Market Creation by Effectuation

About This Book

Game development is an extremely complex project that fuses creativity and technical expertise. Unlike traditional system or software development, it requires completing projects within limited budgets and deadlines while pursuing the elusive element of “fun,” which is difficult to quantify. It demands integrating diverse professionals (programmers, designers, artists, sound designers), making decisions in highly uncertain environments, and responding flexibly to market changes.

This book is a practical guide that systematically explains the project management knowledge and skills essential for successful game development projects, based on the tools and techniques of the PMBOK 8th Edition (Project Management Body of Knowledge, 8th Edition). The author, with over 24 years of experience in large-scale IT projects, combines project management expertise honed in financial system development with the unique characteristics of game development.

Features of This Book

1. Fully Compliant with PMBOK 8th Edition

At the end of each chapter, the corresponding PMBOK 8th Edition tools and techniques relevant to that chapter’s theme are explained in detail in tabular form. Over 50 tools and techniques—including comparative analysis, benchmarking, SWOT analysis, risk registers, critical path method, Earned Value Management, Kanban boards, and user stories—are introduced with concrete methods for applying them to game development. It clearly shows not only the theory but also how to utilize these tools and techniques in actual game development projects, allowing for immediate application in practice.

2. Focus on the Uniqueness of Game Development

It presents specific solutions to challenges unique to game development (balancing creativity and management, scope creep, crunch time, technical debt, playtesting and iteration). It clarifies the differences from conventional system development and proposes project management methods optimized for game development. It covers topics specific to the game industry, such as the appropriate use of Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid methods, phase-specific management techniques (pre-production, production, post-production), and Live Ops management.

3. Practical Case Studies

It analyzes real-world examples of three different types of game development projects—large-scale AAA titles, indie games, and mobile games—and explains in detail the factors behind their successes and failures. Readers can learn about problems that frequently occur in actual projects, such as failures due to scope creep, accumulation of technical debt, and insufficient market research, along with countermeasures. It bridges the gap between theory and practice, providing concrete insights that readers can apply to their own projects.

4. Comprehensive Coverage of Technical and Business Aspects

It holistically addresses both technical aspects—such as game engine selection, version control, cloud infrastructure utilization (AWS, Azure, GCP), and CI/CD pipelines—and business aspects—including budget management, Earned Value Management, ROI maximization, and outsourcing management. It provides a common language understandable to both technical and business stakeholders, supporting project success across the entire organization.

Target Audience

This book is ideal for: Project managers, producers, or directors overseeing entire game development projects. Engineers or designers aiming for management roles in game development companies. Project managers considering a transition from traditional system development to game development. Individuals pursuing or considering an MBA with a career focus in the game industry. PMP (Project Management Professional) certificate holders seeking to deepen their understanding of the game industry.