Production Special Interest Group

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.

GOALS

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 SIG's goals are to:

• De-mystify the production process by providing a set of proven guidelines and practices to be considered when planning virtually any interactive project.
• Promote solutions for both internal and external production management.
• Increase the professional visibility of the game industry via improved educational and organizational strategies.

WHY A PRODUCTION SIG?

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.