Guild Expansion Readiness Program: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Expansion|1]]
[[Category:Expansion]]
[[File:AIE_Games_Banner_Stacked.png|right|600px|borderless]]


AIE has been growing and changing for some time now--we started out as a WoW guild created by the hosts, fans and friends of the podcasts The Instance,
{{fmbox
ELR, Buzz Out Loud and Jawbone Radio. Since that initial small guild was formed, AIE has grown into a community that extends way beyond Warcraft.
|nocat=true
| type  = editnotice
| text  = The complete list of games that are currently flowing through the GERP pipeline, and those which have in the past, can be found on the [[GERP Status]] page.
}}


We have expanded into many games; including EVE Online, Rift, and Star Wars: the Old Republic.  As we expanded the AIE's community, we saw that
= Phases =
the AIE officers and council members could not investigate and evaluate all the new games.  Plus, we didn't want to limit new AIE games to just games that officers were interested in (or have time to support). So we made a system to get guildies involved in getting AIE into new games. We call this our '''G'''uild '''E'''xpansion '''R'''eadiness '''P'''rogram--our '''GERP'''.
GERP is our basic framework for how AIE will investigate, try out, and staff a new game universe. It involves four phases. Each phase may lead to nothing--or it may set the stage for expanding into the next level.  The GERP is a guideline, and will probably differ a little for each game--but will still have four phases.


An exception is for mobile games or lightweight games--for those we use the [[MiniGERP]].  We call these our AIE Minor League Games.
== Discovery ==


'''These are the voyages of the gaming community AIE...'''
[[File:Civ5 Library.png|right|120px|borderless]]
 
:Our continuing mission: to explore strange new games, to seek out new members and new '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_V:_Gods_%26_Kings civilizations]'''--to boldly game where AIE has not gamed before!
 
__TOC__


== Discovery Phase ==
Information is collected about the game and community interest is gauged by the [[GERP Team]].  The GERP Team is only responsible for evaluating community interest in the game and selecting the director, efforts to build interest or rally support must come from the general membership.


[[File:Civ5 Library.png|right|120px|borderless]]
=== Activity ===


The information-gathering phase for games in development. Any AIE member is encouraged to bring up games they think would be good for AIE to get into, and discuss it in the [http://forum.myextralife.com/forum/52-imperium-ludi/ Imperium Lūdī board] section of the forums.  This phase may last a long time since some games are a long time in development. The AIE council likely has little involvement at this point, we rely upon the community to find interesting new games and determine what level of interest the games will maintain.  
* Discussion about the game should be posted in the [http://forum.myextralife.com/forum/52-imperium-l%C5%ABd%C4%AB/ Imperium Lūdī].
* Suggestions for entry into the game may be sent to the [[GERP Team]].
* The [[GERP Team]] begins internal nomination and selection of the game director.
* The [[GERP Team]] assigns one or more advisers (known as champions) who will work with the new game director through the rest of the process.


=== What happens ===
=== Completion ===


* Through forums discussions and polls in the [http://forum.myextralife.com/forum/52-imperium-ludi/ Imperium Lūdī board] we see if there is enough interest in the community to go for it.
* Game director has been selected by the GERP Team and approved by the AIE Council.
* The game is listed on the [[GERP Status]] page to track it through the process.


== Expedition Phase ==
== Expedition ==


[[File:Civ5 Scout.png|right|120px|borderless]]
[[File:Civ5 Scout.png|right|120px|borderless]]


This happens when there is widespread availability of the game. This may be open beta or when the game is released... basically when most anyone that is motivated to play it, can.
The Expedition phase is the period during which preparations are made for launch of the guild.  The new game director will build her or his leadership team and will determine which parameters will best meet the needs of the AIE community (realm, faction, PvE/PvP, etc.)
This phase may last a long time or short time, based on the developer’s schedule. Ideally, we would like it to be about a month.


=== Entry Criteria ===
=== Activity ===


* One or more of the groups that have formed during the discovery phase send an e-mail message to [mailto:council@aie-universal.net council@aie-universal.net] with a '''brief''' description of the game milestones (open beta, early access, planned release, etc.) and stating that they wish to set up an expedition.
* A new forum is created for the game in the [http://forum.myextralife.com/forum/52-imperium-l%C5%ABd%C4%AB/ Imperium Lūdī].
* The game must be consistent with the culture and policies of Alea Iacta Est.  
* The game director selects the starting officer corps for the game.  All officers must be approved by the AIE Council.
* Parameters such as faction and realm are decided upon by the game director and game officers.
* [[UMAMI]] integration development begins.


=== What happens ===
=== Completion ===


* A subforum will be added to the [http://forum.myextralife.com/forum/52-imperium-ludi/ Imperium Lūdī board]. This board will be shared by all expedition groups in the game.
* Game has entered general availability.
* At this point it is just AIE people playing the game, the expedition groups are not official AIE guilds, clans, or corporations.
* The guild has been created in-game.
* The expedition chooses whatever servers or factions it wishes to explore.  We encourage different scouting parties of the expedition to try different options and compare the experiences they have.
* A process for joining the guild has been published.
* A policy, based upon the [[Unified Policy]] has been approved by the AIE Council and published.


=== Participation ===
== Settlement ==


Expedition guilds should be considered experimental, the decisions made in this phase will not necessarily carry over to later phases.
[[File:Civ5 Settler.png|right|120px|borderless]]
 
{{Ambox | nocat = true | type = warning | text = If starting from scratch and re-rolling your character on a different server or as a different faction is not something you are willing to do, we highly recommend that you wait until the game has entered the [[#Settlement Phase|Settlement Phase]] before participating.}}
 
== Settlement Phase ==


[[File:Civ5 Settler.png|right|120px|borderless]]
The population of the guild begins!


In this phase, the official AIE presence is established in the game with an
The game must be in '''open beta''' or '''general availability''' at this point.
acting settlement leader. This phase is expected to last several months as the
game moves beyond the initial honeymoon period and our guild infrastructure is
established. The settlement leader and his or her team are responsible for the in-game ramp-up: getting the guild going, inviting people, etc.


=== Entry Criteria ===
=== Activity ===


* The settlement phase should start shortly before the game goes into general availability, when any guild establishment is permanent.
* An ad hoc member tracking system may be used if UMAMI integration has not been completed..
* Any expedition interested in settling the official AIE presence should provide impressions of the game to the [mailto:council@aie-universal.net AIE Council]. The expedition leader should identify the justification for settling the game and the significant choices with respect to the establishment, such as faction(s) and server.  The letter should also outline any significant challenges that are anticipated.
* Guild settings, policies, and processes are tuned.
* The AIE Council takes this information and recommendations and makes the decision of whether to settle the game and who the settlement leader will be.


=== What Happens ===
=== Completion ===


* The settlement leader documents the characteristics of the AIE presence in the game.  This should include all server, faction, and rank details.
* [[UMAMI]] integration has been completed.
* The game is incorporated into UMAMI.
* The subforum has been promoted out of the [http://forum.myextralife.com/forum/52-imperium-l%C5%ABd%C4%AB/ Imperium Lūdī].
* The expedition forum board is relocated as a subforum of the AIE board. The subforum structure is decided upon and implemented.
* Recruiting and building the guild.
* Anyone interested in becoming game director (guild leader) can submit their Letter of Intent via e-mail to [mailto:council@aie-universal.net the AIE Council] (Suggested format for the letter is below.)
* Periodically, the AIE Council meets with the game team (settlement leader & officers) to discuss the settlement progress and identify any settlement issues.
* The settlement leader and the council decide upon a date for the delivery of a final settlement report.  This report is a brief sumamrization of the success of the settlement and the outastanding issues that must be considered as the AIE guild moves to the doamin phase.


== Domain Phase ==
== Domain ==


[[File:Civ5 Palace.png|right|120px|borderless]]
[[File:Civ5 Palace.png|right|120px|borderless]]


The guild is considered an official, mature AIE guild in the game with established guild management procedures and officers.
The game guild becomes a full-fledged division of AIE.


=== Entry Criteria ===
=== Activity ===


* The AIE Council considers the Letters of Intenet that have been submitted and the advice of the settlement leader.  A domain leader is selected by the council.  
* Members are requested to register in [[UMAMI]] within some reasonable period of time to track membership or the data from the ad hoc tracking system is imported into [[UMAMI]].


=== What Happens ===
= Timeline =


* The new game director selects her initial set of officers from the settlement officers.
The amount of time that it takes to progress through the phases will be different for every game. However the timeline will be governed by the following constraints.
* The new game director and team publishes the official game policies from the settlement draft.
* Continue recruiting and building the guild.


* Settlement may not begin until the game is in the general availability phase.  This is the point where anyone can join with no restrictions other than purchase or subscription within a geographical region.  An open beta period will be considered general availability.
* Access permitting, the Discovery and Expedition phases should be conducted during pre-beta or closed beta for new games.


== Recommended Content for Settlement Leader's Letter of Intent ==


[[File:Gerp_Up_Badge.png|right|180px|borderless]]


Here are some items you should include:
[[File:GERP_2.0.png|frame|center|A visual representation of the GERP phases.]]
*    Name, forum.myextralife.com ID and any other names you are known by in the community.
*    Your interest in the game.
*    Your background in gaming and the AIE community.
*    Your thoughts on how the guild structure would be set up under your leadership.
*    How you plan on forming of a leadership team and their relationship to the community.
*    Your thoughts on how to handle disciplinary issues.
*    Ideas on how this new game can add to the rest of the AIE family--for example, opportunities for interacting and “cross-pollination”.
*    Anything else you care to say to impress us :)

Latest revision as of 02:05, 11 April 2014


The complete list of games that are currently flowing through the GERP pipeline, and those which have in the past, can be found on the GERP Status page.

Phases

Discovery

borderless

Information is collected about the game and community interest is gauged by the GERP Team. The GERP Team is only responsible for evaluating community interest in the game and selecting the director, efforts to build interest or rally support must come from the general membership.

Activity

  • Discussion about the game should be posted in the Imperium Lūdī.
  • Suggestions for entry into the game may be sent to the GERP Team.
  • The GERP Team begins internal nomination and selection of the game director.
  • The GERP Team assigns one or more advisers (known as champions) who will work with the new game director through the rest of the process.

Completion

  • Game director has been selected by the GERP Team and approved by the AIE Council.

Expedition

borderless

The Expedition phase is the period during which preparations are made for launch of the guild. The new game director will build her or his leadership team and will determine which parameters will best meet the needs of the AIE community (realm, faction, PvE/PvP, etc.)

Activity

  • A new forum is created for the game in the Imperium Lūdī.
  • The game director selects the starting officer corps for the game. All officers must be approved by the AIE Council.
  • Parameters such as faction and realm are decided upon by the game director and game officers.
  • UMAMI integration development begins.

Completion

  • Game has entered general availability.
  • The guild has been created in-game.
  • A process for joining the guild has been published.
  • A policy, based upon the Unified Policy has been approved by the AIE Council and published.

Settlement

borderless

The population of the guild begins!

The game must be in open beta or general availability at this point.

Activity

  • An ad hoc member tracking system may be used if UMAMI integration has not been completed..
  • Guild settings, policies, and processes are tuned.

Completion

Domain

borderless

The game guild becomes a full-fledged division of AIE.

Activity

  • Members are requested to register in UMAMI within some reasonable period of time to track membership or the data from the ad hoc tracking system is imported into UMAMI.

Timeline

The amount of time that it takes to progress through the phases will be different for every game. However the timeline will be governed by the following constraints.

  • Settlement may not begin until the game is in the general availability phase. This is the point where anyone can join with no restrictions other than purchase or subscription within a geographical region. An open beta period will be considered general availability.
  • Access permitting, the Discovery and Expedition phases should be conducted during pre-beta or closed beta for new games.


A visual representation of the GERP phases.
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