Guild Expansion Readiness Program: Difference between revisions

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Well, AIE has been growing and changing for some time now--we started out as WOW guild created by the hosts, fans and friends of the podcasts The Instance, ELR, Buzz Out Loud and Jawbone Radio. Since that initial small guild was formed, AIE has grown into a community that extends into worlds beyond warcraft.
[[Category:Expansion]]


We have become a community of friends and family and have expanded into Eve, Rift and most recently Star Wars: the Old Republic and we see even more community gaming coming all the time! So we want to present to you all the basic framework for how AIE will get into a new game. It comes in phases, each of which may lead to nothing, or may set the stage for expanding into the next level.  
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| 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.
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Remember, these are guidelines and may differ slightly depending on the situation or what the game allows/requires us to do. Anyway--here are the levels:
= Phases =


==Level 1 - Discovery==
== Discovery ==
There is a new game (maybe in beta) and some folks in the AIE community are interested--maybe playing already. We probably learn of this from some guildies (hint, hint!). This phase may last a long time since some games are a long time in development.


'''What happens:'''
[[File:Civ5 Library.png|right|120px|borderless]]
*Through forums, polls, discussions--we see if there is enough interest in the community to go for it.
*We put the game on our big list o’ games and see if any guildies and/or officers are excited about being the among the first in the pool (i.e., closed beta or some other early access).
'''To the next level:'''
*These people will check out the game, and if there is still interest, they head up our expeditionary force!


==Level 2 - Expedition==
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.
This happens when there’s “major 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. This phase may also last a long or short time, based on the developer’s schedule--but ideally, we would like it to be about a month.


'''What happens:'''
=== Activity ===
*We make a sub-forum for people talk about the game, and to hook up to play together.
*At this point it is just AIE people playing the game, no official AIE guild/clan/etc. in the game.
*The expedition picks a server/shard/faction/whatever, quick and dirty (maybe with a /roll). We don’t want to spend time figuring out which is best possible choice just now--we want people to get in and play.
*Warning: The server/shard/faction chosen in this phase may not be where the official AIE guild ends up. Believe me, we know the issues that can come from not being clear on this.


'''To the Next Level:'''
* Discussion about the game should be posted in the [http://forum.myextralife.com/forum/52-imperium-l%C5%ABd%C4%AB/ Imperium Lūdī].
*At this point a few people (6-10) from the expedition provide impressions of the game to the AIE Council. They identify pros/cons for it becoming a full-blown AIE Domain(see below for what an AIE Domain is). They also recommend server/shard/faction choices.
* Suggestions for entry into the game may be sent to the [[GERP Team]].
*The AIE Council takes this information and recommendations and makes the decision of whether to go to the next level: an official AIE presence in the game.
* 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.


==Level 3 - Settlement==
=== Completion ===
An official AIE guild in the game, with acting settlement leader. This phase is expected to be a couple months as the game moves beyond the initial honeymoon period, and our guild gets established. The settlement leader and his/her team are responsible for the in-game ramp-up: getting the guild going, inviting people, etc.
===What happens:===
*    AIE Council picks a settlement leader and settlement officers from expedition folks.
*    Draft guild policies for the game are copied standard AIE policies (that started in WoW). Minor changes are made, if needed.
*    We make a whole sub-forum structure for the new game (raiding, crafting, classes, etc.)--like our other games.
*    We (Stigg) sets up UMAMI to handle the game and invites.
*    Recruiting and building the guild.
*    Anyone interested in becoming game director (guild leader) can submit their Letter of Intent, by emailing it to council@aie-universal.net (Suggested format for the letter is below.)
*    Every couple weeks, the AIE Council meets with the game team (settlement leader & officers) to see how it is going, and see if any changes need to be made.
===To the Next Level===
Once the game and guild has stabilized, and we have some applicants for game director, the AIE Council will go through the selection process, which includes interviewing each applicant. Then the AIE Council caucuses and picks the new game director--which leads to the final level...


==Level 4 - Domain==
* Game director has been selected by the GERP Team and approved by the AIE Council.
Completely official AIE guild in the game, established guild management procedures and officers.
===What Happens:===
*   The AIE Council congratulates/consoles the new game director.
*    The new game director selects her initial set of officers from the settlement officers.
*    The new game director and team publishes the official version 1.0 of the new games policies from the settlement draft.
*    Continue recruiting and building the guild.
*    Each 4 months or so, the AIE Council meets with the game team (acting director and officers) to see how it is going, and see if any adjustments need to be made.
===The Next Level===
Make new friends while enjoying the camaraderie of old friends and have fun in the new game universe!


==Recommended “Letter of Intent” Content:==
== Expedition ==
Here are some items you should include:
 
*   Name, forum.myextralife.com ID and any other names you are known by in the community.
[[File:Civ5 Scout.png|right|120px|borderless]]
*   Your interest in the game.
 
*   Your background in gaming and the AIE community.
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.)
*    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.
=== Activity ===
*    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”.
* A new forum is created for the game in the [http://forum.myextralife.com/forum/52-imperium-l%C5%ABd%C4%AB/ Imperium Lūdī].
*    Anything else you care to say to impress us :)
* 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 ==
 
[[File:Civ5 Settler.png|right|120px|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 ===
 
* [[UMAMI]] integration has been completed.
* The subforum has been promoted out of the [http://forum.myextralife.com/forum/52-imperium-l%C5%ABd%C4%AB/ Imperium Lūdī].
 
== Domain ==
 
[[File:Civ5 Palace.png|right|120px|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.
 
 
 
[[File:GERP_2.0.png|frame|center|A visual representation of the GERP phases.]]

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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