How can you collaborate with other teams to ensure that a game meets stakeholder needs?

Collaborating with other teams is essential for any game development project, as it ensures that the game meets the expectations and requirements of various stakeholders, such as publishers, clients, players, and reviewers. However, collaboration can also pose some challenges, such as communication issues, conflicting priorities, and technical difficulties. In this article, you will learn some tips and best practices on how to collaborate effectively with other teams to ensure that your game meets stakeholder needs.

1 Identify the stakeholders

The first step to collaborate with other teams is to identify who are the stakeholders of your game and what are their needs and expectations. Stakeholders can be internal or external, and they can have different levels of influence and interest in your game. For example, your publisher may have a high influence and interest, as they provide funding and distribution for your game, while a reviewer may have a low influence but a high interest, as they can affect the reputation and sales of your game. By identifying the stakeholders, you can understand their goals, preferences, and feedback, and align them with your own vision and scope.

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Rohail Naveed

Founder & Product Visionary | Trailblazing Game , Metaverse , SAAS Startups | x IEEE , Google Community
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Establish efficient communication channels and streamlined feedback loops for cross-team collaboration. Maintain living documentation outlining stakeholder needs, and engage in focused planning sessions. Utilize centralized tools to synchronize timelines and clarify roles. Collaborate closely on user testing, embrace agile practices, and employ a shared issue tracking system for swift problem resolution.

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2 Communicate frequently and clearly

The second step to collaborate with other teams is to communicate frequently and clearly with them, using the appropriate tools and methods. Communication is vital for ensuring that everyone is on the same page, that the game is progressing according to the plan, and that any issues or changes are resolved quickly and smoothly. You can use various communication tools, such as emails, chats, calls, meetings, reports, and demos, depending on the purpose and audience of your message. You should also use clear and concise language, avoid jargon and ambiguity, and provide relevant and timely information.

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3 Establish roles and responsibilities

The third step to collaborate with other teams is to establish roles and responsibilities for each team member and stakeholder, and ensure that they are respected and followed. Roles and responsibilities define who does what, when, how, and why, and they help to avoid confusion, duplication, and conflict. You can use tools such as charts, matrices, or diagrams to assign and visualize roles and responsibilities, and to show how they relate to each other. You should also review and update roles and responsibilities regularly, as they may change over time or due to unforeseen circumstances.

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Carmen D.

Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, CDR / Recruiting Partnerships Coordinator (she/her) ♦ LinkedIn Top Gaming Industry, Recruiting, Sourcing, Interviewing & Mentoring Voice 2024 🏆Neurodiversity Advocate ♾️☂️🧠
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By establishing clear roles and responsibilities for each team member and stakeholder and ensuring that they are respected and followed, you can unlock the potential for successful collaboration with other teams. Defining who does what, when, how, and why can eliminate confusion, duplication, and conflict, paving the way for a seamless and efficient collaboration process that ultimately delivers a game that exceeds the expectations of all stakeholders involved.

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4 Share feedback and knowledge

The fourth step to collaborate with other teams is to share feedback and knowledge with them, and to encourage a culture of learning and improvement. Feedback and knowledge are valuable resources that can help you to improve your game, to solve problems, and to innovate. You can share feedback and knowledge with other teams through various channels, such as reviews, surveys, tests, forums, blogs, or wikis. You should also be open and receptive to feedback and knowledge from other teams, and to act on them accordingly.

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Carmen D.

Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, CDR / Recruiting Partnerships Coordinator (she/her) ♦ LinkedIn Top Gaming Industry, Recruiting, Sourcing, Interviewing & Mentoring Voice 2024 🏆Neurodiversity Advocate ♾️☂️🧠
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Sharing feedback and knowledge is key to helping team members grow and improve. By giving and receiving feedback and sharing knowledge, team members can learn from one another, innovate, and work together more effectively. With open and honest communication, team members can achieve great things together.

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Marlow Haspert

Unity Developer | .NET Developer | Teaching programming
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This is a key item: always ensure good communication between teams. It is no shame to clarify or explain things multiple times. Even the most horizontal teams will benefit from having a leader or focal point, to ensure comms are clear and don't make the team feel overwhelmed.

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5 Use collaboration tools and platforms

The fifth step to collaborate with other teams is to use collaboration tools and platforms that can facilitate and enhance your teamwork. Collaboration tools and platforms are software applications that can help you to manage, coordinate, and execute your game development tasks, such as project management, version control, asset creation, testing, debugging, or deployment. You can choose from a variety of collaboration tools and platforms, such as Trello, GitHub, Unity, Unreal Engine, or Steamworks, depending on your needs and preferences. You should also ensure that you and your team members are familiar and comfortable with the collaboration tools and platforms that you use, and that you follow the best practices and standards for using them.

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6 Evaluate and celebrate the results

The sixth and final step to collaborate with other teams is to evaluate and celebrate the results of your game development project, and to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of each team member and stakeholder. Evaluating and celebrating the results can help you to measure the success and impact of your game, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your collaboration, and to learn from your experience. You can use methods such as metrics, analytics, feedback, or awards to evaluate and celebrate the results, and to share them with your team members and stakeholders. You should also express your gratitude and recognition to your team members and stakeholders, and to celebrate your achievements together.

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Carmen D.

Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, CDR / Recruiting Partnerships Coordinator (she/her) ♦ LinkedIn Top Gaming Industry, Recruiting, Sourcing, Interviewing & Mentoring Voice 2024 🏆Neurodiversity Advocate ♾️☂️🧠
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When a team successfully completes a project together, it's important to take some time to recognize and celebrate their hard work. This could involve having a team dinner, making a company-wide announcement, or even presenting special awards to individual team members. Celebrating success is essential for boosting team morale and keeping the momentum going for future projects.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you collaborate with other teams to ensure that a game meets stakeholder needs?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Identify the stakeholders

2 Communicate frequently and clearly

3 Establish roles and responsibilities

4 Share feedback and knowledge

5 Use collaboration tools and platforms

6 Evaluate and celebrate the results

7 Here’s what else to consider

Game Development

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How can you collaborate with other teams to ensure that a game meets stakeholder needs?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify the stakeholders

2 Communicate frequently and clearly

3 Establish roles and responsibilities

4 Share feedback and knowledge

5 Use collaboration tools and platforms

6 Evaluate and celebrate the results

7 Here’s what else to consider

Game Development

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