When does this bug occur?

After 8 hours of play. How should we handle it?

Lock up the console and display the message, “go play outside”.

How’s this for timing: received final approvals for the game on two different SKUs (consoles) today, within an hour of each other. More importantly, received them within a day of leaving on a lovely four-day getaway. No phone, no alarms, no bug regressions, no take-out.

Any good spots to recommend in Boston or Provincetown?

This is something I’m reluctant to blog, because I’m sure to jinx it by doing so: I’m currently having the best end-of-project period of my career. Bug counts are rapidly decreasing, I still eat right and get to the gym four times a week, the game is within scope, still on time, no cut levels or last-minute feature drops, and the team is still happy. I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop since pre-production, but it’s running out of time to do so.

I spent yesterday in New York working with a huge Hollywood star recording voiceovers for the game. It was completely bizarre being there, explaining the game to him and the context of all of his lines, but he nailed everything and I was really happy with the results.

Surprisingly, most of my mind was on the task at hand, probably because none of it actually registered, although a small part of my brain would occasionally scream “Hey! HEY!!!! That’s so-and-so!!!! We need to faint!”

There was a camera crew there for the making-of roll, and every time I gave an instruction, a bright light and a boom got stuck in my face.

Definitely the most surreal day of my career.

MJ, my cutscene needs sound. Can I borrow your sound designer for three days?

Sure. But you know, sound guys are at a premium right now. I mean, I might have to deliver my game late, but that’s ok. I know you need it. Maybe if I deliver late and get fired, I can sell my condo and move in with my folks, they still have my room. They’ll just have to turn my grandmother out onto the street. I could also just live on the street myself, summer’s coming. Yeah, I’ll go live at the tam-tams all summer. Just if you see me with long leghair asking for a smoke at Mount Royal metro in August, remember your cutscene and throw me a quarter will ya?

The final demo build is being uploaded to the client, emergency contact numbers have been given to the team, party invites are printed, got me a copy of Daxter for the long flight. After weeks of insane preparation, it’s now time to head off to L.A. for the world’s biggest trade show, and the most frantic week in the industry.

Last year, I described my week at E3 as better than when I was seven and my parents fulfilled my dream of going to Disney World. I think this year will be better.

If you’re attending the show and want to hang out, drop me a line. You can also probably find me at the IGDA party tomorrow night, and House of Moves on Wednesday.

Management is an inexact science. You have a team meeting to announce a change you think is good news, and end up doing a week of damage control. You think you give a team a strong talking to, and they are thrilled to be have “pressure put on them”. Employees, bosses, colleagues and clients state their needs and wants, then change their minds. It’s trial, error, retrial, success, returning to error and back to success. It’s not dull.

But today I learned a simple yet valuable management lesson. Buying ice cream for the whole team just when they’re getting the 4 PM munchies is a good idea. I never would have thought that was all it would take to make 35 adults shout with glee, but there you have it.

I’m in Chicago for a motion capture shoot. Despite a few heart attacks like the talent getting stuck at customs and two crewmembers missing their flight yesterday, we’re managing to have the time of our lives.

Chicago is a pretty city, especially if you’re looking in the right direction. I’ll have to be back for a closer look someday.

Me: I’m conservative about scope because I’m about making sure we deliver on time. Maybe if I was less anal about that, we’d crunch more but the game would have more features and more fun.

Him: Well, I’m not convinced that anal means no fun… oh wait, let me rephrase that.

I just found out what happens to casual Friday when you can wear jeans anytime you want.

My designer is sitting on the floor, having a conversation with someone. I enter the office, and have to go around him to get to my desk. It involves some contortion on my part.

“Sorry for having my ass in your face, there”, I say.
- Eh, it’s Friday, he replies.