When is a task done? Let’s Define the Finish!

It feels great to mark a task “done”. But what does that mean? Is it something that can be shipped in the final game, something that is barely functional or something else entirely?! Not knowing what “done” means for different tasks can cause many problems from team frustrations to missing deadlines to wasted work. My system is to create a degree of done chart with multiple levels for different disciplines. I’ll talk about how to create the chart and to use it so you all know when you’re crossing the finish line. If a task isn’t done to the right quality or realisation or level, then it won’t fit in with other items and also could mean the game isn’t as finished as you think. If you create shippable level quality right from the beginning you’ll end up throwing out work as you figure out that something doesn’t fit into the game as a whole. A degree of done chart gives you a practical and clear language that you can use with your team to get on the same page about what level you’re reaching for right now for this particular type of task. That is, what DD3 is for code is different to an art asset. I have a reference example for you to use as well. You can use a degree of done chart for individual tasks, to define milestone goals clearly, and to make it easy to see progress on an entire level with one glance. Find out how to make a degree of done chart, and use it in this super informative video. Then you and your team will be able to discuss milestones clearly, will know what quality bar they are reaching for right now and can iterate on work with confidence until you’re ready to ship. Reference Material: [Example Degree of Done chart](https://www.notion.so/Degree-of-Done-Example-197a82440e1680328300ccd4fada7adf?pvs=21) Have a question for an expert game producer? Ask me your question here: https://jennsand.com/askjenn/ Text version: https://jennsand.com/advice/degree-done/ Video version: https://youtu.be/WYZfhSn2NyE Jenn’s Generally Good Game Production Advice: TITLE 00:00 Introduction 00:56 Question & Why should you care? 02:00 How do you know what done is? And how do you get started? 02:39 What is a Degree of Done chart? 04:29 How do you build a Degree of Done chart? 05:07 How do you use a Degree of Done chart? 07:17 Final Thoughts on Degree of Done 07:43 Conclusion Jenn’s Generally Good Game Production Advice is an advice column for our modern ages and for game developers everywhere. Topics covered will help you ship your game on time, on budget, with a happy team no matter whether you are a producer or someone else on the game team. Find out more about how to hire me: [jennsand.com](https://jennsand.com/)