What's your game development communication strategy?

1 Choose your channels

Depending on the size and scope of your project, you may need different communication channels for different purposes. For example, you may use email for formal and official messages, chat apps for quick and casual conversations, video calls for brainstorming and presentations, and project management tools for tracking and assigning tasks. Choose the channels that are easy to use, reliable, and accessible for everyone involved. Also, establish some guidelines and expectations for each channel, such as response time, tone, and frequency.

2 Document your progress

One of the best ways to communicate your game development progress is to document it. Documentation can take various forms, such as design documents, prototypes, screenshots, videos, blogs, or podcasts. Documentation helps you organize your thoughts, showcase your work, get feedback, and learn from your mistakes. It also helps you communicate with your potential players, investors, publishers, or media outlets. Document your progress regularly and consistently, and share it with the relevant audiences.

3 Solicit and give feedback

Feedback is essential for improving your game development skills and quality. It can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, discover new ideas, and solve problems. However, feedback can also be challenging to solicit and give, especially if it is negative or conflicting. To communicate feedback effectively, you need to be clear, specific, respectful, and constructive. You also need to be open-minded, receptive, and appreciative. Use feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow, not to criticize or defend.

4 Manage your conflicts

Conflicts are inevitable in any game development project, especially when you have different opinions, preferences, or styles. Conflicts can be constructive or destructive, depending on how you communicate and resolve them. To manage your conflicts constructively, you need to be respectful, empathetic, and collaborative. You need to listen to the other party, acknowledge their perspective, and express your own. You also need to focus on the problem, not the person, and seek a solution that benefits everyone.

5 Celebrate your achievements

Communication is not only about sharing information, feedback, or problems. It is also about sharing emotions, appreciation, and recognition. Celebrating your achievements is a great way to communicate your gratitude, pride, and joy. It can also boost your motivation, morale, and confidence. Celebrate your achievements, big or small, with yourself and others. You can celebrate by rewarding yourself, thanking your collaborators, showcasing your work, or simply acknowledging your efforts.

6 Keep learning and improving

Communication is a skill that you can always learn and improve. As a game developer, you need to communicate with different people, in different situations, and for different purposes. You need to adapt your communication style, methods, and tools to your changing needs and goals. You also need to learn from your communication successes and failures, and seek feedback and guidance. Keep learning and improving your communication skills, and you will see the positive impact on your game development project.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?