The Secret, Part I: Plan the Unplannable

The real key to finishing on time should be obvious: you have to start with a realistic schedule. Plan for everything that has to be done, determine which things depend on which other things, and make adjustments to the plan to make sure that the schedule is in fact feasible.

Let's go over the planning for a game project in detail by breaking the project down into three phases: pre-production, production, and post-production.

• Pre-production is the phase in which the design is written and signed off, and in which the technology decisions are made. This is also when the schedule and budget are determined, and when the producer does the planning for the other two phases.

• Production is the phase during which the programmers are busily coding, the artists are creating, the music and audio are created, and you go into a studio to record voice talent or to shoot acting talent.

• Post-production is the phase in which you test and fine-tune the game, and get the box, manual, and other paper materials (customarily referred to as "box and docs") made.