Production SIG
International Game Developers Association
The Production SIG was formed to refine and formalize structured approaches to game production.
Contents |
Current Initiatives
Knowledge Base
The Knowledge Base is designed to help developers exchange information on all ever-changing aspects of the game production process.
IGDA Leadership Forum
The IGDA, in coordination with the Production SIG, is hosting the second annual IGDA Leadership Forum (November 13-14, San Francisco). This event will focus on advancing the state of the art in game production and management.
The IGDA Leadership Forum is intended for all those who serve in a leadership role in the game development industry and are seeking to become better leaders, create successful games, and learn from other working professionals in the game industry.
The first IGDA Leadership Forum was a smashing success with top rated sessions and 300+ delegates from over 15 countries. The 2008 IGDA Leadership Forum has EXPANDED its session offering to encompass a broad range of leadership topics, including personal leadership, project leadership and management leadership. The sessions will run in parallel tracks and will consist of a mix of lectures, panels, and interactive workshop sessions.
Baseball all-star Curt Schilling (38 Studios) and Mark Cerny (Cerny Games) will open each day with a keynote. Other production/leadership gurus speaking include Mike Capps (Epic Games), David Edery (Xbox Live Arcade), Mat Hart (Ninja Theory), Richard Hilleman (EA), Clinton Keith, David Mann (Foundation 9), Trent Oster (BioWare Corp.), Michael Saladino (Pandemic Studios), Tim Train (Big Huge Games) - among many others.
Full program and speaker details are at: http://www.igda.org/leadership/?page_id=3
For registration details (early bird pricing ends September 1st): http://www.igda.org/leadership/?page_id=4
(FYI, last year's conference sold out. There are only 500 seats or so to fill, and we expect them to go fast...)
SIG Overview
Requirement
A far-from-robust production process is the most significant problem facing the interactive industry. Most producers have no formal project management or team leadership experience, and most learn to manage projects through costly trial and error. However, once producers do gain enough experience to skillfully manage a project, they are often either promoted to a role that separates them from day-to-day project management, or they leave the industry altogether. The steep learning curve and high turnover rates combine to create a weak and inefficient production environment. The end result is a lack of the strong management and leadership necessary for today's complex and financially risky projects.
Mission
The mission of the Production SIG is first and foremost to bring the production community together and to share knowledge about the increasingly complex craft of game production. This production community will focus on project management and team leadership-related topics, connecting developers to foster learning, promotion of production specialties, identify upcoming challenges, and advance the discipline of game production.
Objectives
The Production SIG is dedicated to refining and formalizing a structured approach to game production, one that outlines proven practices for development teams taking on interactive projects. Instead of reinventing the wheel, inexperienced and veteran development teams can both benefit from a toolbox of production strategies drawn from the experience of industry leaders.
The Production SIG focuses on:
- De-mystifying the production process by providing proven guidelines and practices for consideration during interactive project planning.
- Promoting solutions for internal and external production management.
- Increasing the professional visibility of the game industry via improved educational and organizational strategies.
