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 truth
You will have to explain this behavior!
YOU CAN ENJOY THIS!
previously, on “TGC”
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
what we did about it
define Roles
commit to a RACI chart
distribute our Accountability
what are your goals?
contributio
n
craft
company
profit
art
trust
team
respec
t
friendshi
p
fun
features
game
feelin
g
qualit
y
recognitio
n
comtepa
ganyam
me
ROLES
choosing roles
Lead
Designe
r
Responsibilit
y
Accountabilit
y
Consult
Inform
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 magic
execute the magic
find the magic
execut
e the
magic
execut
e the
magic
find the magic
sustainable use of resources
profit margin
$$$
creative limits
talent pool
quality
art
game
mechanic
s
audio
quality
game
mechanic
s
art
audio
the big list
must be flexible to change
follow your passion!
setting a pace
1 YEAR
1
M
O
N
T
H
setting a pace
20 MONTHS
1
M
O
N
T
H
setting a pace
20 MONTHS
1
M
O
N
T
H
?
?
?
?
?
ESTIMATES
VS
COMMITMENTS
the big board
the big board
PEOPLE
FOCUSED
PROCESS
OR
STRAIGHTJACKET?
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 truth
You 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 estimates
contract 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 HONEST
WANDERING IS OK
IN EVERY ROLE
ON EVERY PROJECT
UNTIL YOU DIE
DIARY
PLAYTESTS
THE BIG LIST/BOARD
MUTUAL RESPECT & TRUST
WITHOUT
YOUR
GAMES… WHERE
WILL
WE BE?
because your games matter