Research - GDO710 - Week 4
We are starting rapid ideation! Entering sprint 2!
I am very nervous about starting this. I am worried about time management and if I am realistically able to complete a small project within the two weeks provided. It was mentioned in the brief that the Week 6 webinar would be a showcase of the work created so far.
*STRESS*
Guess there's an actual deadline now and I NEED to get work done.
I have participated in a couple of game jams before, but never for academic purposes. This one feels a little different but let's see.
Class notes: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
How "rapid ideation" works
Diversifiers for the jam.
In Ink (only black and white colours)
Basics covered (configurable controls, large and clear text, does not rely on hearing, does not rely on being able to tell colours apart.)
Language- independence (can be used regardless of language.)
Roles in a game studio.
Agile reflection
Project managers & producers
Practical tips to improve time management
Meetings { Discord, Agendas for the meeting, minutes, standup. Retros?
Production plans
Kanban board
Tips on doing a game jam!
Practice with the tools in advanced
Team organization
Your first idea isn't your best
Use source control
Sleep! Look after yourself!
Take breaks
Engage with the community
IT IS NOT A COMPETITION
Theme announcement (Death tarot card)
Research: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX
Roles in a game development studio:
Company Owner / Producer } This is the person who owns the company / makes the most of the financial decisions for the future. They often oversee multiple different projects and have the final say depending on the number of people they have on their team. (Lunthi 2018)
Project Manager } Works closely with the producer and team leads to understand when work needs to be completed for what deadlines. Plans and breakdown the entire project with the team leads from their respective fields.
Scrum master } Facilitates scrum if the team is using Agile Methodologies and principles. Works with the team to resolve and withstand blockers and issues.
Game Designer } Develops and designs the creative elements of the game. This includes the mechanics, stories, plots, goals, and restrictions. There are specializations regarding game design, depending on the size of the studio. The larger the studio the more specialized you can go in your field. Some of the job roles are as follows: Level designer, Story/game writer, Economy designer, Mission/quest designer, UI/UX designer.
Game Programmer } Work closely with leads and the game designers to create the design they have visioned. Often in a large studio, you will find multiple different roles: Networking, Backend, Frontend, Server, 3C’s, and more.
Art Director } Has a cohesive vision for the project, ensures that the art style and direction are consistent throughout the project and suit the target market requirements.
Artists } Tasked with creating all the visuals for the game and even for marketing. There are multiple different roles and this can get more in-depth depending if the studio works in 3D or 2D space. Roles: Modellers, Riggers, Animators, VFX, concept artists, character design, environmental design, marketing material, and more.
Sound engineers } Creates all the audio which relates to the game, including sound effects, foley, soundtrack, and more. Audio is an integral part of game development.
QA } Possibly one of the most important roles in the team, QA tests will relentlessly test everything in the game and flag bugs to avoid issues in the release.
This week was less dedicated to research and more about jumping into developing a product!
References: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX
C. Lunthi (2018) Different Roles In Game Development. https://www.oodlestechnologies.com/blogs/Different-Roles-In-Game-Development/ Accessed 1st July. 2022.