What do you do if you want to assemble a powerhouse team of game design freelancers?

Brainstorming ideas and writing them down in a document. is a pre-production start, then shift the focus to transform this docx. into 2 powerpoints: - A Visual GDD, with minimum text and a lot of images, diagrams, and graphs, so It can be easily understood; - And a Pitch, a way to showcase the project; These two presentations are great because they will not only be useful to gathering freelancers but will make the project consolidate and have clear goals. Making these documents will demand that the first choices of the project be made and the goals set.

The scope and type of game will decide which level and specific skill onboarding needs to be approached. Considering there are 2 board categories of games - 1) Serious games - AAA level 2) Casual games. The understanding of needed expertise, talent and tools for these will be defined for the ideal team formation plan.

You need to evaluate how much human resources you need for the project. A hyper casual product will require less staffing than a midcore product. In addition, you also need to balance the time you need that person on the team with positions like sound producer because they will only need to work when the project is nearly completed.

Defining your needs is crucial in building a strong team of game design freelancers. It's not just about technical skills; cultural fit and collaborative abilities are equally important. Look for individuals who excel in their roles, have a passion for game design, and are open to innovation. Prioritize diversity and inclusion in your hiring process to bring fresh perspectives and ideas. Consider freelancers with experience in indie game development or emerging technologies like virtual reality, as they can bring creativity and originality to your project.

Game design skills can be effectively assessed not just by checking candidates portfolio, but the approach and solutions he devises for a given problem statement and creative scenario.

Para formar un equipo potente de freelancers de dise?o de juegos, consideraría los siguientes pasos: - Identificar las habilidades necesarias: Determina qué roles y habilidades necesitas en tu equipo, como dise?adores de juego, artistas 2D/3D, programadores, escritores de historias, etc. - Buscar talento: Utiliza plataformas en línea especializadas en freelancers, como Upwork, Freelancer.com, Fiverr o incluso redes profesionales como LinkedIn, para encontrar candidatos que se ajusten a tus necesidades. - Revisar portfolios y referencias: Examina los portfolios de los freelancers potenciales para evaluar su calidad de trabajo y experiencia previa. También es útil revisar las referencias y testimonios de clientes anteriores.

Assessing ideal candidates and shortlisting may take multiple stages of interactive calls/discussions. Knowing a candidate as a human, professional, his/her thought process and communication level should be on priority rather than just his work sample or fee range.

Freelancers usually have an style and and their own way of doing things. It's better not to ask them to change their style or to adapt to your vision. Trusting in them and their judgement is really important.

Entrevistar a los candidatos: Realiza entrevistas con los freelancers para evaluar su nivel de habilidad, experiencia y compatibilidad con tu proyecto. Asegúrate de discutir expectativas, disponibilidad y tarifas durante estas entrevistas. Evaluar la compatibilidad del equipo: Considera cómo encajarán los freelancers potenciales en tu equipo existente. La comunicación efectiva y la capacidad de trabajar bien juntos son aspectos importantes para el éxito del proyecto. Establecer un flujo de trabajo claro: Define claramente los roles y responsabilidades de cada miembro del equipo, así como los plazos y entregables esperados.

Consider incorporating practical assessments or trial projects to evaluate freelancers' abilities firsthand. Seek out candidates who not only demonstrate technical proficiency but also show adaptability and creativity in problem-solving. Prioritize effective communication skills, as clear and timely communication is crucial in remote collaboration. Foster open dialogue and transparency throughout the evaluation process to ensure alignment with your project's vision and goals. Utilize platforms like GitHub or Bitbucket to evaluate code quality and collaboration experience, gaining insights into how well freelancers work in a team environment.

Treating freelancers with professionalism and humane aspects is key to maintain good rapport. Try not to overwhelm them with authority. Provide enough room for opening up with their preferences and choices in devising solutions for your project. However, set a clear and agreed set of rules, policies/protocols for the project work.

Fomentar una cultura de colaboración: Incentiva la colaboración y el intercambio de ideas entre los miembros del equipo para fomentar la creatividad y la innovación en el proceso de dise?o de juegos. Mantener una comunicación abierta y transparente: Establece canales de comunicación abiertos para que los miembros del equipo puedan compartir actualizaciones, plantear preocupaciones y resolver problemas de manera efectiva. Proporcionar retroalimentación constructiva: Brinda retroalimentación regular a los freelancers para ayudarlos a mejorar su trabajo y mantener el proyecto en el camino correcto.

In addition to completing projects, it is important to create a sense of community and belonging by acknowledging freelancers as valuable members of your team. Encourage open communication and regular check-ins to address concerns and celebrate accomplishments. Moreover, consider providing incentives such as profit-sharing or bonuses tied to project milestones to motivate exceptional performance and foster a sense of ownership. For instance, organizing virtual team-building activities or networking events can strengthen connections and promote collaboration among freelancers.

Implementation and practise the best project management process depending on the complexity of the project will give accountability and responsibility to every team member about the common objective to achieve. Keep options open for certain situations viz. Change requests, deviations, scope creep, task spill overs during the project. The Project management process needs to be documented, tweaked and reviewed on a frequent basis.

I don't think that having a fixed workflow is always good, some teams work better going with the flow, but never forget the strength of writing everything down.

To enhance communication, track progress, and establish clear deadlines, it is recommended to utilize project management tools like Asana or Trello. Encourage open dialogue and feedback to foster a collaborative environment, allowing freelancers to contribute their ideas and expertise. Regular check-ins and updates should be prioritized to promptly address any concerns and maintain momentum. Agile methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban can be implemented to adapt quickly to changes and optimize productivity. For instance, organizing weekly sprint planning meetings can aid in prioritizing tasks and allocating resources efficiently.

Everyone have different experiences and perspectives. Take it as a strength instead of a weakness. In my experience the best way to avoid conflicts is managing the responsibilities. For example, when people in charge of management take proper responsibility of the decisions, the rest is more open to share their ideas.

Create an environment that promotes collaboration, where ideas can freely flow and everyone feels empowered to contribute their expertise. Encourage cross-functional collaboration by organizing brainstorming sessions or design workshops, allowing freelancers from different disciplines to come together, share insights, and inspire creativity. Moreover, utilize technology to facilitate real-time collaboration, whether through virtual collaboration tools or shared online workspaces. Celebrate team milestones and achievements, acknowledging the collective effort that goes into creating a successful game. For instance, consider hosting virtual team-building activities to strengthen bonds and foster a sense of camaraderie among freelancers.

Making a game is pretty tough, freelancers can help if the objectives and plans for the project are clear. For me, the best way to get freelancers aboard is through a vertical slice. A vertical slice is a small "slice" of the game, it could be 3 minutes of gameplay that didn't get to the final game, but this short session with 100% final vision of the game implemented. Aesthetics, game feel, atmosphere, etc. With this fragment of the final game in hand, what the game is trying to accomplish becomes clear to everyone.