"I've noticed that some games are released significantly later than they are originally planned for, while others are perfectly on time. How do you go about keeping a game 'on track' so that it gets to stores on time?"

Submitted by: "Jackie Quake" from AOL

Answered by: Wendy Albee (producer, Sierra On-Line)

(editor's note: both Shivers games were released exactly on schedule, and Wendy's latest project, Gabriel Knight III, is scooting right along...)

"I'm afraid there's no simple answer to this! In a perfect world, everything that could possibly happen would be known up front. Game development -- especially if you are driving technology -- is far from ideal because you are paving new roads.

"Here's a few things that seem to work:

"Your most important asset is the people on your team. It's important to hire motivated, talented and creative people who are willing to work hard. You want people who are solution- and detail-oriented. New issues come up every day and people have to be focused on solving them, not complaining about them. Details are important because you don't want to lose files. However, before you bring on an entire team, you should make sure the design is complete (or almost complete) to avoid a lot of wasted time. You also want a designer who is willing to compromise or cut features if necessary.

"It's a really good idea to have your technology or engine finalized as well, though that's usually difficult. In any case, having full control of your engine in-house is best, in case you want to add features or change functionality. When you have to rely on people or companies with other agendas and priorities, you usually end up waiting. "Create a prototype that irons out as much as possible up front. How are the animations going to work? The interface? What is the "look and feel"? How is the game going to play?

"Communication is key, as the team can waste lots of time when things have to be done over & over because a process was not clear or they were not told about a change. The more people you have on your team, the harder it is to communicate, but the more important it becomes! I try to keep my ears open for issues, then help to solve them by calling a meeting or whatever is appropriate at the time. We also hold weekly meetings, as issues frequently surface.

"The trick? Good training, good tools, and keeping constant vigil on your schedules. It's important to re-evaluate your status monthly -- where you are and what's left to do. Keep everyone on a schedule that they buy into, and keep close tabs on those schedules. If you start falling behind, take action right away. Don't wait.

"And, finally, pad your budget and schedule because challenges always arise -- it's the nature of the business."

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