project planning

Game plan made easy

We help you map out your game project with series of workshops, defining scope, timeline, and costs.

Focus on creating, we’ll handle the planning!

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How it works?

Project blueprint

1. Kickoff chat

In this quick interview, we’ll dive into your main goals and figure out the best way to achieve them. It’s all about understanding what you want and creating a plan to make it happen.
This sets a clear direction, defines actionable steps, and boosts motivation by aligning everyone on a common vision.
We’ll establish a strong foundation to kick things off right.

2. Gather stakeholders

We’ll compile a list of all stakeholders involved in the project, ensuring everyone who needs to be in the loop is included from the start.
This ensures all voices are heard, creates a comprehensive communication plan, and facilitates smoother collaboration.
Aligning expectations from the beginning leads to a harmonious project journey.

3. Define the scope

We’ll organize 1-2 meetings to establish the project’s scope, nailing down exactly what’s in and out.
This helps us clearly define boundaries, avoid scope creep, and set realistic goals.
Focusing resources on critical aspects ensures everyone is on the same page.

4. Document the scope

We’ll compile all info into a detailed project scope document, serving as your project’s blueprint.
This document improves transparency, accountability, and decision-making.
It ensures all team members are aligned and working towards a common goal.

5. Size it up with the devs

We’ll meet with the dev team for 2-3 sessions to size the items, understanding the effort required for each task.
This helps us accurately estimate workload and timelines, identify challenges early, and optimize resource allocation.
A realistic project plan sets the stage for smooth execution.

6. Present and adapt

We’ll hold a closing meeting to present the scope and timeline, making final adjustments based on feedback.
This ensures the plan aligns with your vision, making informed adjustments to optimize it.
It fosters a sense of ownership and commitment, allowing us to start the project with confidence and clarity.
Let’s make your dreams a reality.

Let's talk about your project!

Map out your game development together.

Start planning →

Results you’ll love

We log all Epics, Features, Stories, and Tasks into your preferred software, keeping everything organized and on track.

WBS or Backlog, your choice!

Time matters

We’ll spend up to 14 hours on your project:

up to 7 hours working directly with you to ensure everything’s on point
up to 7 hours perfecting the docs and app behind the scenes.

Pricing made simple

Project planning

Our comprehensive service covers scope, time, and cost, tailored to your project needs and team size. You'll have direct access to an experienced project manager, with adjustments based on your project’s evolution. Enjoy clear pricing with no hidden fees.

$2,000-5,000

Schedule a meeting →

Meet Tono Jimenez

Your project architect

Game development guru, project management wizard, and DigiPen mentor with a knack for turning chaos into epic adventures.

Get your roadmap →

Project management

Over 10 years of experience in game development.

01 Expertise

Scoping, time estimating, and using tools like Trello, Asana, Azure, and Jira.

02 Games worked on

Halo Infinite, Minecraft, Ark Survival Evolved, Pokemon Go.

03 Education

Bachelor’s in Software Development, Master’s in IT Management and Computer Science

04 Certifications

PMP, Advanced Certified ScrumMaster, Certified Scrum Professional Product Owner, Advanced Certified Scrum Developer, Certified Agile Facilitator.

05 Mentorship

Teaching production and programming at DigiPen since 2022.

06

”Toño quickly stepped in with process suggestions that were adopted and sped up our ability to put out work faster than it was coming in.
Later, I found out that Toño, who was an engineer at the time, was scrum certified and had production experience.
With that said, he understood which parts of the scrum process would be helpful on a small prototyping team, and which parts weren't critical due to our size and goals. His understanding of what we were making, how it needed to be made, and how to organize the team led to us coming back from behind and hitting our deadlines.
In short, Toño sees the big picture, and is able to adjust the process to meet the moment. If he hadn't taken over the production process of that project, I'm not sure we would have made it.
Sam StrickGame Director @ VVS

FAQ

Why is a WBS important for game development projects?

A Work Breakdown Structure (or WBS) is essential in game development projects because it breaks down the project into high-level components. It helps keep everyone on the same page, from designers to developers, ensuring every detail is accounted for.

This structure not only aids in tracking progress but also helps in identifying potential risks early, making your project run smoother and more efficiently.

How do you create a WBS for a game development project?

Creating a WBS for a game project starts with defining the main deliverables. Think of it as outlining the big pieces of your game first, like the storyline, gameplay mechanics, and graphics.

From there, you break these down into smaller, more detailed tasks. It’s a bit like building with Lego blocks – start with the big picture and gradually fill in the details.

What software tools do you use for managing WBS and Backlogs?

We use a combination of popular project management tools like Jira, Trello, and Asana. These tools help us organize tasks, set priorities, and track progress seamlessly.

Depending on your team’s preferences, we can customize our approach to fit the tools you’re most comfortable with.

How do you prioritize tasks in a Backlog?

Prioritizing tasks in a backlog involves evaluating the impact, urgency of each task, and stakeholder’s input.

We often use techniques like MoSCoW (Must have, Should have, Nice to have, Could have, Won’t have) to categorize tasks. This ensures that the most critical tasks get done first, keeping the project on track and aligned with your key milestones.

What are the key components of a WBS?

A WBS typically includes deliverables, sub-deliverables, work packages, and tasks. For game development, this might mean breaking down the game into major sections like gameplay, art, and sound, and then further into specific tasks like character design, level creation, and sound effects.

Each component is clearly defined to ensure everyone knows what needs to be done and by when.

Can you integrate our existing project management tools with your WBS and Backlog?

Absolutely! We understand that switching tools can be a hassle. We’re flexible and can integrate our WBS and backlog management with the tools you’re already using.

Whether it’s through direct integration or by aligning our processes with yours, we aim to make the transition as smooth as possible.

How do you manage dependencies in a WBS?

Managing dependencies in a WBS is all about understanding the relationships between tasks.

We map out these dependencies early on to ensure that one task’s delay doesn’t hold up the entire project. Tools like Gantt charts and dependency matrices help us visualize and manage these relationships effectively.

Can you provide examples of successful WBS and Backlog management in past projects?

Sure thing! One example is a recent RPG project where our WBS helped streamline development by clearly outlining tasks and milestones. By managing the backlog efficiently, we prioritized critical gameplay features and story elements, leading to a successful and timely launch.

Our structured approach has consistently helped teams stay focused and meet their goals.

See how our planning can boost your game development.

Schedule a quick project chat!