1. how to manage an exploratory development process kellee santiago & robin hunicke

2. er...

3. exploratory

4. 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)

5. 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!

6. iteration is expensive You will chuck stuff You will wander in search of truth You will have to explain this behavior! YOU CAN ENJOY THIS!

7. previously, on “ TGC ”

10. why does sustainability matter?

11. previously, on “ TGC ”

12. 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

13. what we did about it define Roles commit to a RACI chart distribute our Accountability

14. what are your goals?

15. company profit craft art contributio n

16. team trust friendshi p respec t fun

17. game feelin g qualit y recognitio n features

18. comtepa ganyam me

19. ROLES

20. choosing roles Lead Designe r Responsibilit y Accountabilit y Consult Inform

21. choosing roles

24. choosing your role

26. what about scope?

27. scope in order to be exploratory you have to be small

28. find the magic execute the magic

29. find the magic execute the magic

30. find the magic execut e the magic

31. find the magic execut e the magic sustainable use of resources $$$ profit margin talent pool creative limits

32. quality game mechanic s art audio

33. quality game mechanic s art audio

34. the big list

35. must be flexible to change

36. follow your passion!

37. setting a pace 1 YEAR 1MONTH1MONTH

38. setting a pace 1MONTH1MONTH 20 MONTHS

39. setting a pace 1MONTH1MONTH 20 MONTHS ? ? ? ? ?

40. ESTIMATES VS COMMITMENTS

41. the big board

43. PROCESS OR STRAIGHTJACKET? PEOPLE FOCUSED

44. do your people matter?

45. 1 on 1

46. back to basics

48. not a zero sum game!!! we are wearing the same uniform, stupid!

49. "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."

50. iteration is expensive You will chuck stuff You will wander in search of truth You will have to explain this behavior! YOU CAN ENJOY THIS!

51. sometimes there are other people...

52. you have to be upfront about your process

53. maintain honesty and open communication

54. you have to be upfront about your process maintain honesty and open communication commitments are not estimates

55. you have to be upfront about your process maintain honesty and open communication commitments are not estimates contract has to based on your process, not your product

56. have the difficult conversations

57. “most game developers burn out within 5 years of entering the industry”

58. BE HONEST WANDERING IS OK IN EVERY ROLE ON EVERY PROJECT UNTIL YOU DIE

59. DIARY PLAYTESTS THE BIG LIST/BOARD MUTUAL RESPECT & TRUST

60. WITHOUT YOUR GAMES… WHERE WILL WE BE?

61. because your games matter