Documentation can be fun

I spent most of my working day today documenting my current project, which was a lot scarier in my head than it ended up being while actually doing it. The process was mostly smooth in the beginning, but complexity started creeping in during the second half. I am guessing we'll have to press on with production and then cut the corners during the testing phase.

But what I think was the most interesting thing was that it was a joy to do. I was somewhat concerned that just writing processes and rules would be hard to flow and a nightmare to organize. But it was neither. They just kept coming out steadily, and then I went back and started filling in the blanks and adding more elements. Not only that, but some concepts also popped up during this phase.

Right now, the design still seems solid, but it's getting a bit too hard to swallow - as in, it will scare the shit out of the casual crowd. This is quickly becoming very complex, but still in the manageable zone due to most of the verbs and actions being so intuitive. That's the upside of using a very figurative system for a game - and something I had been insisting from the beginning.

My brain is melting right now, though. I sincerely did not feel the hours passing at all. I am taking a break now and playing some Mega Man 9. I feel like I earned it.