Print Story Notes from the Game Focus Germany Conference, 2008
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By codemonkey uk (Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 03:08:04 AM EST) (all tags)


"Pragmatic game development practices for small (and not so small) companies" - Noel Llopis

Pragmatic = Getting things done.  Different methodologies have different benefits for different teams.  P2G = 2 Man Company. 

“Learn from yesterday live for today hope for tomorrow, [...]” (Einstein)

Where do you spend the money?  Where it matters.  Ie,  Monitors.  Computers.  Games.  Not where it doesn’t matter.  Ie status symbol chairs and cars.  How about expresso machines?  If people want to be in the office, then it could be worth it. 

Workgroup suits?  (Exchange/Lotus Notes?  Expensive and difficult to administer.  Google Apps is free...)

Build Servers?  Recycled PCs.  Continuos Integration.

Version control?  P4, Subversion, Alienbrain, etc. Pick one that fits your needs & budget.  Goal at P2G was “sync and run”. 

Leverage Open Source (where license allow).

It’s all about the product?  Is what you want to send time on the best for the end product?

Super-Light Agile.  If it fits.  Cork board + index card task matrix.  Considering TDD & PP.  (P2G does TDD but not PP).  Functional tests test whole systems.  Automated functional tests - ie monkey keyboard automation test + input & game state recorder for verifying deterministic logic.

20% rule (google) - employees can use 20% of their time for anything potentially productive (personal projects included).  Keeps work fresh & moral high.

Focus on your target platform(s) not “possible” future platforms.

Don’t over engineer.  KISS.  Fix todays problems today.

Think long and hard about tools.  How long will it take to make, and how much time will it save?

Think long and hard about scripting (languages).  How long will it take to make, and how much time will it save?

Mentality - Don’t reinvent the wheel.  Be aware of your advantages and strengths and make use of them.  Pace yourself.  A marathon is not a sprint. 

slides:  http://powerof2games.com

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Notes from the Game Focus Germany Conference, 2008 | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback
Very good stuff by Phage (4.00 / 2) #1 Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 03:19:54 AM EST
Applies to whole lot of other work types as well.
Sounds like the conference is actually quite good/interesting unlike some I have been to.

Founder member Golgafrinchan 'B' Ark


Cheers for these, codemonkey. by yicky yacky (4.00 / 1) #2 Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 06:33:24 AM EST

An interesting and useful series, with a number of points applying beyond games development.


----
A cynical, mercenary, demagogic, corrupt press will produce in time a people as base as itself - Joseph Pulitzer


Thanks by codemonkey uk (4.00 / 2) #3 Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 06:52:35 AM EST
I was worried posting 1 per session was a bit "spammy", but if I tried to post them all up in one go I'd never have got around to finishing it.

--- Thad ---
developer of ... ?
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Notes from the Game Focus Germany Conference, 2008 | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback