|
Darkest Day Project
As we approach the celebration of one of the brightest days in
history, for Max Schnurr, his brightest day was the completion of
the Darkest Day. John C. Maxwell, Protestant Minister and Author
of "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership", claims the hardest group
to lead are volunteers because they have no financial or security
incentive to follow. A growing aspect of our culture has been the
proliferation of sci-fi and fantasy-based computer games. The improvements
in game technology in such areas as graphics have created a massive
fan base. Out of this fan base developed an online community of
voluntary programmers. Teambg is a collaborative effort by volunteer
programmers and gurus to study the data from games created, using
the Infinity Engine, and to develop tools for modifying the game
and/or engine.
Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II, and Icewind Dale, developed by
the company Bioware, originated in the role-playing game Dungeons
and Dragons. Over time, the Teambg's accomplishments have been primarily
in four areas: 1) game add-ons or customizations such as characters,
items, spells, and kits, as well as item editors, creature editors,
and graphical editors; 2) increased computer programming knowledge,
especially among teenagers, giving them the tools to develop their
own skills and, ultimately, programs; 3) increased opportunities
for the creation of fan fiction and artwork; and 4) increased opportunities
for global understanding and friendship, by making use of the ease
of communication via the Internet and the universal appeal of gaming.
The project was started in January 2001 and was scheduled for completion
in January 2002. Since it was all-volunteer labor, there was no
cost. The project was completed in October 2001, three months ahead
of schedule. The project team included: 2 managers, 2 designers,
9 developers, and 10 testers. It should be noted that the majority
of the team was teenagers and the project manager was Max Schnurr,
a fifteen-year old. The team was truly international; participants
were located in The United States, Pakistan, Australia, and throughout
Europe. The game itself was international and played over the Internet
throughout the world.
The challenges Max faced included communication and task assignments
around the globe, as well as coordination of graphics work with
story lines and charter development. Part way through the effort
a large percentage of his team stopped working on the project, requiring
him to recruit new volunteers. Technical errors caused team members
to postpone development and Max was obligated to solve these issues.
Ultimately it all worked out; Max had created a major new game,
the Darkest Day, to be enjoyed by users worldwide.
BONUS EDITORIAL
PROJECT ROI - Part V: Steps 7 & 8
This is the fifth installment of Project ROI. At CHAOS University
2002 one of the workshops covered ROI. We asked our participants
to come up with a list of questions project managers should ask
about ROI. Here are the seventh and eighth questions that a PM needs
to ask:
Question seven asks, "Do these savings or revenues have time
limits?" Maybe the new revenue will only be good for two years and
then will decrease to a minimal amount. Leading into…
Question eight, which asks, "Can your project meet these
time limits?" For, if the project takes a year and a half to complete,
with any spillage it could easily run out of the revenue time limit.
We have seen several cases where this has occurred.
A Special Message
(with our apologies to Spike Jones for butchering
his "Christmas Classic"):
All I want for Christmas is my budget back
My budget back
My budget back
Gee, if I could only have my budget back
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas.
It seems so long since I could say:
"Sign me up without delay."
But every time I try to buy
They shoot me down and make me cry.
All I want for Christmas is my budget back
My budget back
My budget back
Gee, if I could only have my budget back
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas.
And so at this time we bid you adieu
May the Happiest of Holidays come to each one of you.
The Standish
Group
|
