The document outlines essential strategies for assembling and managing a game development team, focusing on processes, communication, and execution. It emphasizes the importance of pre-production planning, establishing clear workflows and pipelines, and the role of client interaction in shaping project outcomes. The author provides insights on hiring and the necessary systems to ensure effective collaboration in a game studio environment.

1. Assembling your game team.Rudrasen Sitoleh7 Levels Studio11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

2. AgendaIntroductionsObservations11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com Planning

3. Client

4. Pre-production

5. Hiring

6. Execution

7. Have a process and follow it.

8. Manage communication.

9. Setup SystemsPremiseBy “Assembling your team” I imply making them productive.This is a primer, not a panacea. There is no silver bullet.You need to find your own equation in your environment and team.11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

10. Who am I ?B.E & M.S. Computer ScienceLived and worked in the Silicon Valley from 2000-2010.Intel, Consumer internet startup, MMORPG studio2011 back here in Pune.Started independent game studio.Develop and consult for casual and social games on Flash and IOS.Original IP games and interactive products.Playing and coding games in 1985, Sinclair ZX and Commodore 6411/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

11. AudienceDirectly/indirectly manage people in a game studio Small team, for the most part. i.e. one layer of management hierarchy.In-charge of delivering a game to a client/customer.You want to manage your onsite and / or remote team, in a sustainable manner.You are interested in making good games, professionallyThere is some degree of creative risk in your project. i.e. you are not merely cloning games.11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

12. Isn’t game dev like any IT dev?For engineering, Yes they are similar. Software obeys the same good practices and axiomsAs well as impacted by same issues such as, technical debt.Chasing fun & delivering an experience instead of mere functionality. Viability Vs. playabilityIntegrating design, content & software Developing via workflows and asset pipelinesYou have to understand and harness the “creative process” through iteration & refinement. A delivery date and the pressure thereof. 11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

13. Great topics for another dayBusiness development, PR, MarketingProject managementManagement theoryPost launch issues.SCRUM/Agile – next door11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

14. PlanningClient Assessment and interactionPreproductionHiring11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

15. Client – Due diligenceYes, they are indirectly part of your team, simply because they influence the outcome.Please take the time to assess your client and their demands. Case study: Is this in Dollar or Rupees?11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

16. Client – InteractionPresuming you have resolved the legal and financial matters.Establish how they need to reported to and updatedHow will their input be factored into the production process?11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

17. Planning - PreproductionTraditionally done by publisher for green lighting.An essential step in game production.So what is it ?11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

18. What is preproduction?Pre-production is when the Game Development team works on defining the production pipelines, identifying the needs and uses of the tools they’ll need to make the game, and outlining and fleshing out the details behind the game’s design.Pre- production is the exploration of what the game is about and where is the fun.11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

19. Planning - PreproductionTraditionally done by publisher for green lighting.An essential step in game production.This stage is fully iterative and incremental. “What are we going to build and why?” Find a way to communicate this to your entire team and client.Documents (GDD, TDD, Art bible), WikisPrototypes, Concept Art, Storyboards11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

20. Planning – Preproduction for you I think, you can use it to assess and establishOverall team competency and capability.Understand your risks and capacity to deliver and therefore curtail budgets and scope.To set a realistic schedule and milestones, with client.Pitfall : you cannot do preproduction in your head or a meeting or in document.Your team can only learn through execution.This way to you have tested and stressed your workflows.11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

21. Planning - HiringPrepare for the realities of hiring as a non-blue chip company in India.Phone screens and programming test are effective filter. A great shortcut to eliminate duds. The lack of vocabulary in software, tools or game domain can be stifling if the technical person is remote. Since 90% communication is funneled into text or voice.Document a hard skills and soft skills selection criteria for each position. Then communicate it to respective managers and leads11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

22. ExecutionProcess – Have one and follow itManage CommunicationsSetup systems11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

23. Execution - ProcessCollaboratively work out your team interactionsMeeting schedulesDaily report-ins Progress trackingCreate a protocol for issue escalation, decision making.Clearly delineate the roles, responsibilities and ownership of each lead.Work proactively to identity & resolve: the overlaps in ownership & boundariesPossible transgressions, as well resulting conflict.Gaps or chasms in ownership in the overall deliverablesAgree on how, who and when you will update the client.11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

24. Execution – Manage CommunicationsEstablish a common vocabulary for entire teamCapture it in an accessible format Disseminate it11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

25. Manage CommunicationsRecognize the value of in-person interactionQuality and quantity of knowledge transferred visually and via tacit interaction.To compensate for the lack of above, you need to adopt a level of formality and rigor in our communicationUseful for members with limited language ability.11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

26. Execution – Setup systemsDocument repository ( GDD, TDD, Art Bible, etc)Task Tracking (Basecamp, Excel, Google docs)Source control and / or content repositoriesBug and issue trackingIT roles and tasks outlinedAll major systems have to be decided in advance and setup, in order to get your machine moving.11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com

27. Execution: Pipeline & WorkflowsYou team is a production system; not a hobbyist get-together. In order to function effectively and efficiently you need to have clear workflows and pipelines.11/12/2011www.7levelstudios.com