Poor leadership can be a game-changer (no pun intended) in the world of game development, and it's time we shed some light on this often-overlooked issue.
The game development industry has seen a concerning trend over the past decade: longer and longer development cycles. In a recent survey, we asked developers about the reasons behind this slowdown, and an interesting pattern emerged. Many readers pointed out a crucial factor that was missing from the discussion: leadership.
So, let's delve into the dark side of leadership and explore how poor decisions at the top can significantly impact the entire development process.
The Seven Deadly Sins of Leadership in Game Development
Failing to Understand the Realities of Game Development
Some leaders seem to be living in a fantasy world, approving content one day and then throwing it out the next, all because they've become bored with it. This 'circular iteration' is a waste of time and resources, and it's a direct result of a lack of understanding of the development process.
Asking for the Impossible
Leaders sometimes demand features without any clear direction on how to implement them. They also expect to see expensive, polished material early on, which can be a huge drain on resources and time.
Poor Project Management
Issuing unrealistic timelines and failing to consider the dependencies between different departments is a recipe for disaster. This lack of foresight can leave some teams idle while others are overwhelmed, creating an inefficient and frustrating work environment.
Lack of Trust in Employees
Requiring sign-offs from multiple leads can cause unnecessary delays, especially when those leads have little experience in the work they're reviewing. Ignoring the expertise of workers and laying off or retaliating against those who speak up is a surefire way to create a toxic work environment.
Disregarding Quality Assurance
Ignoring warnings from QA team members about potential bugs can lead to major issues down the line. These bugs can cause hard crashes and other problems, and fixing them post-launch can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor.
Treating Developers as Interchangeable
Expecting developers to be experts in every genre is unrealistic and unfair. When studio leads fail to recognize the unique skills and knowledge of their employees, they risk creating an environment where developers feel undervalued and unappreciated.
Slow and Ineffective Decision-Making
Requiring approval from multiple leads and failing to offer direction on features that affect multiple teams can cause major delays. Not making decisions for weeks or months is a sign of poor leadership and can significantly impact the development timeline.
Providing Useless Feedback
Criticizing work with vague instructions like 'make it cooler' is not only unhelpful but also demotivating for the team. Rejecting milestone builds without clear explanations leaves developers in the dark and can lead to further delays.
Demanding Sudden Changes
The classic 'creative director played X game over the weekend' scenario is all too common. These sudden changes in direction or new feature demands can disrupt the entire development process, especially if they come late in the game.
Vague Crunch Policies
Promising no crunch but setting unrealistic deadlines that require overtime is a recipe for burnout and resentment. Setting hard caps on work hours can drive developers to do unpaid work, which is not only unfair but also unsustainable in the long run.
All of these behaviors can dramatically slow down game development and create a toxic work environment. It's time we address these issues and start a conversation about how to improve leadership in the industry.
The Impact of Poor Leadership
Developers we spoke to described scenarios where key decision-makers lacked an understanding of the intricate details of game development. This lack of understanding can lead to poor decisions and unnecessary delays.
For example, skipping the 'grey-boxing' step in level design can result in a lot of redundant work, as changes to the level design will require a complete redo of the art production.
The industry's dismissive attitude towards quality assurance can also lead to major issues. Ignoring warnings about bugs can result in hard crashes and other problems, especially if those bugs are related to popular features or characters.
Treating developers as interchangeable and expecting them to pivot quickly between different genres is unrealistic and can lead to poor-quality games. Studio leads need to recognize the unique skills and experiences of their employees and value their contributions.
The failure of slow decision-making can also have a significant impact on development timelines. Requiring approval from multiple leads and not making decisions for extended periods can cause major delays and frustration within the team.
Providing useless or unclear feedback is another issue that developers face. Vague instructions leave developers guessing and can lead to a lot of wasted time and effort.
The willingness to make sudden changes based on playing other games or watching shows can also disrupt the development process, especially if these changes come late in the game.
The Way Forward
So, what's the solution to these leadership issues? It's a complex question, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Sometimes, educating leaders about the power they hold and the impact of their decisions can help clear mid-development blockers.
In other cases, leaders who plan early, stick to their decisions, and only change course when necessary can turn studios into game-making powerhouses. It's about changing the perception of 'power' in game development and ensuring that those who hold it are worthy of it.
But there will always be leaders who, despite all efforts, reveal themselves to be unworthy of their position. These individuals may abuse their power, create a toxic work environment, and even engage in harassment or discrimination.
The game industry's leadership struggles are a contradiction. While structural reform is necessary, poor leaders can sometimes slip through the cracks, keeping their power thanks to close relationships with those above them.
AI may be a buzzword in the industry, but it can't fix these leadership issues. The key to speeding up game development is to listen to the people who actually make the games. It's time to empower developers and create a more efficient and respectful work environment.
