Why I Chose a Small Flappy Bird Game for My First Video Game Project

Author: Joe Little

Date: 05/19/24

I know, I know, it is almost comical at this point; there are so many Flappy Bird clones. However, you must understand there are many good reasons behind choosing such a game project for my first release. There are currently three rather large games that I have in my production pipeline. While talking to my kids, I was telling them how important it is to just finish games. Make small games and publish them. I remember saying, "You could even take a simple game like Flappy Bird and add a new mechanic." This conversation opened the idea that I should live by example. That is how making and releasing Floaty Fluff, my Flappy Bird-like game, began. This choice allowed me to focus on creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and avoid the pitfalls of scope creep, ensuring a successful and manageable initial project.

Simplicity and Focus

The game’s mechanics are straightforward: Fluff floats on a balloon, tap to make Fluff drop down (like an upside-down Flappy Bird) and prevent the cat from hitting the ceiling, while also avoiding obstacles. Every 5 points, the game speeds up; collect candy to slow the game speed back down.

Focusing on a game with basic mechanics allowed me to concentrate on mastering fundamental aspects of game development, such as coding, design, and pixel art, without getting overwhelmed by complex systems or features.

Learning Core Principles

Developing Floaty Fluff helped me grasp essential game development principles, including collision detection, physics, and user input handling. Understanding these core concepts is vital for any game developer, and a small project provides a manageable scope to practice and refine these skills. Moreover, it allowed me to experience the entire game development lifecycle, from initial concept to final polish.

Avoiding Scope Creep

Scope creep is a common issue in game development, where additional features and ideas extend beyond the original project scope, leading to delays and unfinished projects. By choosing a small, well-defined project, I minimized the risk of scope creep. I set clear, achievable goals and focused on executing them to the best of my ability. This disciplined approach ensured that I completed my project on time and learned the importance of project management in game development.

Game Development - Game Engines

Choosing a game engine, if you are not skilled enough to build your own, is a decision every game developer faces. My decision to switch to the Godot Engine, a free and open-source cross-platform engine, came after encountering significant challenges with publishing my game using Solar 2D (Solar 2D is also open source and cross-platform). Although I had initially developed the entire game in Solar 2D, I found the process of getting the game ready for release cumbersome and frustrating. Godot offered a more streamlined and user-friendly publishing experience, alongside its robust set of tools and active community support. Its flexibility and comprehensive documentation made the transition smoother and allowed me to enhance my game's overall performance.

Building Confidence

Completing a project, no matter how small, is a significant confidence booster. Finishing Floaty Fluff and publishing it for Apple and Google Play demonstrated that I could take a game from concept to completion. This success provided me with the motivation and confidence to tackle more complex projects in the future. It is also a portfolio piece that showcases my skills and dedication to potential collaborators.

Conclusion

Choosing to develop a small game like Flappy Bird as my first project allowed me to learn and apply fundamental game development principles, avoid scope creep, and build confidence in my abilities. For any aspiring indie game developer, starting with a small, manageable project is a critical step towards achieving long-term success in the industry. By focusing on creating an MVP, you can ensure steady progress and lay a solid foundation for more ambitious projects in the future.