From CrossDoc webpage:

CrossDoc was built to help game developers on transforming abstract game ideas into an executable real world, task to task project. In its core view, a game project can be mapped as a hierarchical tree of elements and individual tasks can be estimated from the interactions between them.

This cross analysis process not only helps to measure the work effort more efficiently but also brings unforeseen ideas on table in design time while showing problematic or too expensive features from start. On these collected tasks, the time effort can be estimated and the time spent on it recorded (either realtime or post work). With these data CrossDoc displays the done/total tasks number, estimated/worked time and overall project completeness in a nice progress bar.

Many otherwise nice game projects falls on lack of motivation and stamina because sometimes people tend to underestimate the complexity of implementing so many nice features planned in the enthusiasm of the brainstorm. To help in avoiding this is the reason behind CrossDoc existence.

Of course it was built for long term projects but this little tool has been helping me since my first Ludum Dare on game design, time estimation and quick project control.
I took some time to polish it and finally share it with the world, so here is it, at time for LD26.

http://www.arcadiumplayware.com/crossdoc/

Tags: tool