[project1dev] Re: state of the union
- From: eric drewes <figarus@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: project1dev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:45:55 -0500
yeah, we just need to be more disciplined and structured when it comes to
the weekly updates, and i think timelines/estimates will really help people
stay focused - like when we were doing it before we didn't really have a -
i agree 100% that open communication and comfort are important to nurture
an environment where people feel like their input is valuable and has
influence.
ok for now I think after talking it over w/ alan we're gonna do things like
this:
Chris Riccobono is going to be the peer-review supervisor, basically he will
keep the tasks people are working on organized through a weekly update that
includes project reports and time estimates for deadlines - as a team we
will be able to look over the progress of everyone and see where things
aren't going smoothly and then do preventive measures to keep everything
running well. By me being accountable to him, it will create a balance of
power so if you feel like you haven't been given proper direction or you
need something that I am not providing, you can go to him and he will
contact me to get it worked out, and likewise we will all keep focused
because our progress will be measured and out in the open. Obviously
deadlines, etc. will be sorta self stated so please give yourself realistic
estimates and of course if things pop up just make sure you let people know
why there isn't progress. If a task goes a week past the estimate without
real progress (and without explanation) we will re-open the task for someone
else to work on so things don't end up stuck.
pretty much i want to leave the formatting to chris as far as how we give
him our current tasks but i would say an example could be
eric - task: create temple exterior model, time estimate: 2 weeks, current
status: its been a week, rough sketches are done but no modeling done, still
on track to finish by deadline
if you have any questions or if you need guidance you can still email me
directly of course.
I really think this will help the game move at a faster pace... i think this
is what we are missing. if you have thoughts/opinions/questions/etc. feel
free to express them here!
Chris: its up to you if you want to create a standard format for us to give
you reports, and also WHEN you want reports by and when you want to publish
the weekly status report.
Thanks everyone,
Eric
On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 2:42 PM, Chris Riccobono <crysalim@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I just want to say Eric that i've been following the thread between
> you and Katie and I really appreciate you writing this. It gives me
> renewed faith in the project.
>
> This really helps us out a lot, because like you said, you were put in
> the position of producer/supervisor by default. You and Alan are the
> founders of the game so to speak so that's just how the chain of
> command has trickled down.
>
> I think I can really get excited about stuff again with the things
> you've suggested :) lemme talk about the peer review thing: we do sort
> of have that going on already, but we just need to make everyone feel
> like they're getting that input listened to, or make them feel
> comfortable enough to suggest things that are needed.
>
> About the executive producer, we should pick someone everyone would
> feel comfortable enough with to bash on (cuz that's gonna happen no
> matter what), but confident enough in to give ideas to.
>
> On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 11:03 AM, eric drewes <figarus@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > here's my official opinion of the situation:
> > we have a ton of really great creative talent, a brilliant coder and a
> > really awesome premise. we have a ton of people who love gaming who want
> to
> > produce a quality classic. My dream for this game is for it to be a
> > masterpiece of sorts that maximizes its potential. but there are some
> > problems...
> > by default alan and I are in charge, but neither of us are experienced as
> > project managers and neither of us are really good in that job. We have
> > tried at various times to keep with weekly updates, etc. in order to keep
> > everyone (including ourselves) on track and the game progressing... these
> > attempts have failed for one reason or another, and in my opinion its
> > because there's nothing really to hold any of us accountable, there are
> no
> > checks and balances, no consequences to blowing off
> > assignments/projects/etc. and lets face it, this is an unpaid gig and
> we're
> > all busy people and often times we have to make sacrifices, the game thus
> > far has been something easy to push aside... With the talent we have on
> art
> > team, the three options alan presented shouldn't even need to be
> exercised,
> > I really think we have the people to get the art done, if properly
> motivated
> > we could get all of milestone 1 including the
> temple completely finished art
> > wise by the end of the month, we just need a driver to keep the talent
> > (myself included) producing and on track. The problem is, we need
> someone
> > with experience and knowledge to fill that executive producer role and I
> > have failed at it, I am just not good at being the person who keeps
> > schedules and keeps things organized, its not in my disposition to be the
> > boss in that respect. I'm not a supervisor. It was sort of my job by
> > default and i suck at it.
> > things have been frustrating - frustrating for everyone, and tempers
> have
> > occasionally boiled over because when things aren't going the way we want
> > and we try to look for where the problem is, people get angry and it
> erupts
> > into these things. If you want to say that the problem is me for not
> > keeping the game moving, well I am guilty, because like I said before, by
> > default I am the only one to blame. We need someone besides me to step
> up
> > or we need to bring someone in who can manage the game and take on that
> > authority, someone who can tell me when I am not giving people what they
> > need or producing the way I need to, someone who can prod people who have
> > assignments to finish them, someone who can make sure everyone is doing
> what
> > they need to be doing to keep the game alive. I can write, design, draw,
> > model, I can direct but I can't do that part, its just a role i am
> competent
> > in. I think we could probably do this by committee instead of having one
> > head guy in charge, where we structure things like this:
> > we'll list everyones current assignments, if people are missing a task,
> we
> > can add those as well. Every single person will give a time estimate for
> > when they think their current project will be finished and we as peers
> will
> > hold people accountable for not finishing projects by their deadlines.
> > Obviously things come up or things take longer to do that originally
> > estimated (we'll account for that as long as there is an explanation) but
> > with strict weekly updates and time estimates it'll be easier for people
> to
> > say "oh yeah, i need to get that done" - the deadline pressure is a great
> > motivator! We could also say if something lingers without progress for 2
> > weeks, we could offer the project up for reassignment, so that if someone
> is
> > busy/disinterested/dead their task doesn't just not get finished. We
> need
> > to really be strict on this otherwise things will break up into chaos
> like
> > they are now.
> > Basically we're all new to this, its a huge learning experience and we're
> > all in it together, we all have a common goal. When things are going
> well,
> > we will forget this blip in the system but unless we make this change,
> > things will never ever ever go well. But i think WITH an executive
> producer
> > running things and/or a peer-driven system of checks and balances, we can
> > really get this done... and do something amazing.
> > anyways, those are my official thoughts on it. Lets open the field for
> > thoughts/concerns/questions and then tomorrow put together a list of what
> > everyone is working on, what they need, their time estimates and sorta
> > "start over" with a winning plan.
> > Thanks,
> > eric
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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