As the jam wraps up, it’s time to reflect on what this project taught me — about design, iteration, and embracing constraints.

Embracing Control as a Resource

The core idea of treating player input as a limited, manipulable resource pushed me to rethink assumptions I never questioned before. Movement is usually infinite in games — but here, it wasn’t.

This shift opened up rich design space where the player’s own agency became a puzzle piece. It showed me how powerful it can be to rethink even the most fundamental systems.

Challenges & Solutions

• Balancing freedom and frustration: It was crucial to give players enough tools to solve puzzles without making them feel trapped.

• Feedback clarity: Without clear visual and audio cues, the mechanic felt punishing rather than strategic.

• UX polish: Drag-and-drop had to be intuitive to avoid breaking immersion or flow.

Each challenge pushed me to iterate and refine, teaching me patience and the value of player-centric design.

What I’d Do Differently

If I had more time, I’d explore:

• Adding more input types as resources (e.g., dash, crouch).

• Creating dynamic puzzles that evolve with input availability.

• Expanding feedback with richer animations and sound design.

I’d also look into accessibility, ensuring players of all skill levels can enjoy the resource mechanic without frustration.

Final Thoughts

This jam was a rewarding reminder that constraints breed creativity. By limiting something as fundamental as control, I found new ways to engage players and tell a unique story through gameplay.

Thank you for following this devlog series — I hope it inspires you to challenge your own design assumptions!