First screenshot and effectivity tip!
So, I’ve noticed you can bump up your devspeed if you do one thing at the time. For example.
1) Figure out your general idea
2) Try to make most of your sprites
3) Start on your gamelogic
Instead of:
1) Figure out your general idea
2) Make one sprite
3) Code the gamelogic for that sprite
4) Goto #2
This is also true with sounds, try to do/generate them all at one point instead of constantly switching between your code, your sprite editor and your sound software.
And here’s my first screenshot:

I think I’ll give this a try, was about to do it the other way.
Actually, it is “goto #1″ often enough
Looks awesome. Wondering how your plan goes. I never did a planning-first game, usually my enemies etc. just evolved.
I’m all over the place all the time!