tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post6439971778958995532..comments2024-03-29T16:46:19.227+09:00Comments on Japanmanship: Due ProcessUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-71180813324974385242007-04-30T01:42:00.000+09:002007-04-30T01:42:00.000+09:00Well, there is a way out of this situation. Quit....Well, there is a way out of this situation. Quit. If possible, take some/most of the team with you. Start a new studio with decent management discliplines. More Japanese studios need to get hit with this slap that the old ways are not acceptable any more.<BR/><BR/>I've only seen 2 examples of well run game development studios in my career. Not surprisingly one after the other. Once I'd found "good" there was no way in hell I was going back. The key IMHO is planners from non-game software companies like Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, Seibel, etc. Not surprisingly, these folks are actual trained professionals who didn't work their way up from QA tester and expect to be paid real money. But, their contribution to game projects is massive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-83752421879019473122007-02-09T10:06:00.000+09:002007-02-09T10:06:00.000+09:00May I ask something? Are you all people japanese? ...May I ask something? Are you all people japanese? I am still an undergraduate, in my final year and I am planning to apply for an Msc in Digital Media or Game Development. I really like japanese games, so I'd prefer moving in Japan and working over there. Is it possible for a non japanese (not speaking japanese yet) to work as a game developer over there?Akishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15902008395973586727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-51742983605180365432007-01-31T10:36:00.000+09:002007-01-31T10:36:00.000+09:00I see an immidiate problem with these so-called "P...I see an immidiate problem with these so-called "Planners" as I see them. <br /><br />From my understanding, Planners do a lot of asset-list generation(project management) and game design related tasks like level layouts, scenario design, writing dialogue, etc. Not sure what a Japanese GDD looks like, but mine resemble a strategy guide for the game. Lots of images, charts and tables complementing the verbage.<br /><br />Mixing project management with something that may oppose it(ie, anything BUT project management) is a recipe for disaster. Especially game design. I've had a number of "I wanna do this! It's cool!" vs "You can't do this, there's no money/time/tech constraint!" conflicts arise. I've worked out some nice compromises with the project manager, art lead and programming lead. Having to singlehandedly work all that crap out? YIKES. I highly doubt I'd be able to work something out without the help of my team.<br /><br />Something my boss has been big on is making sure people involved in a project all own something and feel proud of being in charge of that aspect. Alas, being "master of your domain" doesn't come across as a very Japanese value. It might be difficult to push that sort of system through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-84115654832548203792007-01-29T18:19:00.000+09:002007-01-29T18:19:00.000+09:00Well said.
The deeper I get in my current company,...Well said.<br />The deeper I get in my current company, the more obvious the problems become.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-71981117800057006242007-01-28T22:50:00.000+09:002007-01-28T22:50:00.000+09:00I worked at a game company here for 9 months befor...I worked at a game company here for 9 months before the lack of weekends and frequent 7am finish times got to me. In that case planning was definitely a sore point - often the plan was to work in the weekend. No, not as plan B, that was plan A!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07003012939077146175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-14190307503439379042007-01-28T17:44:00.000+09:002007-01-28T17:44:00.000+09:00Tadashi, Rusmas, I'm sorry but this blog is suppos...Tadashi, Rusmas, I'm sorry but this blog is supposedly anonymous. The company I work for has its own problems but I don't think exposing them on-line is particularly constructive. I don't want to cause any trouble for any specific company, least of all my own. Likewise, telling people about specific companies of which I have heard good things can reflect too negatively on those not listed, either by design or forgetfulness. <br />The most important things to remember are: take my rantings as just one point of view, personal experiences WILL vary. Wherever you go there will be good companies and bad companies; it's up to you to find out which company suits you best.<br /><br />Anon above, yeah, I know. Too many eager young turks to take over cheaply if you make too much noise. However, for the price of one experienced developer you may get four graduates but that's still no substitute. If more people stood up for their rights *eventually* things may change for the better. Just saying "yeah but" is a little too defeatist. But I understand the sentiment all too well.JC Barnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00122980021264683075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-11812752806726098292007-01-28T00:54:00.000+09:002007-01-28T00:54:00.000+09:00"no boss, it can't be done on that schedule, I'm o..."no boss, it can't be done on that schedule, I'm off to home"<br /><br />Yeah, see if you have a job the next day. You can't do this because there are so many replacements that are willing to take your place if you do that.<br /><br />That doesn't it make it right or acceptable, but that's how it is. Good luck changing the entire industry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-80579764696575406932007-01-27T23:35:00.000+09:002007-01-27T23:35:00.000+09:00Hehe, yeah, after all these posts saying "... but ...Hehe, yeah, after all these posts saying "... but there still are good companies out there..." one can't help but wanting some more specific info on WHO THEY ARE.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-84460392872928068092007-01-27T08:38:00.000+09:002007-01-27T08:38:00.000+09:00I'd really like to know which developer you are wo...I'd really like to know which developer you are working for, so I know where not to apply ;)<br /><br />Could I be blind or have you never posted details of your work and portfolio?Tadashi Oshimahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02573884218752812005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-69647007070215455232007-01-27T00:18:00.001+09:002007-01-27T00:18:00.001+09:00I couldn't agree more. After more than four years ...I couldn't agree more. After more than four years in the Japanese games industry and two shipped titles, I have been through exactly the same things, literally.<br /><br />However, as far as I know, this is especially bad in this industry. Every time I come back home and tell my Japanese wife (who knows nothing about games) about all this... she's shocked. Always. She still finds hard to believe her own people do things in such unprofessional manner.<br /><br />Lucky she's never been through this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-11219450356808256712007-01-27T00:18:00.000+09:002007-01-27T00:18:00.000+09:00What, ALL outsiders?What, ALL outsiders?greebo1https://www.blogger.com/profile/01045917236465521802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-78243832584244864352007-01-26T23:10:00.000+09:002007-01-26T23:10:00.000+09:00Outsiders like to generalize.Outsiders like to generalize.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-76958694606175305982007-01-26T20:36:00.000+09:002007-01-26T20:36:00.000+09:00planners.... >_planners.... >_< !<br /><br />We now have as many planners as programmers at the company I work for. I think there are six in total (including the new one coming soon)... and the boss is also very involved in the design process, so that complicates matters further.<br /><br />Luckily for me, I've managed to avoid that project and am working on my own on a small but far more interesting project with some guidance from a planner :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com