[arg_discuss] Budget and/or project plan for running an ARG

[Michael Monello]

I understand what you are getting at, but the pieces are tied to tactics, and tactically, ARGs are all over the place. Each element within an ARG will generally have some kind of systematized budgeting & production process, so you basically take your tactics and run them through that:

Video/film production
Application development
Website development
Live performance/events
Book publishing
Etc.

At the end of the day. Schedule often determines budget, so I suggest you attack larger productions with some serious project planning, use a Gantt chart and then work out your budgets based on the relationships you've identified in the Gannt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gantt_chart

Mike

On 6/11/09 10:52 AM, "Steve Vosloo" <steve.vosloo at shuttleworthfoundation.org> wrote:

Thanks Jeromy. This is all true.

I guess I was hoping to get an overview of the key activities -- like
"develop websites" ... whether it's 3 or 25, and whether they're
commercially designed or done by volunteers is something that will vary
from project to project. But at least that key activity has a place in
the project plan and budget.



Jeromy Barber wrote:

> I don't have one for ARGs.  I budgeted many a film when I lived in NYC, and

> it's my opinion that you have to be starting with a budget to find a form

> that would make sense for your project.  Because ARGs have such diverse and

> innovative experiences, it's going to be tough to find a boilerplate budget

> with standardized line items with predictable costs.

>

> For instance, if you don't have any money and are working with volunteers,

> then there is no budget.  If you have $5000 for your game, then you plan

> your ARG with those limitations in mind.  You get rid of 25 web site design

> plans and go with 3 instead.  If you are dealing with a larger budget than

> that, then I recommend hiring someone to help with the budgeting.

>

> Jeromy

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org] On

> Behalf Of Andrea Phillips

> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 12:55 PM

> To: Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG

> Subject: Re: [arg_discuss] Budget and/or project plan for running an ARG

>

> Hi, Steve. Thanks for posting, it's a good question.

>

> On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 4:25 AM, Steve

> Vosloo<steve.vosloo at shuttleworthfoundation.org> wrote:

>

>

>> I'm putting together a project proposal for running a shortish ARG (2

>> weeks). Does anyone have an old budget that I can use as a starting point

>> AND/OR a project plan.

>>

>

> I think you might have a little trouble with this, simply because this

> type of information is often covered by NDAs. And the budget in

> particular is tricky because you have the shoestring

> volunteer-time-and-free-web-services kinds of ARGs, the

> million-dollar-plus ARGs, and every price point in between.

>

> But you're right, it would be really useful to have sample budgets and

> project plans available as a springboard... even if it's just a

> template with the numbers redacted. Does anybody have a sanitized

> version of such a thing they might be willing to share, or even post

> to ARGology?

>

>


--
Steve Vosloo
Fellow, 21st Century Learning
The Shuttleworth Foundation

Tel: +27 21 970 1240
Fax: +27 21 970 1241
Web: www.shuttleworthfoundation.org

Blog: www.innovatingeducation.wordpress.com
Personal: www.vosloo.net
Twitter: www.twitter.com/stevevosloo

Project: www.mlearningafrica.net

Email disclaimer: wiki.tsf.org.za/EmailDisclaimer



_______________________________________________
ARG_Discuss mailing list
ARG_Discuss at igda.org
http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/arg_discuss



---
Mike Monello
Partner, Campfire
62 White Street, 3E
New York, NY 10013
212-612-9600
http://www.campfirenyc.com