Game Development Essentials: Game Project Management

Game Development Essentials: Game Project Management is the only book on the market that offers a comprehensive introduction to game project management in an informal and accessible style, while concentrating on both theory and practice. This book offers an overview of the game project management process including: roles and responsibilities of team members; phases of production; concept development; testing, marketing; scheduling; and budgeting. The fast-growing game industry has fueled rapid upward movement of game production staff into the ranks of management. This book will train readers in the tools and techniques necessary to become effective team leaders.

Game Development Essentials: Game Project Management is the only book on the market that offers a comprehensive introduction to game project management in an informal and accessible style, while concentrating on both theory and practice. This book offers an overview of the game project management process including: roles and responsibilities of team members; phases of production; concept development; testing, marketing; scheduling; and budgeting. The fast-growing game industry has fueled rapid upward movement of game production staff into the ranks of management. This book will train readers in the tools and techniques necessary to become effective team leaders.

John Hight is the Director of Production, External Development for Sony Computer Entertainment of America. In 1991, John built his first game, Battleship, for the Philips CDi player. Since that time he has worked on over 30 games and nine educational products on various platforms. He's been fortunate to serve many different development roles: programmer, artist, designer, writer, producer, and studio executive. John oversees external production for Sony in Santa Monica, where his team has produced BlastFactor (one of the first downloadable games on Sony's Network Platform) and flow (the first indie game published on PlayStation 3). While Executive Producer at Atari, John brought Wizards of the Coast, BioWare, and Obsidian together to develop Neverwinter Nights 2. In his role as Executive Producer and Director of Design for Electronic Arts, John led the design and creative production of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Yuri's Revenge, and Nox. John holds a BSE in Computer Science from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business.

Jeannie Novak is Lead Author and Series Editor of the widely acclaimed Game Development Essentials series. Through Indiespace, an interactive entertainment company she founded in 1994, she provides consulting services for game developers and other creative professionals. Jeannie is Program Director of Game Art & Design and Media Arts & Animation at the Art Institute Online. She has developed and taught game courses at UCLA, Art Center, DeVry, Westwood College, ITT, UC Berkeley, and Santa Monica College. Jeannie holds a BA in Mass Communication from UCLA and an MA in Communication Management from the Annenberg Schoolat USC. She serves on the MMOG and Online Excellence committees for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.