Rise and Play Podcast
119. Applying Agile Development To AAA Game Design - with Jamie Smith
Apr 2, 2024
Jamie Smith, a principal game designer at People Can Fly, discusses applying agile development to AAA game design. He shares insights on team autonomy, cross-discipline collaboration, decision-making structures, and the balance between creative direction and technical limitations. Reflecting on his 13 years in AAA game development, Jamie highlights the challenges of managing teams, defining quality, navigating conflicts, and adopting a holistic approach to game design.
38:32
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Quick takeaways
- Balancing agility with AAA game development challenges requires collaborative decision-making and open-mindedness for successful project delivery.
- Transitioning from hands-on design work to leadership roles involves empowering team members, upskilling, and mentoring for improved project outcomes.
Deep dives
Balancing Time Constraints with Upskilling Team Members
A major challenge discussed in the podcast is the conflict between the time it takes to upskill team members versus the time pressure of project deadlines. It highlights the dilemma of choosing between completing tasks quickly oneself or investing time to teach others. The importance of empowering team members is emphasized, even though it may initially slow down the process, as it ultimately leads to a more skilled and efficient team.
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