E135: Why Big Game Dev Plans Never Succeed
Show notes
Access the Calibration Test: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/calibration-test
When every team in your studio tells you they're 80% confident in their timeline, why does the final project almost always miss its deadline?
In this episode of Building Better Games, Benjamin Carcich exposes the mathematical trap that undermines and then wrecks well-planned game development projects. When multiple teams average their confidence instead of multiplying it, a studio's actual probability of shipping on time can plummet from a perceived 80% down to a brutal 1%.
Ben breaks down why humans are naturally overconfident estimators, how dependencies cascade into developmental bottlenecks, and the two critical production pivots leaders must make to protect their ship dates.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- What the "Confidence Trap" is and how standard multi-team tracking accidentally almost guarantees project delays due to compounding probability
- Why even highly experienced leads give optimistically incorrect estimates, and why uncalibrated data forces reactive management loops
- How to train your team in calibrated estimation and shift your development strategy toward strict value-prioritization so you always ship the most critical player experiences
If you're a leader in game dev who is tired of watching meticulously planned schedules fall apart the moment reality hits, this episode is for you.
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Connect with us:
🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/
🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/
🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#
🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg
🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbettergames
If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: [email protected]
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