#59 - Benjamin Carcich: State of Agile, Estimation and Throughput Based Planning

In this episode, Patric Palm and his guest discuss the misapplication and challenges of implementing Agile practices in the game development industry. They also touch on how modern techniques like measuring throughput instead of granular estimates can improve production efficiency and outcomes.

(00:00) | Intro

(00:44) | State of Agile development in the games industry

Benjamin explains why Agile in game development feels outdated, lagging behind other industries by 10-15 years. They discuss how early methods, like waterfall, have constrained creativity and innovation in game production.

(08:42) | Cynisism towards agile - the mess we have today

Agile has become overly structured, leading to cynicism. Instead of embracing Agile’s core values, game developers have adopted rigid frameworks that stifle creativity and collaboration.

(19:15) | Working with agile frameworks & tools

They discuss how Agile tools, such as daily standups and planning poker, are often misused. The conversation highlights the need for teams to adapt these tools to their specific challenges rather than follow them blindly.

(30:48) | Estimation & throughput based planning

Benjamin shares insights on how to improve production by using throughput-based planning instead of traditional granular estimates. This approach leads to better accuracy and efficiency in game development timelines.

(42:03) | Outro

Guest: Benjamin Carcich has spent the last few years helping leaders at studios of all sizes, and recently led the creation of a training for game producers called "Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught". Before that, he spent almost a decade at Riot Games shipping champions, tools, maps, and various platform and backend systems, and ended up leading discipline efforts around hiring and the role of production while teaching agile fundamentals around the world. His first job after college was as a Combat Arms officer in the U.S. Army.

Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility.

Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them. Visit 👉 www.favro.com for a free trial or personalized demo of the worlds most modern collaborative management platform. Make work flow with Favro.