Achieving a Unified Game Vision from the Outset

A significant obstacle in game development is often the lack of clarity on what is being created. Graham McAllister, an organizational psychologist and founder of Team Sync, has been exploring this issue, inspired by Jason Schreier's article on the troubled development of Anthem. The problem is not unique to Anthem, as seen in the case of Creative Assembly's cancelled Hyenas, which had a budget of around $100 million but struggled with a unclear vision for much of its seven-year development. McAllister explains that the primary challenge in the early stages of game development is effectively communicating the project's vision. The interpretation of this vision can vary greatly among team members due to incomplete information and differing personal experiences. McAllister notes that the language used to convey ideas can exacerbate this issue, with conceptual language being too vague and concrete language focusing on features rather than the overall experience. Describing the feeling of playing the final product is also a specific challenge in the games industry. To address these issues, McAllister emphasizes the importance of ensuring everyone involved in the project has a clear understanding of the vision from the start. His research highlights that 70% of project costs are tied to decisions made during the concept stage, and incorrect decisions can lead to significant wasted time and money. McAllister has developed the "Vision Alignment Check" to help teams achieve a unified vision and identified signs that a team may be misaligned, such as taking longer than expected to find the vision or having repetitive discussions with minimal progress. He also stresses the importance of a culture where team members feel comfortable challenging leadership and speaking up if they are unsure about the game's vision. Playing the game together as a team can help clarify the vision, as seen in the development of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where staff would frequently play the game together to share knowledge and ensure everyone was on the same page.