Rapid Ideation 2 – Setting up

I’m still working on an article about my experience with the first ideation session. However, it’s already clear the main topics that I should improve on in this new session.  I suffered time managing myself and struggled with my organization. Other points I failed to achieve. Although independently of the first results, I learned a lot, and I’m using those lessons on this new project. 

My plan of action consists in:

1. A clear definition of my goals;
2. A review if my available time; 
   1. I’m adopting Pomodoro as my main timebox, and I’m using a kanban on Notion to organize the activities.
3. Every two days, I have scheduled a review timebox to followup on my progress.

I have some experience using agile methodologies. However, I had many difficulties in choosing the proper set of tools to follow my solo projects. Consequently, I’m trying to adopt what I found light and useful.

Setting up my goals

I’ve used SMART goas before while working for my own business and as a formal consultant. It consists is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant/Realistic, and Timely/Time-based. George T. Doran first defined it in 1981. 

My main goal with the MA Indie Game Development is to shift my career to the game industry. Ultimately I want to build wealth with my own business in this industry and have a clear definition of the steps towards this goal are fundamental to my medium/long time objectives.

To this specific project, I define the following guidelines:

Specific 

1. Who: Who is involved in this goal? Me
2. What: What do I want to accomplish? A full game prototype
3. Where: Where is this goal to be achieved? 
4. When: When do I want to achieve this goal? 18th November
5. Why: Why do I want to achieve this goal? Career formation

 Measurable

• How much?
  • $0 (I don’t have any funds for this project)
• How many?
  • Fully playable prototype
    • Menus
    • Clear goals
    • Controls
    • Bonus:  for effects and sounds)
  • Spend around 160 Pomodoros (I’m focusing all my free time and doing some tweaks on my sleep schedule for the next few days)
  • Five Devlog entries
  • 20 Twitter posts
  • Five forum posts
• How will I know when it is accomplished?
  • Game menu
    • New game.
    • Restart.
    • Exit.
    • It can be accessed from “Esc keypress.”
  • Clear goals (mechanic)
    • Have an essential interaction and repeatable.
  • Controls (dynamic)
    • Offer some controls and feeling to the player.
  • Effects and visuals (aesthetics)
    • Emotional evocation.

Achievable

• Do I have the resources and capabilities to achieve the goal? If not, what am I missing?
  • I have the basic knowledge of Unity3d about all the topics and already build something related.
  • Also, I’ll not spend too much time learning a new aspect that I don’t know yet; this is about building and finishing.
• Have others done it successfully before?

Relevant

• Does this seem worthwhile?
  • It’s a part of the course, and I’m excited about it. It seems an excellent way to validate my recent learning.
• Is this the right time?
  • I have some pandemics constraints due to the recent lockdown, but I know I’m pushing too much.
• Does this match your other efforts/needs?
  • No, this is challenging.
• Am I the right person to reach this goal?
  • I’m the only one =)
• Is it applicable in the current socio-economic environment? Well, this is complicated, and I miss the requirements to answer that.

Timely

• When? Finish until 18th November.

Theme

The proposition was to select random articles from Wikipedia about: 

1. A person
2. A location
3. Some form of event that had/will take place.

My following posts will be in the format of a Devlog, and I’ll keep updating my progress following the development process.

References

Corporate Finance Institute. 2020. SMART Goal – Definition, Guide, And Importance Of Goal Setting. [online] Available at: <https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/smart-goal/> [Accessed 8 November 2020].

Doran, G. T. (1981). “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives”, Management Review, Vol. 70, Issue 11, pp. 35-36.