Star Wars: Holocron Project Management Plan

Copyright © 2015 - Kessel Run Studios - All Rights Reserved

Project Management Plan for:

Star Wars:Holocron

“The next great promotional app!”

All work Copyright ©2015 by Kessel Run Studios

Written by Jason Lang, Oliver Marras, Taylor King and Tristan Atk

Version # 1.00

Friday, July 10, 2015


Table of ContentsIntroduction

Project ObjectivesProduct ObjectivesProduct OverviewProject Management Document - Version History

Target Audience and MarketingScope definition

Project ScopeProduct Scope

Critical elementsDesirable elementsOut of scope

DeliverablesDocumentationInvision PrototypeAlphaBetaGold

InfrastructurePrototype Phase

Work SpaceHardwareSoftwareServicesMaterials

Production PhaseHardwareSoftwareServicesMaterialsMobile Store Device Licences

Metho dology Scrum

ScheduleProduction PeriodDeliverables Schedule

Risk Management

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IntroductionProject ObjectivesKessel Run Studios aims to develop a Smart-Phone application to promote the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Our objectives are to design and create a prototype and then fully functioning app

Product ObjectivesThe objective of Holocron is to promote the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, through a smartphone app connected to social media. The app is structured to immerse users into the narrative of the film, to convince them to purchase film tickets and franchise related merchandise while sharing features with the friends through social media.

Product OverviewHolocron will promote the film while reestablishing Star Wars’ status as a preeminent science fiction franchise. Holocron will re-activate the community through social media, while bring new fans into the fold.

Project Management Document - Version History

Version 0.1 (30/6/15)● First Draft of document● Objectives, Deliverables, Methodology, Scope dot-pointed.

Version 0.2 (3/7/15)● Objectives, Deliverables, Methodology, Scope, Infrastructure,

Marketing summarised.

Version 0.3 (7/7/15)● Title Page and formatting established.● Review of document comprehension.● Edits created for Second Draft.

Version 1.00 (10/7/15)● Risk Mitigation plan revised, formatted.● Target Audience and Marketing revised.

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● Deliverables categorized and summarised.● Project Scope more clearly defined.

Target Audience and Marketing

As well as the veteran Star Wars fanbase, Holocron is aiming to engage a new generation of fans who are set to be introduced to Star Wars via the upcoming film. The core demographic would tend to be 15-35 year old smartphone users due to the science fiction action oriented nature of the mini-game, although a sizeable number of older audience members is possible due to the intergenerational nature of the Star Wars fanbase.

The free to play model of the game is designed to bring in the widest possible audience, with the ultimate goal of promoting the film. In-game purchases will be available to reward dedicated users, but they should not form a paywall that drives away any interested users. The purpose of the monetization is to offset the costs of production whilst also providing some variety, and to provide an upgrade tree with enough longevity to maintain player’s interests for the duration of the promotion period.

The marketing for the app will take the form of targeted advertising via social media and google ad placements. A Star Wars Holocron twitter handle will also be created and this will be used in conjunction with other Star Wars VII related social media to spread awareness of the Holocron application. We also anticipate that the twitter tag can be promoted via allied advertising channels, e.g. on products already branded for Star Wars VII such as fast-food limited edition meals - these can have QR codes and # tags that send you the social media presence for Holocron. We will also pitch for the Holocron app to be mentioned in the channels promoting Star Wars VII trailers and in the official promotional material: anywhere that Star Wars is promoted we should aim that the app has some presence.

Word of mouth will play a role in spreading the application. Facebook status updates and twitter reblogs by users, related to the app can be used to grow

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awareness. Also, the social aspects of the mini-game and its rewards can encourage people to ask their friends to download the app. This will build the user base and keep people playing, whilst also improving the position of the app in App Store rankings.

Scope definition Project Scope

The project goal is to develop the core application and desirable elements during the project development phase.

Kessel Run Studios plans to meet approximately 3 times a week, over 4 weeks to conceptualize the project, create a small amount of early art assets, and create a final concept to begin documentation in the 5th week.

Documentation will be written by all team members, having been delegated specific and general roles. During this time, more art assets will be produced in preparation for the Prototyping Phase.

During prototyping, team members will be assigned more specific roles in Art or Design, to produce a fully functioning prototype, simulating Smart-Phone functionality and demonstrating desired App art and features.

At each stage team members will be simultaneously working on assigned tasks collaboratively, at least once a week in person, and remotely.

After a Post-Mortem Phase, Production of Holocron will commence.

The Production Phase is expected to last for a time period of 12 weeks, to be launched 6 weeks before the movie launch in the cinemas.

A team of 6 developers will be assigned to app development. $100,000 will be budgeted for salaries. A further $50000 will be budgeted for resources.

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Product Scope

Critical elements● Smartphone Application “Holocron”● Menu System● Mini Game ● Trailers and promotional material● Social media presence and sharing● Cinema Dates and Times

Desirable elements● The Weekly quiz of 5 questions / week to run for 6 weeks● Leaderboards for players and player ‘squadrons’● Mini-Game Features A: Upgrade system for ships, helmets and recolours● Mini-Game Features B: Four ships, four helmets, four squadron colours● AR simulation rewards● Upgrade system, of at least 4-5 ships, helmet designs and recolours

Out of scope● Scavenger Hunt - idea using QR codes around the city● AR poster idea, “living poster” animation● RTS battle game based on Star Wars ala Clash of Clans

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Deliverables Documentation

● Project Management Document● Software Design Document● Software Technical Design Document● Game Design Post Mortem (Team Leader)● Concept Art Bible / Sketches● UI Mock-Up and Flow Chart● Asset Production Standards Worksheets● Upgrade System Flowcharts

Invision Prototype

● Full Menu Layout and UI Placeholders● Placeholder Art Assets● Game Mockup Screenshots● Operable Quiz Mock-Up● Cinema Booking Page Mock-Up

Alpha● Early build of game, basic gameplay, playtested and bug-free● Critical features of the app working such as social media linkage● Working quiz system, placeholder gallery and video streaming

Beta● Game fully operational with upgrade system in place. ● Purchasing system in place.● Quiz system completed with rewards.● AR video system operational.

Gold● Final build of the game fully playtested and defect-free.● Quiz working with 2-3 weeks lead on questions

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● AR video upload system operational● Ready to launch application

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Infrastructure Prototype Phase

Work Space● Kessel Run Studios development space● Home studios (remote work)

Hardware● PC or Laptop per each of four team members.● Server, wifi lan connectivity● Scanner, printer● Digital Camera

Software● MS Word, PowerPoint● Photoshop CS6

Services● Broadband Internet Access● Google Docs● Prototype on Paper● InVision● teamgantt.com● trello.com

Materials● Star Wars reference art● Star Wars VII reference materials● Star Wars audio samples

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Production Phase

Hardware● PC and Laptop per each of four team members● Apple MacBook Pro or iMac Pro for IOS development.● 2x Wacom Graphics Tablets● 2x Digital Cameras● iPhone 5, 6 and Android devices for testing (at least 4 major vendors current

devices).

Software● MS Windows ● MS Office● Photoshop● Unity 5.0.x● Photoshop● Maya

Services● Broadband Internet Access● Server hosting and domain services● Google Docs● teamgantt.com● trello.com

Materials● Star Wars reference art● Star Wars VII reference materials● Star Wars audio samples● Star Wars IV trench run video

Mobile Store Device Licences● Android License. ● IOS License. Apple Developer Program.

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MethodologyScrum

The objectives and deliverables of Holocron have been clearly defined to meet the requirements of the client. Having a short schedule and a small team for development up until the Envision Prototype deliverable, the Scrum methodology will be implemented to allow a rapid response to any requested changes or changes in circumstances.

Kessel Run Studios being a newly established company, Scrum methodology will give us the flexibility to rapidly produce high quality applications within a tight deadline and to client specifications. The methodology provides efficient mechanisms for team members to discuss, collaborate and raise concerns.

Transparency, communication and continuous improvement are key to our work practices.

Schedule Production Period

● Active for Weeks 1-6● Sprint Breakdown Meeting (weekly, every Tuesday afternoon)

Deliverables Schedule

● 2nd June - Concepting Commenced● 23rd June - Concepting Concluded● 30th June - Pre-production Commenced● 10th July - Pre-production Concluded● 12th July - Prototyping Production Commenced● 21st August - Prototyping Production Concluded

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● 22nd August - Individual Development Analysis Commenced● 28th August - Individual Development Analysis Concluded

Gantt Chart

Risk ManagementIt is vital that proper measures are planned to insure that the project is safe from any potential risks.Kessel Run Studios have identified a number and created Mitigation Plans for each.

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Risk Mitigation Plan

Staff Turnover Likelihood: Medium. Severity: Low to High.

Staff leave studio, critical roles could become unfilled. Severity is determined by the roles that are impacted.

-Project Manager delegates available staff to take over required tasks, according to skill-set and current work-load.-Good documentation should be maintained to avoid problems with staff changes.

Staff conflictLikelihood: Medium. Severity Medium to High.

Conflict between team members, personal, creative.

- Project Manager diffuses public conflict, accommodating both team members until mediation with the involved parties can be organised.-If parties cannot negotiate their conflict, they will be delegated tasks which will allow them to work without contact or interference from each other.-If severity or risk is high to a team member personally, or to the project’s status, a request will be made to the Producer for further mediation out of the team.

Sickness and injury-Good documentation should be maintained in case of sickness.

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Likelihood Medium to High. Severity: Low to High.

Sickness and injury tend to be unpredictable and could have a catastrophic effect on the project.

-Project Manager keeps observations team member’s health.-Advocate healthy living to keep team members from becoming ill,ie. Encouraging good sleeping patterns, healthy eating.-Ask ill team members to work from home to stop the spread of sickness.

File Corruption and Network outagesLikelihood: High. Severity: High.

File corruption might impact individual work on workstations, or it could impact shared resources.

-Regular backups must be conducted as well as reliance on cloud synchronization and versioning systems.-Offline backups available in case of network outages or other remote issues.- Allows work to continue with local version systems (GIT), and to be fully uploaded when network connectivity recommences.

Content delays from producersLikelihood: Low to Medium. Severity: Low.

Official IP content required not available at the prior scheduled release.

-Delays in the release of trailers, screenshots and other trivia will be compensated by utilizing materials from the wider Star Wars franchise.-Communication with Producers at Lucas Arts will be established to outline strategies for mitigation of delays and possible scope and objectives revision.

Budget and resource ShortfallsLikelihood: Medium, Severity: Medium.

Resources or budget stretched during the development process. Lack thereof to meet outlined goals and scope.

-Project manager must maintain accurate records of development costs, time and resource usages so that the project can be steered towards a satisfactory conclusion.-Non-critical deliverables will be lowered in priority with all resources going to

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the Critical Deliverables.- The client will be consulted as to any changes in scope that may be required to maintain the launch date.

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Documents

Star Wars: Holocron Project Management Plan