It's time for some discipline

Okay, guys: here's my plan for the next sprint.  Please let me know what you think – I've pushed the start to Monday, so that I can adjust if necessary.

I don't know why iCal has noted that it's the 2nd of January in Scotland.  It's the 2nd of January everywhere, right?

Daily Scrum (5 minutes). Every day, I’ll reflect on what I did yesterday, what I plan to do today, and reflect on the problems I encountered. I’ll record these reflections so I can review them during the Retrospective at the end of the sprint.

Sprint Tasks (8 pomodoros). This is when I work on my tasks.

Review Backlog (45 minutes). Once per week, I’ll get out of my normal work environment and spend some time thinking big-picture; reviewing feedback from users, brainstorming features I’d like to add, etc. I’ll use this time to update the Product Backlog in Jira – adding new ideas, and revising & reärranging what’s already there. This will help keep the Product Backlog relevant and up-to-date.

End of Sprint. On the penultimate sprint day, I’ll release whatever I can (either as an actual game update, or a Beta test, or just an internal testing version). This will help me get user feedback all through the dev process.

Retrospective (2 hours). I’ll reflect on the sprint and publish some thoughts on what went well, and what areas can be improved. This will help me continually improve.

Sprint Plan (2 hours). Here’s where I plan the next sprint.

Rest & Explore. I’ll try to end the last afternoon of every sprint doing something game-related but fun – maybe writing a new scene, or working on some avatar art, or something totally different. This is when I get to work on crazy little things that I don’t normally get around to (like an introduction to the combat rules, via a schoolyard catfight during the Lifepath).

Crush R&R. Planned in time for rest and personal admin.

PLANNED TASKS

[T1] v2 Sex Engine prototype

Improve the Sex Engine prototype based on user feedback to the last Beta. This is important because the new sex scene structure isn’t as good as it can be if the Beta feedback isn’t implemented.

• Section 1: Hotel Bar to Max’s Balcony (estimate: 8 pomos)

• Section 2: Max’s Bed to Bed Position Choice (estimate: 8 pomos)

• Section 3: Max’s Balcony to Balcony Bent Over (estimate: 8 pomos)

• Section 4: Bed Sex (estimate: 8 pomos)

• Section 5: Balcony Sex (estimate: 8 pomos)

• Section 6: Aftermath (estimate: 8 pomos)

[T2] In This Year

Add the In This Year content to the game. This was nearly added in the last sprint. It’s important because it’s a test of getting content into the game without requiring much intervention from me.

• (Implementation estimate to discuss with Hyneman)

[T3] Status Effect icons

Add Status Effect icons to the game. This is important because Status Effects (e.g. being turned on, close to orgasm, drunk, wounded etc) will have a big effect on the game – icons will let you know which ones are affecting your agent.

• Upload status effect icon art to image server (estimate: 3 pomos)

• (Implementation estimate to discuss with Hyneman & Lara)

[T4] Hero Headers

Add Hero Headers to the game. Important because it will improve the whole look of the game, give the locations more of a sense of place, and reduce the “wall of text” aesthetic. Lara has done some great work on these, and they’re nearly ready to implement, so we should get started ASAP.

• Confirm image specs with Lara (1)

• Set up a Female Agent Photoshop filter (4)

• (Implementation estimate to discuss with Lara)