tec805 wrote:Can't do the graphics until gameplay has been hammered out
Why not?
You shouldn't confuse the order of the stamps to mean that there are some distinct phases for gameplay and graphics. In truth, gameplay and graphics are developed in tandem, and the stamps only signify that part of the development is (mostly) ready and doesn't need any more attention.
Look at my Eurasia map for example, I just had the gameplay stamp and now it's stickied for gfx stamp, because both were being developed at the same time. And DiM always starts graphics development right from the start.