Exclusive Membership

Bad teams are more concerned about membership than creating games. If your team spends most of its time debating whether or not Johnny gets to join, you may want to get out of game development and go build a tree house or a fraternity instead. The only good reason why you shouldn't let new people join your team is size – it's more difficult to lead a 50 person team than a 5 person one. In general, however, you should be very open about who joins. If you must rely on criteria, I would suggest that you focus on dedication and follow-through potential instead of raw talent. It's better to have an average programmer who's dedicated and excited about the project than a guru who "might find time for it in a few weeks." Also, remember that all of the really talented people already have salaried jobs at professional development shops. Keep your doors and minds open, and don't waste valuable development time debating whether someone new gets to join.

Conclusion