Game release delayed?

[DaveGilbert]

Hi,

I wanted to approach you all about an issue that I'm sure most of you have dealt with. I recently got word from one of my artists that he probably won't complete everything by the deadline, which will push the release date back further than I would like. The announced release date was December 16th, which would have been a perfect time to release the game on my site. As things stand, I don't see how that will happen.

The way I see it, there are a few options:

1 - Do nothing now. Wait and see how far the artist gets with his work in the next few weeks and then see if the game needs to be delayed or not.

2 - Bring another artist onboard and seperate their duties. They'd both work on two different aspects of the game, so their styles wouldn't clash so much.

3 - Offer an incentive to finishing on time - i.e., I'll dock his payment by $20 or so for every day past the deadline that the work isn't finished.

I'm a bit torn here. I know it's typical for games to be delayed, but I have made a reputation on releasing games on time and I hate to start now. Plus, people have already pre-ordered and the artist has become a good friend of mine.

Any advice appreciated,

-Dave

[Bmc]

Telling him you will dock his pay is hardly an incentive. If anything, he will feel more inclined to eff you over.

Tell him you understand that it will be difficult to finish everything by the deadline.
Then tell him that you are 100% confident that someone with his skill level can make it doable, with some extra effort.
Then tell him that you would really appreciate it if he could make that extra effot.
Then go on to say that he will be rewarded if he does make the deadline. Give him like an extra 100$ or 5% or whatever.

Now if he isn't that good of an artist, just fire his ass when you find someone better, otherwise the above is the path you should take... well if you think you will lose more money by releasing the game later.

Cost of delay vs cost of bonus for finishing on time is what you need to take into account

[zoombapup]

I'd be inclined to tell him that you have to be able to ship on that date and that if he cant make the deadline, you understand but have to take appropriate action to remedy the problem. So you tell him that you will get another artist to take up the slack.

I really dont see any problem with bringing additional artists on board to help meet a deadline (especially one like xmas). It really boils down to "who pays".

At the end of the day, you cant simply sit back and wait. Not unless you are happy to wait, which clearly youre not.

[Coyote]

Well, it sounds like he was doing the professional, responsible thing by letting you know beforehand that he's likely to miss his deadline. I know too many people who'd just silently let the deadline slide.

I'd discuss with him what he thinks he CAN get done, and see what you can off-load onto someone else. Make it a mutual agreement, and find another artist to pick up the slack. Or accept the delay. Always remember - you can have it fast, cheap, or good --- but you can only pick two of the three.

[DaveGilbert]

I discussed it with him, and it seems that the delay will only cut one week past the deadline, which is something I can live with. Hopefully this will prove to be the case! Thanks for the advice.

[linchear]

Hi,

3 - Offer an incentive to finishing on time - i.e., I'll dock his payment by $20 or so for every day past the deadline that the work isn't finished.


Any advice appreciated,

-Dave

Can you legally do #3? Especially if you both agreed to an amount, then unilaterally change it.

[terin]

Well, I wonder if you bring on the additional artist are you paying more? Or is your pay structure based on the entire project.

So if it is per piece of art, there's nothing to lose by bringing on a second person EXCEPT continuity of style (depends how good your second artist it though). That's a big problem.

My opinion is: Who cares if you miss this mystic deadline? You think PC gamer is avidly watching you and will slam you for being late? Are they lined up at your website like the Wii shipment to Walmart? Holidays DO cause a surge in sales, but an adventure game is an evergreen title usually. They don't go out of date or out of style... and all those people lined up to buy WILL buy; they just won't buy it on the 16th. Sales will simply be spread out over Jan - June.

This is all different if you're selling a huge catalog of games, but for a single product (technically, two products now for you) the holiday rush isn't a big deal, so don't go any more bald than you already are over it! (hah, well, according to your MSN avatar anyway!)

-Joe

[Grey Alien]

Yeah docking pay isn't an incentive, increasing pay is - plus you shouldn't do it unles should built it into a contract at the start (besides that's not the sort of contract that would motivate many people ;-)). At least he was honest with you well in advance. Work with the guy. Seems like one week delay isn't too bad. I don't know how bad missing Christmas would be though...pretty bad for me as my next game is called Holiday Bonus!

[UnknownGuy]

Always remember - you can have it fast, cheap, or good --- but you can only pick two of the three.



Is that a well known thing? I just know it from a Star Wars book. :p

[MrQ]

You should make sure that his milestones are set out and included in his contract before he begins work.

[DaveGilbert]

Heh. I suppose that the fact that you guys know my games is proof enough that I've had some success! :)

You are totally right, Terin. I am kinda proud of the fact that I have not missed a deadline thus far, and while the release date isn't "mystic" (I announced the date a few months ago), it doesn't have to be set in stone. The question I have to ask myself is, do I want a reputation of meeting deadlines, or of making quality games? The answer is obvious. Giving ourselves an extra month will go a long way in making it a better game.

You have given me a lot to ponder. Thanks again.

[Coyote]

Is that a well known thing? I just know it from a Star Wars book.
I don't know the Star Wars reference. I heard it originally as an adage of software development, but I've since learned it's an adage of management in general. So yeah, it's well-known.

[terin]

They teach the Quality, Speed, Price comparison in intro to marketing. I don't recall the origin, but it is a pretty old and very famous saying. It certainly did NOT originate in Star Wars :)

Of course, it is a broad generalization and the OLDEST adage in marketing is: There are no rules to marketing.

So we can "disprove" this Q/S/P comparison by introducing the factor that is missing: Technology. Yes, technology can actually cause Q/S/P to rise independent of other factors. (automation can = higher quality, faster speed. lower price)

But that isn't the point, as a general rule of thumb there it is.

-Joe

[Coyote]

Unfortunately, that also leads to people (especially managers praying for a miracle) expecting technology to be a "silver bullet" to cure all their ills. Technology may alter the constant, but it doesn't change the formula.