Imagine a game development team diligently following every step of a well-documented and successful development process, only to end up with a product that’s uninspired, inefficient, and fraught with issues.
What went wrong?
They might have fallen victim to what is known as “cargo cult” in game development.
In 2024, the game industry is more vibrant and competitive than ever, making it crucial for developers to innovate not just in their games but in their processes too.
However, the temptation to mimic successful teams and their methods is strong—and it can be devastating. It stifles effective problem-solving, leads to inefficient workflows, and ultimately, it’s a disservice to the team’s potential and the project’s success.
So, how does cargo culting hurt game development processes, and more importantly, how can we fix it?
Stick around as we dive into the pitfalls of this practice and explore practical strategies to foster a more thoughtful and effective approach to game development in your next project.
What’s Up with Cargo Cult in Game Dev?
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of cargo cult in game development.
You might be wondering, “What exactly is cargo culting, and why should I care?”
Great questions!
Before you start picturing developers wearing grass skirts and waving bamboo sticks, let’s clarify what this term actually means.
Coined by Steve McConnell, “cargo cult” in software development refers to the practice of emulating successful development teams by following their processes without truly understanding the reasons behind those practices.
So, it’s like trying to build a skyscraper by following the blueprints of a house. Sure, you’re building something, but without understanding the structural principles, material considerations, and design goals that underpin the original blueprint, your skyscraper is likely to be a disaster.
In more practical terms, it’s about mimicking the surface-level aspects of successful development processes—like specific meeting schedules, coding practices, rituals, or project management methodologies—without understanding the deeper reasons why these practices worked for the original team.
This can lead to a development process that looks organized on paper but is actually riddled with inefficiencies and mismatches that can doom a project.
For example: A renowned game development studio adopts a specific agile methodology that perfectly suits its team size, project scope, and company culture. Its success stories become industry legends, and soon, other studios begin to copy their exact methodology.
However, these other studios often fail to replicate the success because they haven’t considered their own unique challenges, resources, and team dynamics.
Why? Because the developers were focusing on the “what” rather than the “why.”
So, what’s the big deal? Why does this matter?
How Does Cargo Cult Hurt Game Dev?
Now that we’ve defined cargo culting, let’s dig deeper into why it’s a big no-no in game development processes.
Here are three key ways cargo culting can sabotage your project:
1. The Silent Killer of Critical Thinking
Picture this: your team is following a process so rigidly that it might as well be marching in a parade—straight off a cliff!
When you’re cargo culting, you’re basically shutting down your team’s problem-solving superpowers. Instead of asking, “Is this the best way to do this?” you’re stuck in a loop, mindlessly ticking boxes without considering if they even belong on your checklist.
The result?
A mechanical, zombie-like approach where creativity and innovation are left out in the cold. Your team becomes more like robots, executing tasks without thinking, instead of the creative geniuses they’re meant to be.
And let’s be honest, who wants to play a game designed by zombies? But by robots?.. Never mind, let’s move on.
2. A Black Hole for Time and Money
We all know game development isn’t exactly cheap or easy.
Every decision your team makes affects the project’s bottom line and timeline. But when you’re cargo culting, you’re basically throwing time and money into a black hole.
You end up stuck in endless meetings or buried under mountains of documentation that do absolutely nothing to move your project forward—because, surprise, they weren’t even necessary in the first place!
It’s like trying to cook a gourmet meal by following someone else’s recipe but using the wrong ingredients.
Sure, you’re going through the motions, but what you’re serving up is a big plate of inefficiency. Not only does this slow down development, but it also blows up your budget and stresses out your team.
And nobody wants a stressed-out team—it’s bad for creativity and morale!
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3. The Recipe for Project Disasters
Following someone else’s formula might seem like a safe bet, but here’s the kicker: what worked for them might totally flop for you.
Different team? Different project? Different everything!
When you’re copying someone else’s methodology without understanding the “why” behind it, you’re setting yourself up for some pretty gnarly project outcomes.
We’re talking missed deadlines, feature creep that spirals out of control, and even complete project meltdowns. A process that’s a perfect fit for one team could be a total mismatch for yours, leading to a development pipeline that’s more disjointed than a poorly edited movie.
And we all know how those turn out—over-budget, late to the party, and with some seriously disappointed fans.
How Can You Spot Cargo Cult Practices?
Alright, let’s get real. Figuring out if you’re stuck in a cargo cult loop can be tricky, but don’t worry—we’ve got your back.
First, let’s talk about the red flags. How can you tell if your game dev processes are falling into the cargo cult trap?
Here are some red flags to watch out for:
- Blindly following processes → Are you sticking to a development process simply because it’s what others are doing, without understanding its true purpose? For example, adopting Scrum because it’s popular but without adapting it to your team’s needs (and without understanding its limitations and your team’s capabilities) is a classic cargo cult move. Processes should be tailored to fit your project’s specific challenges, not just followed because they’re trendy.
- Copying rituals without context → Does your team have rituals, such as daily stand-ups or retrospective meetings, that feel more like going through the motions than meaningful activities? If your team is conducting meetings or following rituals without understanding their intended outcomes, it’s a sign you’re cargo culting. These rituals should foster communication and problem-solving, not just fill up the calendar.
- Lack of adaptation to team dynamics → If your development process feels rigid and doesn’t account for your team’s unique dynamics, you might be in cargo cult territory. Every team has its own strengths, weaknesses, and ways of working. If your process doesn’t adapt to these, it’s likely doing more harm than good.
- Ignoring feedback and results → If your team is sticking to a process despite feedback or poor results, it’s a red flag. A successful development process is iterative and responsive. Ignoring evidence that something isn’t working because “it’s what others do” or “the producer prefers it that way” is a surefire way to stay stuck in a cargo cult mentality.
Now that we’ve got the scoop on how to spot those sneaky cargo cult practices let’s turn the magnifying glass around.
Ready for a little self-reflection? It’s time to find out if you, too, might be unknowingly channeling your inner cargo cult.
How Do I Know If I’m a Cargo Culter?
Alright, so you’ve spotted some warning signs. Now, how do you figure out if you’re really falling into the cargo cult trap? Here’s how to do a self-check:
- Honest self-reflection: Be brutally honest with yourself and your team. Are you genuinely convinced that the processes you’re following are the best for your project, or are you using them because they worked for others? If it’s the latter, you might be cargo culting. It’s crucial to assess whether your processes truly align with your project’s needs.
- Compare and contrast: Look at your development process in comparison to other successful teams. What makes those teams successful? Have you simply copied their methodologies, or have you adapted and customized them to suit your project’s unique requirements? If your process feels like a patchwork of borrowed practices without a clear, cohesive strategy, it’s time to reevaluate.
- Seek diverse opinions: Gather feedback from a variety of sources—team members, other developers and producers, and industry veterans. If multiple people say your process feels too rigid or disconnected from your project’s goals, take note. This is a sign that you might be stuck in cargo cult territory. A healthy development process should be flexible and open to change based on feedback.
- Check your research: When adopting new methodologies or practices, ask yourself if you truly understand why they work. Are you implementing agile because you understand its principles, or because it’s the “industry standard”? If you’re adding practices without a deep understanding of their purpose, that’s a cargo cult red flag. It’s crucial to do your homework and know the reasoning behind the practices you adopt.
- Innovation audit: Regularly assess your development process for innovation. Are you taking creative and strategic risks with your process, or are you simply following a script? If you’re struggling to identify areas where you’ve tailored or innovated your approach, it’s time to push those boundaries further. Your development process should evolve along with your project’s needs.
Now that you know how to spot cargo cult practices, it’s time to move on to the next step. Recognizing the problem is crucial, but what’s even more important is figuring out how to fix it.
How Do You Fix Cargo Culting in Game Dev?
So, you’ve spotted the cargo cult gremlins lurking in your game development process.
No worries! It’s time to kick those copycat habits to the curb and unleash your team’s full potential.
How Do We Reignite Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving?
First things first: let’s get back to the basics of thoughtful problem-solving.
Encourage your team to question the “why” behind every process or practice they’re following. Rather than just going through the motions, foster a culture where understanding the reasoning behind each decision is valued.
A great way to do this is by implementing regular reflection sessions. These sessions can serve as a space for team members to discuss what’s working, what’s not, and why certain processes might need to change.
It’s also helpful to bring in diverse perspectives from within your team, allowing different viewpoints to challenge the status quo and stimulate deeper thinking. Think about Toño Game Consultants here—we’re here to help.
Why Should We Customize Processes to Fit Our Team?
Before you can innovate, you need a development process that truly fits your team. This means understanding your team’s strengths, weaknesses, and dynamics.
A process that works for a Triple-A studio with hundreds of developers might not work for a small indie team. Customizing your approach is key to building a process that supports your team’s unique way of working.
Understanding core principles—such as the fundamentals of agile, waterfall, or hybrid methodologies—will give you the flexibility to adapt and modify these approaches to suit your project.
It’s like learning to cook: once you understand the basic techniques, you can start experimenting with your own recipes.
How Do We Research and Implement Processes Properly?
Proper research is about more than just copying what worked for others. It’s about deeply understanding the principles behind successful practices and adapting them to your specific context.
Analyze the methodologies that have worked for others, but always ask: “Why did this work for them, and will it work for us?”
Look at successful case studies and postmortems to understand the thought project planning and execution processes behind other teams’ decisions.
When adopting a new process, start small—pilot it with a segment of your team or a small part of the project to see how it fits before fully integrating it.
Here’s a table to help you differentiate between shallow and deep research:
| Shallow research | Deep research |
| Copying methodology without context | Understanding why methodology works |
| Following trends without adaptation | Analyzing teams feedback |
| Superficial methodologies analysis | Detailed study of project management methodologies |
What’s the Deal with Iterative Process Improvement?
Iteration isn’t just for game design; it’s crucial for your development process as well.
Regularly review and refine your processes, making adjustments based on what’s working and what’s not. This iterative approach allows you to stay flexible and responsive to your project’s evolving needs.
Conduct regular retrospectives to gather insights from your team. Use these sessions to identify bottlenecks, areas of friction, and opportunities for improvement.
The goal is to constantly refine your processes to make them more efficient and effective over time.
Can We Learn from Our Failures?
Absolutely! Failure is not the end—it’s an essential part of the learning process.
Embrace your mistakes and use them as opportunities to grow and improve. Conduct postmortems after completing milestones or projects to analyze what went wrong, what went right, and how you can do better next time.
A positive mindset towards failure encourages experimentation and risk-taking, which are crucial for innovation.
Remember, the most successful teams aren’t the ones that never fail—they’re the ones that learn and adapt from their failures.
Use it to fuel your determination and drive.
Fine, now that we’ve got our cargo culting problems sorted, let’s talk about keeping things fresh and exciting.
Game dev is all about execution, right? So, how do we stay flexible and open to new without blindly copying each other? Grab your thinking cap.
How Do We Stay Flexible?
Ever feel like your team is stuck in a rut, following the same old processes with little room for true innovation?
It’s a common issue, especially in the high-speed world of game development. But staying adaptable and fostering fresh ideas doesn’t have to be an impossible dream.
Enter Toño Game Consultants.
We get it—game development is a whirlwind of brainstorming sessions, rapid prototyping, tight deadlines, and constant feedback loops. Balancing all of that while keeping the team’s energy high and their creativity sharp can feel like trying to juggle in a hurricane.
That’s where we come in.
With our deep experience in the game industry, we know exactly how to help teams break free from the cargo cult mentality. Instead of just following what’s been done before, we help you understand the “why” behind successful processes and how to adapt them to fit your team’s unique needs.
Think of us as your process gurus. We guide you in designing workflows that don’t just mimic success but are tailored to spark innovation and solve your specific challenges.
Picture this: Rather than letting your team get bogged down in rigid, one-size-fits-all methodologies, we help you implement agile practices that keep everyone engaged and thinking on their feet. We introduce strategies for dynamic brainstorming, iterative improvements, and adaptive problem-solving that actually make sense for your project.
Whether it’s incorporating more effective playtesting sessions, setting up collaborative idea boards that reflect your team’s style, or hosting workshops that encourage out-of-the-box thinking, we’ve got you covered.
But we don’t just hand you a toolbox and walk away.
We’re hands-on facilitators who work directly with your team, guiding brainstorming sessions, helping navigate creative differences, and making sure that every voice is heard and valued. Our goal is to transform your development process into a well-oiled machine that’s flexible, innovative, and perfectly suited to your project’s needs.
Feeling the pressure to keep your team creative, adaptable, and forward-thinking?
Let Toño Game Consultants be your guide.
