how to manage an exploratory development process kellee santiago & robin hunicke
TRANSCRIPT
how to manage an exploratory development process
kellee santiago & robin hunicke
er . . .
exploratory
are you experienced?
Raise your hand if you’ve had:– Creative anxiety about your
process– Time, Budget or People problems– Difficulty explaining your
process/goals to others (… publishers, funders)
shared experience
Good News: You’re not alone– Iterative dev processes are hard!
Bad News:It won’t go away– Iterative dev processes are
fundamental!
iteration is expensive
You will chuck stuff You will wander in search of truthYou will have to explain this
behavior!
YOU CAN ENJOY THIS!
previously, on “TGC”
flower debuts at E3.fantastic responsesony asked us to spend more
time and money making the game better.
morale at an all-time low.
9
why does sustainability matter?
previously, on “TGC”
common day at TGC
there are things that need to get done.
why bother?I can’t be
weak.I’ll just do it.
lack of conflict resolution mechanisms
what we did about it
define Roles
commit to a RACI chart
distribute our Accountability
what are your goals?
companyprofit
craft
art
contribution
teamtrust friendship
respectfun
game
feeling
quality
recognition
features
comtepaganyamme
ROLES
choosing roles
Lead Designer
Responsibility
Accountability
ConsultInform
choosing roles
choosing roles
choosing roles
choosing your role
choosing your role
what about scope?
scope
in order to be exploratory
you have to be small
find the magic
execute the magic
find the magicexecute the
magic
find the magic
execute
the magic
find the magic
execute
the magic
sustainable use of resources
$$$
profit margin
talent pool
creative limits
quality
game mechan
ics
art
audio
quality
game mechan
icsart audio
the big list
must be flexible to change
follow your passion!
setting a pace
1 YEAR
1
MONTH
setting a pace
1
MONTH
20 MONTHS
setting a pace
1
MONTH
20 MONTHS
?
?
?
?
?
ESTIMATESVS
COMMITMENTS
the big board
the big board
PROCESS OR STRAIGHTJACKET?
PEOPLE FOCUSED
do your people matter?
1 on 1
back to basics
not a zero sum game!!!
we are wearing the same uniform, stupid!
"We call a task 'easy' in one of three cases:
we really want it, we have no idea what it entails, … or we don't have to do it
ourselves."
iteration is expensive
You will chuck stuff You will wander in search of truthYou will have to explain this
behavior!
YOU CAN ENJOY THIS!
sometimes there are other people...
you have to be upfront about your process
you have to be upfront about your process
maintain honesty and open communication
you have to be upfront about your process
maintain honesty and open communication
commitments are not estimates
you have to be upfront about your process
maintain honesty and open communication
commitments are not estimatescontract has to based on your
process, not your product
have the difficult conversations
“most game developers burn out within 5 years of entering the industry”
BE HONESTWANDERING IS OKIN EVERY ROLEON EVERY PROJECTUNTIL YOU DIE
DIARY
PLAYTESTS
THE BIG LIST/BOARD
MUTUAL RESPECT & TRUST
WITHOUT YOURGAMES… WHERE
WILL WE BE?
because your games matter