Game design and music, episode 2: teamwork

Today I am very happy to celebrate my first recurring article (here is my first article on game design and music). I have other things to talk about, but I was eager to reach this blog clichè as soon as possible :)

So, let's dive into what music has taught me about teamwork in game development.

Find a rhythm that suits everyone

In a band as in a team, every member has to do his job otherwise the entire group work is ruined. Each person has different skills and a team effort cannot be more difficult than what each person can achieve. In other words, consider what project you can do based on the “weakest” link in the chain (of course, no one is inherently weak; depending on the project, some departments may face more challenges than others).

Make the singer shine

When playing with a band, all eyes are on the singer, who receives the most recognition and must prepare meticulously. What is the singer in a video game? Of course all the art and aesthetical elements. Some members of a band work in the shadows and have to do a perfect job only to hear all the compliments directed towards the things that are most evident. Therefore, it is fundamental that artists can express themselves, because that’s what everyone will notice, and artists, like singers, are more comfortable with some things than others. Like the singer in a band though, their work shines only if every other aspect works. The art can make your game appealing, but it won’t hide your problems.

Be the worst musician in the room

This piece of advice really opened my mind the first time I heard it. The idea is that we learn the most by our peers, the person we spend the most time with. If you are the worst musician in a group of people, you will learn more from them than your tutor or teacher. I started playing music late, so I was the worst musician for most of the time and I noticed how much it helped me grow. Additionally, game design comprises various skills, so you will always be the worst at something. Recognizing this allows you to learn as much as possible from those who excel in areas where you don't.

Work for the music 

In a band it’s always important to work for what you are doing together. You don’t play to sound cool or to impress the audience. You play to create something beautiful with other people. Understand when is your time to shine and when you should instead focus on helping others showcase their strengths.

Coda

That’s all for today, hope you found something useful in this post. See you next week for another article!