6. Expand your knowledge of other disciplines.

Pick up the artists' tools and try working with them; play the games your designers are referencing, and learn some scripting or C++.

Artists, designers and engineers each have a unique language and culture specific to their disciplines: the effective producer learns to navigate and communicate effectively in each one.

7. Become a nexus of creative collaboration.

Teams are an eclectic mix of artists, engineers and designers -- and that mix doesn't always get along! Production is often the final arbiter of a project's direction, so do not wait until the last minute to build consensus on important decisions.

Identify areas of conflict early, and proactively seek out all sides in finding the best solution. The more you dive into conflict and shift the team toward resolution, the more likely they will do it instinctively the next time around.

8. Learn to kill your sacred cows.

Effective production is a balance of time, money and quality. Everyone contributes great ideas, but not all great ideas can make it into the final product, including your own pet projects or features.

When it comes to maintaining scope and schedule be prepared to not only cut your teammates' ideas, but also your own.

9. Be an effective manager and a dedicated leader.

Management is good scheduling, peerless organization, and effective prioritization. Leadership is thorough and constant communication, conflict resolution, and team building.

Good game producers excel at one or the other; great game producers are both effective leaders and meticulous managers. Learn to understand the difference, and remember that teams need a balance of both to succeed.

10. Be prepared for change.

A career in game production can be an exciting and rewarding one, but only if you put effort into it! Learn what management or your clients need from your projects and deliver on it.

Look for new opportunities at similar companies when you find your career hitting a wall. Research new methodologies like Scrum and extreme programming and be prepared to introduce them to your teams where needed and applicable.

Every team you manage will be different and will require a slightly different approach, so be prepared to affect change every day.

Game production is not for the shy or faint of heart: it is ultimately the game producer's responsibility to ensure that their team creates a quality title within the confines of the budget and schedule, and with each passing year more games are green-lit with millions of dollars, hundreds of employees, and years of development on the line.

Though they shoulder a great burden for the team, in the end the satisfaction that comes from a project run well and a game well made makes the producer's success all the more satisfying.