You've been logged out of GDC Vault since the maximum users allowed for this account has been reached. To access Members Only content on GDC Vault, please log out of GDC Vault from the computer which last accessed this account.

Click here to find out about GDC Vault Membership options for more users.

close
GDC Vault Logo

The Number One Educational Resource for the Game Industry

Session Name:

Producer Boot Camp

Overview:

With each new generation of gaming hardware capabilities are increased, customer expectations are raised, games become more complex and team sizes grow larger. Now more than ever, in the controlled chaos that is game development, the role of the producer is critical to the success of shipping a blockbuster title. Successful producers are much more than just schedule jockeys; they are team managers, communication facilitators, conflict mediators, risk mitigators, work enablers and predictors of the future. The Producer Boot Camp focuses on some of the key skills required by producers, both new to the role and seasoned veterans, to be successful in this challenging industry.

 

Agenda
 
10:15-11:05am- Producer 101 or Good Questions Outrank Easy Answers
Speaker: Peter Holzapfel (Crytek)
This lecture will highlight topics critical to being a producer, such as: communication, feedback, build evaluation, pre-production involvement, championing the product/franchise, milestone structuring, and more.
 
11:15am-12:05pm- It's Not Rocket Surgery: Managing Teams Across Disciplines And Under Pressure
Speaker: Simon Cooke (Microsoft)
Learn a variety of battle-hardened tricks and tactics for building teams, keeping them running smoothly, and how to handle your team's worst enemy: the panic of shipping a game.
 

12:05-1:30pm- Lunch

 
1:30-2:20pm- Triage: The Only Thing Production Does
Speaker: Dallas Dickinson (BioWare Austin)
What does a producer do? The answer is different in different studios, but it all comes down to one thing: triage and prioritization. It doesn't matter if you're a "creative" Producer or a schedule-pushing "Project Manager" or a tech-facing "Development Director." The bottom line is, you have to be able to cut through the fog and identify what are your biggest challenges, biggest risks and biggest payoffs.  
 
2:30-3:20pm- What Made You Successful Yesterday Will Kill You Tomorrow

Speaker: Michael Saladino (Riot Games)

 

3:30-4:00pm- What Every Producer Must Know About Audio

Speaker: Brian Schmidt (Brian Schmidt Studios)

Sound represents one of the two primary senses your game uses to interact with your player.  In this talk, we’ll cover what game producers need to know about audio, ranging from audio production essentials and music rights to  managing external composers, with an eye towards  ensuring your audio production remains glitch-free.

 

4-4:20pm- Coffee Break

 

4:20-5:10pm- Scoping Success

Speaker: Rod Fergusson (Epic Games)
 

5:20-6:00pm- Producer Panel & Wrap Up

Speakers: Bernd Diemer (Crytek), Rod Fergusson (Epic Games), Laura Fryer (WB Games, Seattle), Siobhan Reddy (Media Molecule)
 

 

Did you know free users get access to 30% of content from the last 2 years?


Get your team full access to the most up to date GDC content

  • GDC 2012
  • Simon Cooke
  • Microsoft
  • Dallas Dickinson
  • Bioware
  • Bernd Diemer
  • Yager Develompent
  • Rod Fergusson
  • Epic Games
  • Laura Fryer
  • WB Games Seattle
  • Peter Holzapfel
  • Crytek GmbH
  • Senta Jakobsen
  • ngmoco
  • Siobhan Reddy
  • Media Molecule
  • Michael Saladino
  • Riot Games
  • Brian Schmidt
  • Brian Schmidt Studios
  • free content
  • Advocacy
  • Advocacy
members only icon