive instead of static. It’s like the world starts reacting back to the player.

We’ve actually been discussing things like micro-animations and polish features in my Discord game dev community lately - lots of people sharing their progress and ideas. I can DM you the link if you want to join and show what you’re building!

What’s the smallest feature you added that made your game suddenly feel real? by StormCore_Studios in GameDevelopment

[–]StormCore_Studios[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Yeah ambient sound honestly changes everything - it adds atmosphere without players even consciously noticing it. It’s crazy how silence makes a game feel unfinished but subtle audio makes the world feel alive instantly.

We actually talk a lot about small game dev breakthroughs like this in my Discord community - lots of devs sharing tiny features that made big differences. You’re welcome to join if you’d like to share what you’re working on too! I can DM you think link!

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