Is it a good idea to start a virtual development team I''m considering it and I was wondering after a team is gather what steps should I take to ensure our "demo" gets noticed. Chris WIlson Titan Team Leader Story Development

Based on want I''ve read in the forums recently, not many people have luck putting together a virtual team that successfully completes a working demo, let alone a finished product. In my opinion, you would be better off trying to find a small group of people with similar interests in the city that you live in.

I have heard of few very rare instances where this kind of situation can work, but it is very difficult. Even if you are paying, its hard.

Like MJB said, its best to get at the very least, your core people, ie Lead programmer, lead artist, etc. need be local.

quote: Original post by yspotua
I have heard of few very rare instances where this kind of situation can work, but it is very difficult. Even if you are paying, its hard.

LOLWell, then meet the Rare Instance No 1 ! We`re three on the team:Me as programmer, Modeller (same country) and Musician (different country, different time zone). Truth is that having musician abroad doesn`t complicate things at all since her work is just plugged in as a file. However, working with modeller through emails brought many problems. There are so many things you can just show with your finger in a modelling program on screen but take a 4 drawings by hand in Paint-Shop-Pro to illustrate your point (what you want to do). We managed to meet physically every few months for one day, but this is not necessary if all work is done and flows into your email box.

quote: Original post by neogoukix
after a team is gather what steps should I take to ensure our "demo" gets noticed.

Just make the demo and if it`s worth noticing, it will get noticed if you promote it enough. But getting something finished is very hard. You can`t foresee what life brings in during the course of the project. And it`s a VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE considering all of you shall be working only in your free time. During the course of our Avenger project (~2 yrs by now), my life has changed many times due to family&work issues thus causing me to pause development activities for the necessary time (one lasted 3 months!).

I can only wish you luck, but you can`t really rely on luck if it`s going to take more than 6 months to deliver something.


VladR
Avenger 3D game (Last update MAR-26)

I''ve had good experience with virtual teams. It requires a dedicated project leader with good communication and management skills. But so does any team.

If you can build a demo, though, you can build a game. That''s the premise of my book, The Indie Game Development Survival Guide. The book discusses remote/virtual team building and management, as well as marketing.

-David


DavidRM
Samu Games

The Indie Game Development Survival Guide