Here's how you can manage multiple deadlines for different game projects like a pro.

As an industry, we have all agreed that the work is never done. We know that the game will ship and we will have all these things we didn't finish to our standards. This is known, and it's accepted. We tend to forget this as the development arc goes on. The reality is that all we can do is prioritize correctly. Production will pry the work off our hands before it's done anyway, so we need to make sure that when it happens, the most important work is done. If we are diligent and thoughtful in our priorities, then the time production tells us to stop, regardless of when that is, the project is at its best possible state. This is the only way I know how to stay sane when the pressure goes up.

We use the RACI Matrix and the CRM tool monday.com to prioritize multiple projects. 🌟 But most importantly, it's all about the people. In my 20+ years of experience in game development, having the right person in the right position accounts for 70% of success. 👌

En el desarrollo de videojuegos, "crunch time" es una consecuencia directa de una mala planificación de proyectos. A menudo se piensa que todas las tareas deben realizarse en secuencia, pero en realidad, muchas pueden ejecutarse en paralelo. La forma de priorizarlas depende de la fase del desarrollo en la que se encuentren. Durante la fase de desarrollo de concepto, la funcionalidad se prioriza sobre la limpieza del código. En otras fases, las prioridades pueden cambiar. Por ello, es fundamental crear diagramas que distribuyan claramente las fases del proyecto y, dentro de cada fase prioridad. Estos diagramas no solo ayudan a organizar el trabajo, sino que también aseguran que todos estén alineados y conscientes de sus responsabilidades

I strongly agree with this. It’s very vital to prioritize tasks and execute accordingly. However there may be instances where very urgent tasks conflicts and in situations like that, I personally aim for the easiest to tackle first.

We use the RACI Matrix and the CRM tool monday.com to prioritize multiple projects. 🌟 But most importantly, it's all about the people. In my 20+ years of experience in game development, having the right person in the right position accounts for 70% of success. 👌

Cross-project task prioritization is not a thing. On that level it is about a prioritization between projects, and making sure that each of the project is within scope. Once the project priorities are clear it is about resource allocation based on the priorities. In an ideal world no resources are shifted between projects, however as that is rarely the case, we try to make sure that each project is appropriately staffed, and collaboratively work with all stakeholders to get the best resource allocations based on the current and predicted circumstances.

Como desenvolvedor de jogos de casino, aprendi que priorizar tarefas é essencial para gerenciar múltiplos prazos. Sempre identifico as atividades críticas que impactam diretamente o progresso do jogo, como o desenvolvimento do mecanismo de roleta ou blackjack. Uso o ClickUp para visualizar o progresso e redistribuir recursos conforme necessário. Isso garante que as funcionalidades principais sejam entregues a tempo, evitando gargalos e mantendo a equipe focada nas metas essenciais.

Always try to prioritize. In case you find it impossible to prioritize, you can order the tasks by difficulty. This way, if you complete the easiest ones first, you will be able to finish the most tasks before the deadline.

Creating a timeline for your project is really crucial. Add the completion date 2 weeks or 1 month early because there are going to be unforeseen problems when you are testing and deploying the project. Deadline visualization is important because without it you will never complete in it time. Breakdown the timeline to the sub feature level. Try to complete the next feature early if it took you more time to complete the current one to balance it out.

Consider the possibility of delays. Identify potential risks that could cause delays and develop contingency plans. Formulate backup plans as well and have additional resources available if needed.

A Game Development Document (GDD) is crucial for game development, offering a clear roadmap that saves time in planning and brainstorming. It highlights the game's core features, target audience, genre, and detailed storyline, including characters and key events. The GDD also outlines the visual and audio style, gameplay mechanics, and technical requirements, such as platform specs and necessary tools. It includes marketing and monetization strategies, a development timeline, and team roles and responsibilities, ensuring efficient workflow. The GDD guides the team and helps pitch the game to investors, adapting as needed while maintaining the core vision.

Effective scheduling is crucial for managing deadlines efficiently. Breaking down projects into manageable tasks and milestones, and using tools like digital calendars or project management software, helps maintain a clear overview and prevent overbooking. This approach not only keeps projects on track but also reduces stress by making deadlines more manageable.

Además, es fundamental reservar tiempo adicional para entregas y posibles retrasos imprevistos. Los proyectos rara vez siguen un curso perfectamente lineal, por lo que es importante tener en cuenta que pueden surgir problemas inesperados. Incluye en tu planificación un margen para imprevistos y define procedimientos claros para manejar fallos o retrasos. Esto puede incluir la identificación de alternativas y soluciones rápidas, así como una evaluación continua de los riesgos y un plan de contingencia para mantener el proyecto en marcha.

This is very true, scheduling “wisely” helps a lot. However it’s not a silver bullet to every problem especially when it comes to deadline management since there may be unforeseen circumstances. However good scheduling allows you to easily find your way back on track when something interrupts your progress.

we use Float.com and monday.com tools. Despite the fact that the gamepack team has been working remotely for all 9 years, wise planning has always been our priority.

I always say good communication is very vital for any and every team. Communicating issues and progress really helps everyone know what is going on and if there are any loop holes, it helps you and your team figure out a way to still be on track to deliver.

Clear communication is very important during game development process. One thing I’ve noticed that sometimes even a well conveyed GDD still wont be enough for the developer to understand the whole concept. Regular meetings, planning and clear communication between the team members can create a positive outcome.

In recent years, I've changed my wording when it comes to communication. I feel like we define success in reverse. We praise people for communicating clearly, having a concise message, or telling a story, etc etc. But we rarely speak in terms of how the message is received and understood. In my teams, we no longer talk about who is owning the communications of a certain topic. We talk about who owns the understanding. When we own communication that way, my success is defined by how well others can explain the topic when we are no longer in the room. This also means that if I own the comprehension, and a member of my team makes a mistake because of a misunderstanding, it's my fault. Only then, do we guarantee that we are aligned as a team

Para lograr una comunicación clara y efectiva, es crucial entender a quién se dirige el mensaje y cuál es el contenido que se va a transmitir. La claridad no solo implica que el mensaje sea comprensible para el receptor, sino también que esté adaptado a su nivel de conocimiento y contexto. En las relaciones personales y profesionales, es indispensable establecer una comunicación que defina explícitamente los conceptos clave y el propósito del mensaje. Esto asegura que todos los involucrados comprendan los temas a tratar y evita malentendidos. La claridad en la comunicación permite una interacción más efectiva y facilita la resolución de problemas y la toma de decisiones.

No desenvolvimento de jogos de casino, a comunicação clara é fundamental. Estabeleço canais de comunicação eficazes e mantenho todos os membros da equipe informados sobre as expectativas e prazos. Realizo reuniões semanais para discutir o progresso e resolver problemas rapidamente. Por exemplo, ao desenvolver um novo slot machine, mantenho a equipe de design e programação alinhada sobre as mudanças de tema e funcionalidades. A transparência e a clareza na comunicação ajudam a evitar mal-entendidos e garantem que todos trabalhem em direção aos mesmos objetivos.

To manage multiple deadlines for game projects like a pro, dive into agile methods like Scrum or Kanban, but don’t get stuck in rigid processes. Keep it flexible. Organize tasks into sprints and use Kanban boards for a clear visual of progress. Tools like pull requests and Jira help document everything, get everyone on the same page, and keep communication smooth. Think about integrating Extreme Programming (XP) with your Scrum framework for an extra boost. The key is to stay adaptable, listen to your team’s feedback, and let the process evolve naturally. This way, you’ll juggle projects efficiently without missing a beat :)

To manage multiple deadlines and juggle between projects without missing a beat agile methods like Scrums are effective. You can organize your tasks into scrums based on priority. Tools like Notion and Jira help keep everyone on track and the same page. The important thing is effective communication and staying adaptive. Listen to feedback and let the whole process evolve.

Agile and Scrum are great for prioritizing and handling different game projects because they provide a structured yet flexible framework that helps teams stay organized and focused. However, don’t let processes overshadow communication. Game development is a team effort, and effective communication is crucial. Agile methods should enhance collaboration, not hinder it. Focus on open dialogue and teamwork to ensure project success.

Eliminating waste is a big driver of success when managing deadlines for several projects. Unfortunately, many teams generate waste by being inflexible with process like Scrum. A good example is having fixed sprints of 2 weeks and expecting teams to produce and demo after that time..2 weeks is usually not long enough in game development, and it ends up with teams focusing a large percentage of time preparing with sprint planning, getting demo's ready etc. Scrum and Kanban are excellent if used suitably, so assessing what a good length of time for sprints might be is key (I've found 4/6 weeks is a sweet spot), along with sharing roles across team members, instead of adding people who only do 1 thing, like product owner or scrum master.

Utilizar métodos ágeis, como Scrum ou Kanban, tem sido essencial para gerenciar múltiplos prazos nos projetos de jogos de casino. Eu divido o trabalho em sprints curtos, permitindo ajustes rápidos e melhorias contínuas. Por exemplo, ao desenvolver um jogo de poker online, usamos ciclos de duas semanas para implementar e testar novas funcionalidades. Esse modelo flexível me ajuda a adaptar-me às mudanças e a responder rapidamente aos desafios, mantendo o foco nas prioridades e garantindo uma entrega constante de valor.

Absolutely agree with this. Delegation is crucial for building a strong and motivated team. When everyone works to their strengths and feels empowered to contribute, so much more can be achieved. Trusting your team boosts productivity and creates a positive, collaborative work environment. Recently, I joined a community called 'SAATH' where the project is being developed with contributions from several teammates. We have already seen a positive impact by delegating work to others.

this my favorite part in development 🤣 but seriously, progress dies without delegation. I usually set up each stage that I want to delegate first on my own, then I find a good candidate for delegation and gradually delegate this task in an effective way. My credo is to do only what no one else can do, delegate everything else!

When working on multiple Games at the same time, whether it's for some clients or your own, making a minimalist working demo first for all games are a good option. Minimalist working demo means a version of a game that's not exactly ready for production but it has that core feature of your game. For example, if i am making some Multiplayer Game then the main thing would be for players to join the server and move around. That doesn't need to have proper Art and other stuff but the multiplayer thing itself should be ready. Then you can Work on art at the end. Some games are more focused on Art rather than mechanics, in that case you should only make Animation or Sprites for your game and not exactly develop it until Art is Final.

Developing internal tools, libraries, and assets can significantly boost your team's efficiency. When everyone uses familiar resources across different projects, it reduces the learning curve and minimizes the impact on productivity when switching between tasks. These shared tools create a consistent workflow, allowing team members to transition smoothly and maintain high performance across various projects.