In the past whenever I made games I would, come up with the premise of what sounded like a cool story line, have a few key scenes in my head, and jump into rpg maker making the maps, the events, AND the actual story as I went along, no surprise i never finished a game.
This time I've been spending the last 2-3 months just writing the back story & story Outline, I'm almost done with the basic outline and then on going to do a detailed outline that basically summarizes the entire plot at each point in full. I hired an artist to do the cover artwork which he completed and keeps me motivated.
Before I got deep into the writing phase when I had the premise I took care of all the scripts I need for this game save for 2, I doubt want to see the "new shiny script" and try to shove it into my game and write story around it, this way the only scripts I will take are more efficient versions of the ones I have.
My next phase after the detailed outline is completing the character designs in the generator. Then getting busts done, and other things saving actually making the game and mapping for the end, tight after animations which I hate
So:
Story premise (done)
Scripts (done)
Cover Artwork (done)
Back Story (80% done)
Basic Outline (85% done)
Detailed outline
Character gen
Artwork, being outsourced
Animations
Mapping
actual game making
What about everyone else?