„Games made in 2 years are more exciting than games made in 8 years.” According to indie game dev, the belief that time defines the project’s quality is wrong

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Xalavier Nelson Jr., the founder and leader at independent studio Strange Scaffold (creators of El Paso, Elsewhere, I Am Your Beast, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown), recently expressed an engaging perspective on how the duration of game development influences the final product’s quality.

During an interview with GamesRadar+, the developer, who has been involved in more than 100 games over the past nine years, expressed his opinion that the idea that extended development periods automatically result in superior quality in the finished product is a common misconception.

Nelson was reluctant to provide particular instances, yet he underscored the point that “there are numerous instances of games that were created over a period of ten years or longer and failed to succeed.

Moving forward, it became clear that in this field, there have been numerous instances where individuals spent three to four years attempting to determine the type of game they wanted to create, only to have a single year remaining to assemble their project.

Afterward, Nelson shared his viewpoint that a game developed in a limited period is generally more thrilling compared to one that’s been under development for an extended duration.

When I learn that a game took two years to create, it often sparks greater enthusiasm within me. This is because it implies that someone had a clear plan and dedicated their efforts towards its realization alongside their team – as stated by the developer.

As a gamer, I’ve found myself in situations where it seems like more than half of an eight-year production cycle is spent treading water in a barren landscape. Then, out of nowhere, some brilliant mind comes along and drastically alters the game with an innovative twist or feature that catches everyone’s attention.

Nelson’s views might seem daring to some, but it’s tough to argue against his perspective. The international game development sector is experiencing instances where lesser-known projects are becoming popular, while established megagames with large budgets struggle for attention.

Or,

Nelson’s viewpoints may appear audacious, yet they hold weight. In the global gaming industry, there’s a growing trend of smaller, less-known projects garnering popularity over longstanding mega-games with hefty budgets.

Additionally, the founder of Strange Scaffold studio’s statements echo sentiments that publishers often jump on trends without proper thought, which can lead to them modifying game concepts mid-development. This practice has been criticized within the industry, with figures like the publisher of Manor Lords and the creative director of Helldivers 2 among its detractors. They both advocated for developers to be bold in taking risks (and many others shared this viewpoint).

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2025-05-27 14:02