(Extra note: I just realized this is my 10th Ludum Dare event I attend to! Sounds symbolic, I better make it good.)

Inspired by @kuro 's post about his process and thoughs during the event, I decided to do a similar thing and maybe these posts will inspire both new atendees as well as some veterans.

0) Pre-LD Mindset

Before I start the event I already have in mind a picture of the structure of the game. Well, it is easy for me because I make only point and click adventure games. So I know that my game will be an adventure. I also know that my main focus is always graphics and story. I don't try to make any revolutionary mechanics, nor I try to shock people with some out-of-this-world gameplay. I simply want to deliver an interesting story with a couple of puzzles and most importantly fitting mood. So maybe this can give you some ideas about how to approach the progress. Maybe you can decide up front what genre you want to do no matter what theme wins.

1) Theme handling

I almost always use the theme for story purposes, not gameplay mechanics. This gives me a looot of freedom to make something interesting with it.

2) Step by step process

• I start with a very vague idea (Story about and old man going shopping and something happens along the way)
• I start making graphics (characters, environment, items...) and because it takes a lot of time to make these pictures, I use this time to think about all the dialogues and the story details on the run.
• Then I write all the dialogues and story I was brainstorming during my graphic sessions.
• In the end I just glue everything together.

3) Polishing

Now that I have basically the whole game finished I check for bugs, polish some dialogues, add some minor details and that's it. I know it sounds easy, because it kinda is when you are making adventure games, in comparison to someone working on let's say an RPG fighting game, but that's just how I do it.

So I hope you got some ideas for your own working process now. And don't forget, LD is not about winning, it's about the experience and fun!