Showtime Racer - Early Development Gameplay
What Sparks Me
In volunteer-based dev, my job is to build clarity and keep the spark alive even when real life gets busy.
Why This Project Matters
Showtime Racer isn’t just a prototype – it’s a fully-scoped indie racing game, built 100% by volunteers.
This unique context pushes me to balance creative ambition with real-world constraints.
My mission?
Transform ideas into a polished, playable experience while respecting each person’s availability and creative flow.
Clarity
Provide structure and clarity for a volunteer team.
Momentum
Foster momentum and respect each contributor’s rhythm.
Deliver
Deliver a polished, Steam-ready racing experience by July 2025 for Steam Racing Game Festival.
Balance
Balance creative ambition with achievable milestones.
Overcoming Challenges
Challenge 1: Keeping Volunteers Engaged
How I Tackled It:
Established dual weekly syncs (Art & Tech) and daily programmer check-ins for rapid feedback.
Daily 1:1s with key contributors for scope alignment.
Leveraged asynchronous updates to ensure progress without adding pressure.
What I Achieved:
100% volunteer retention over 2 months.
Sustained steady delivery and team spirit despite limited hours.
Proof: Active sprints & team comms screenshots.
Challenge n°2 : Balancing tech and art workflows
Solutions
Implemented Agile sprints (2–3 weeks) with Fibonacci estimates for Tech tasks.
Developed an informal Kanban flow for Art to allow comfort and creativity.
Ran cross-team reviews to maintain alignment and shared ownership.
Achievements
Achieved a steady production rhythm without crunch or burnout.
Visuals and 3D assets integrated faster and aligned with the game’s identity.
Proof: Burndown chart + team composition diagram.
Challenge n°3 : Clarifying priorities in an evolving scope
Solutions
Broke down 14 EPICs into 100+ actionable User Stories and Tasks (with SMART goals).
Adjusted priorities to fit volunteer bandwidth and keep morale high.
Achievements
100% of team tasks tracked and prioritized in Jira, ensuring everyone knew exactly what to tackle.
Proof: Jira Board screenshots showing EPICs, User Stories, and priority flow.
Challenge n°4 : Maintaining a consistent creative vision
Solutions
Led the development of a clear art direction within 3 weeks, ensuring alignment across 2D, 3D, and UI.
Facilitated feedback loops between artists and gameplay to refine visual identity.
Achievements
Boosted team cohesion and built a polished visual identity that’s now 70% implemented in-game.
Proof: Consistent art style screenshots across concept, 3D, and UI assets.