An outlook at Agile methodologies for the independent games developer

Abstract

This paper explores the Agile methodologies, Scrum and Kanban, to define their advantages and limitations of use. The methods are compared for their use in software development, specifying which would be a suitable option for a game development process focusing on maximizing productivity and quality of the software. Exploration of use cases and methodology guides are discussed, defining the benefits of choosing Kanban or Scrum for a software development team. Findings show Scrum to be a method that focuses on the verbal communication through sprint meetings and reviews. Kanban is described as a visually driven framework that utilizes a Kanban board and cards for communication. Scrum is a strict method can only implement change after a sprint, while Kanban is more flexible and can make changes at any point in the development process. A hybrid of the two methods, Scrumban, is also investigated and found to be an alternative for users who find aspects of both methodologies to be appropriate for their team. There is a great deal of consideration required for independent game developers as they need to reflect on their team dynamics and situation before determining which methodology is best suited for them.

KEYWORDS:

• Agile
• Scrum
• Kanban
• software development
• independent games

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Renae Aurisch

Renae Aurisch is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Games and Virtual Worlds (Programming) at Canberra Institute of Technology, Australia. Renae has designed and developed a number of games development projects. She is also interested in virtual reality research.

Mohiuddin Ahmed

Mohiuddin Ahmed is working as a computing and security academic at Edith Cowan University, Australia. Mohiuddin holds a Ph.D. in Data Science (Cyber Security) from UNSW Australia and made practical and theoretical contributions in the area of Big Data Analytics, Information Security, Clustering Algorithms and Healthcare. He is currently working on Blockchain and Industry 4.0 to secure digital Australia.

Abu Barkat

Abu Barkat is leading the center for cyber security and games at Canberra Institute of Technology, Australia. Abu holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UNSW Australia and had significant research breakthrough in the area of evolutionary optimization and software development. He is actively performing leadership roles in both IT industry and academia.