Taking Control of Your Middleware

Speakers: Ross O'Dwyer

Track: Production

Format: Lecture

Experience Level: All

Description: With more and more developers using middleware in their games, it is important that scheduling the use of this technology gets handled by producers as opposed to the current standard where engineers are left to schedule and manage risk for larger and larger pieces of the entire pipeline. This session aims to educate attendees in how to plan for middleware and how to extract the most value from the feature set of an external technology provider, while tracking the level of investment with respect to processor budget, future engine reliance, and personnel requirements. There will be a strong focus on taking control of your provider so that risk is minimized through effective use of support entitlements and through careful management of reliance on third party roadmaps.

Idea Takeaway: Attendees learn how to work middleware into a development schedule thereby maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks associated with using third party technology in a production.

Intended Audience: This session benefits all members of teams using third party technology but most especially those individuals responsible for managing higher levels of risk, such as producers and technical directors.