Morgan's Game Development Diary

Hey there, indie devs! 🎮

As you can see I'm experimenting with a new format, please let me know what you think, what you like, what you don't like, what you would like to see more of etc.

Generally I think it's good to have a finger on the pulse of the current gaming zeitgeist, Steam Charts is good for this but it's not the only source of gaming (believe it or not!) so I will be trying to add more sources in the future.

Game jams are a great way to improve your skills, meet other devs, try out new ideas, hence the game jam section.

Debate is always good, so I will try and have a section on a controversial topic. Try and keep an open mind, sometimes the world is not how we would like it to be...

I'll always add a more personal section at the end, so let's get started!

Welcome back to another week of gaming goodness! This week we're diving into the heated debate around AI in game development, checking out what's trending on Steam and some game jam recommendations. Whether you're building your next indie masterpiece or just staying in the loop, we've got the insights you need. Let's jump in!

📊 STEAM CHARTS - WHAT'S HOT RIGHT NOW

🎯 GAME JAMS STARTING THIS WEEK

Ready to create? Here are the hottest game jams launching this week:

SCOREJAM #37 - Starts in 2 days, lasts 3 days. 1,064 developers already joined! Join this jam
TOY BOX JAM 2025 - Starts in 2 days, lasts 16 days. 603 participants ready to build. Join this jam
MINI JAM 200: FREEDOM - Starts in 1 day, lasts 5 days. 227 developers competing. Join this jam
GODOT INDIA COMMUNITY GAME JAM 5 - Starts in 1 day, lasts 7 days. Perfect for Godot enthusiasts! Join this jam
LAME JAM 57 - Starts in 1 day, lasts 3 days. Quick and creative! Join this jam
VELOX TURBO 3 - Starts in 1 day, lasts 4 days. Fast-paced game creation. Join this jam
BEGINNERS' JAM WINTER 2025/6 - Starts in 3 days, lasts 20 days. Perfect for newcomers with 141 joined! Join this jam
3D MODELLING JAM #7 - Starts in 3 days, lasts 6 days. For 3D artists and modelers. Join this jam
WINTER GAME JAM 2025 - Starts in 4 days, lasts 12 days. 205 developers already signed up! Join this jam

🤖 AI IN GAMING - THE HEATED DEBATE

Amplitude Studios Delivers Telemetry-Driven AI Improvements in Endless Legend 2

Amplitude Studios has reported measurable, iterative improvements to its strategy AI in Endless Legend 2 across successive builds in 2025, using player game telemetry to analyze score-per-turn and income trends. This reflects a broader trend of using real-player analytics and live telemetry to refine AI behavior rather than relying solely on handcrafted scripts or static rules—a smart approach for indie devs looking to improve their game AI.

Larian Studios Defends Limited AI Use: "We're Not Replacing Artists"

Larian Studios has confirmed experimental use of generative AI for references and concept exploration at very early stages, sparking public discussion about AI in game development. Studio leadership publicly clarified that generative tools are not intended to replace artists, but rather serve as time-savers in ideation while keeping human artists in the loop. This transparency is helping calm community fears around AI adoption.

Game AI's Existential Crisis: Industry Calls for Better Knowledge Sharing

Industry analysis pieces in December have stressed concerns about career pathways, knowledge sharing, and access to game-AI expertise. Commentators are calling for better documentation, community education, and thoughtful adoption rather than wholesale replacement of human talent. The conversation highlights the importance of transparency and ethical AI practices in game development.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR INDIE DEVS

✅ AI is Here to Stay - The debate isn't about whether to use AI, but how to use it responsibly. Follow Larian's lead: use it as a tool to enhance your workflow, not replace your team.

✅ Data-Driven Game Balance - Amplitude's approach shows that telemetry and player analytics are crucial for tuning AI and game balance. Start collecting data early!

✅ Steam Trends Matter - Wild Terra 2 is seeing explosive growth (+1339.9%!). Keep an eye on trending games to understand what's capturing player attention.

ME, ME, ME

Seriously into Arc Raiders at the moment. Such a surprisingly varied game. Sometimes I go in wanting to blast stuff, sometimes I jump in and play a flute which always gets other players to stop blasting and start dancing. Bonkers!

Starting to see the appeal of doing less coding and more game design thanks to leaning on Claude more and more. There was a time when I enjoyed the craft of coding but now I like thinking about high level game design more. I'll talk about my somewhat reluctant journey with AI in future issues but fear not this newsletter will always be primarily about Game Development.

FINAL WORDS

That's your week in game dev, folks! 🎯 Whether you're jumping into a game jam, analyzing Steam trends for your next project, or diving into AI tools, there's never been a better time to be making games. The indie scene is thriving, the tools are getting better, and the community is more supportive than ever.

What are YOU working on this week? Drop us a line—we'd love to hear what you're building. And hey, if you find a game jam that speaks to you, go for it. You never know what might come from a weekend of creative chaos.

Keep creating, keep learning, and we'll see you next week with more gaming goodness! 🚀

Game Development Diary is your weekly dose of indie game news, dev tools, and industry insights. Made for devs, by devs.

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Morgan Page's Game Developer Diary

Morgan's Game Development Diary

📊 STEAM CHARTS - WHAT'S HOT RIGHT NOW

Top 5 Most Played Games (Current Players)

Top 5 Trending Games (24-Hour Change)

Top 5 Popular Releases