How long does it take to design a game? When is a game done? When is it time to abandon a game and move? In 2005, I began work on a game called in Inheritance. Now, in 2017, we’re finally shipping the game. What happened in those intervening 12 years? What took so long? Was it worth it? Is the game successful? Would I do it again? I’ll walk you through one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and examine the cost—both in spirit and silver—of designing a small art game.