Agile Offshore for Game Development: Lessons Learned

Posted by Atup uxi on October 10th, 2023

Agile development is a set of iterative and incremental practices that emphasize collaboration, communication, and feedback. It is a popular approach to software development, and it is also being used to develop games.

Offshore development is the practice of hiring developers from another country to work on a project. This can be a cost-effective way to access talent, but it can also be challenging to manage an offshore team.

Agile offshore game development is the combination of agile development and offshore development. It can be a complex and challenging undertaking, but it can also be very successful.

This blog post will discuss some of the lessons learned from agile offshore game development. We will cover topics such as:

• The benefits and challenges of agile offshore game development
• How to choose an offshore partner
• How to communicate and collaborate with an offshore team
• How to measure and manage progress
• How to deal with risks and challenges

Benefits of Agile Offshore Game Development

There are many benefits to agile offshore game development, including:

• Cost savings: Offshore developers are typically less expensive than onshore developers.
• Access to a wider pool of talent: There are many talented game developers in offshore countries.
• 24/7 development: Offshore teams can work different hours than onshore teams, which can allow for 24/7 development.
• Increased flexibility: Offshore teams can be scaled up or down more easily than onshore teams.

Challenges of Agile Offshore Game Development

There are also some challenges to agile offshore game development, including:

• Communication and collaboration: It can be difficult to communicate and collaborate with an offshore team, especially if there are cultural or language barriers.
• Time zone differences: Time zone differences can make it difficult to schedule meetings and coordinate work.
• Quality control: It can be difficult to ensure the quality of the work being done by an offshore team.
• Intellectual property protection: It is important to take steps to protect your intellectual property when working with an offshore team.

How to Choose an Offshore Partner?

When choosing an offshore partner for game development, it is important to consider the following factors:

• Experience: Choose an offshore partner with experience in developing games.
• Reputation: Choose an offshore partner with a good reputation.
• Communication and collaboration skills: Make sure that the offshore partner has the skills and experience to communicate and collaborate effectively with your team.
• Quality control: Make sure that the offshore partner has a quality control process in place.
• Intellectual property protection: Make sure that the offshore partner has a process in place to protect your intellectual property.

How to Communicate and Collaborate with an Offshore Team?

Effective communication and collaboration are essential for the success of any agile offshore game development project. Here are some tips:

• Use the right tools: There are a number of tools that can help you to communicate and collaborate with an offshore team, such as video conferencing, project management software, and instant messaging.
• Set clear expectations: It is important to set clear expectations with your offshore team, such as communication protocols, deadlines, and quality standards.
• Be responsive: Make sure to respond to your offshore team's questions and requests promptly.
• Be respectful of cultural differences: It is important to be respectful of the cultural differences between your team and the offshore team.

How to Measure and Manage Progress?

It is important to measure and manage the progress of your agile offshore game development project to ensure that it stays on track and within budget. Here are some tips:

• Set clear goals and objectives: It is important to set clear goals and objectives for your project and to communicate them to your offshore team.
• Use a project management tool: A project management tool can help you to track progress and identify any potential problems early on.
• Hold regular meetings: It is important to hold regular meetings with your offshore team to review progress and discuss any issues.
• Be flexible: It is important to be flexible and to adapt your plans as needed.

How to Deal with Risks and Challenges?

There are a number of risks and challenges associated with agile offshore game development. Here are some tips for dealing with them:

• Communication and collaboration challenges: Make sure to use the right tools and set clear expectations. Be responsive and respectful of cultural differences.
• Time zone differences: Schedule meetings at times that are convenient for both teams. Use asynchronous communication tools, such as email and instant messaging.
• Quality control challenges: Make sure that the offshore partner has a quality control process in place. Conduct regular quality reviews.
• Intellectual property protection: Use a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and have the offshore partner sign a contract that protects your intellectual property.

Conclusion

Agile offshore game development can be a complex and challenging undertaking, but it can also be very successful. By following the tips in this blog post, you can increase your chances of success.

Here are some additional tips for success:

• Start small: Don't try to outsource your entire game development project to an offshore team. Start with a small project or a specific task.
• Build a relationship with your offshore partner: Take the time to get to know your offshore partner and build a relationship with them. This will make it easier to communicate and collaborate effectively.
• Be patient: It takes time to build a successful agile offshore game development team. Don't expect to be successful overnight.

Lessons Learned

Here are some lessons learned from agile offshore game development:

• Communication is key: Effective communication is essential for the success of any agile offshore game development project.
• Be clear about your expectations: Make sure to set clear expectations with your offshore team, such as communication protocols, deadlines, and quality standards.
• Be flexible: Things don't always go according to plan in agile offshore software outsourcing. Be prepared to adapt your plans as needed.
• Be patient: It takes time to build a successful agile offshore game development team. Don't expect to be successful overnight.