Quote:Original post by d000hg
What you describe seems to be any online team though, whether or not the lead is a developer or not?
Pretty much, yes. Personally, I think such a thing could possibly succeed only if the project leader was a programmer himself, and would do the majority of work in general. But let's put that aside for now.
First things first, you have to consider is the people you need to work on your project. Even if we assume that you have a great idea and are the paragon of leadership, charisma and teamplay, and generally as perfect as a human being can possibly be in that role - the other people most certainly won't be. They won't be professionals, they'll be students or hobbyists, of which the first will have little and less flexible time, and the second might have plenty, but tend to be highly individualistic and unreliable.
Non-professional team members won't care much for the "team and project management" as a job itself. They're not your employees. They will expect to do things whenever they want (when they feel inspired, or don't have to go out and get drunk, or don't want to do something of their own), and often the way they want as well. They won't take obligations, deadlines, responsibilities, and things like that.
Secondly - you say you have a game design. But then again, I have a game design too. And so has any person who ever even considered the subject of designing games, and that is a lot of people. But I can program my idea. Why exactly would I want to work as a volunteer on your project, instead of doing the same with my own ideas? What is it that I need you for, seeing that I'm not short on designs and ideas myself, and completely uninterested in any kind of "management"?
I'm only using myself as an example, of course, but most people will ask themselves the same. If you don't intend to contribute to the project with something tangible, a product of some sort, I wouldn't rate the chances highly.
