Domain: highmoonstudios.com
Stories and comments across the archive that link to highmoonstudios.com.
Comments · 2
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Re:Programming Methodologies Are Dangerous
Bad Management is Dangerous. Always. This is not a problem with XP, this is a symptom of some basic problems:
The Product Manager does not know the real business value of the features she is requesting. If the business value in profits was known, she would understand what the priorities of the team really should be. She would also know what the "MINIMUM" set of features are that the product needs to be profitable for her market/audience.
The Project Manager does not understand that "HARD CHOICES" are required "EVERY ITERATION" by the Product Manager. You cannot add scope to a fixed team without moving the date. This is basic 101 project management, it is true no matter what methodology you use.
The team does not know their velocity, and/or have not helped management understand what their velocity is, that it is fixed, and how changes in scope may not affect delivery dates, but addition of scope surely will.
A very innovative gaming company uses XP and Scrum, they are http://www.highmoonstudios.com/ and they are very successful at delivery, without abusing their development teams, and harming the people in them... a rarity as I understand the broken painful world of software game development. -
Re:Not exactly Game "Developers"
Did we expand the definition of developers to include "columnist and game design lecturer" and "director of business relations?"
It's fair to call Earnest Adams a developer. Sure, he did a good chunk of his career on Madden, but there is no shame in doing a stint on serialized sports games. Plus his writing is generally insightful and at times usable in a production environment, which is a good lot more than can be said for many design lecturers. He also co founded the Independent Game Developer's Association and the Game Developer's Conference.
Did I mention he's one of the few game design writers who isn't a complete idiot? Honestly, that's the most shocking achievement.
As for the biz dev guy from highmoon studios... in a company that small, their business people are probably with it. What he says is mostly insightful, so he should be given the benefit of the doubt.
As for Gamasutra's methodology: they sent out a shotgun of e-mails and got some back. Two happened to be from "important" people at one company. They are still separate people, though.