HA1 Task 2 - Job Roles

Job Roles in the Gaming Industry

Creative Development       

Game Designer

A games designer is responsible for many things such as; setting; rules; characters; structure; story flow; props; objects; vehicles; game modes.

They are a big role in the gaming industry as they are the people who actually make the game.

Lead Games Designer

Lead games designer may have to pitch ideas to their team and the team will have to do what they say.

Level Editor

The level editor will define and create the game levels such as; environment; landscapes; architecture;

Without level editors the endgame won’t have much of a play through.

Lead Artist

The lead artist is responsible for the overall artistic structure of the game.

Working with games designers and level editors, lead artist tell them what they want it to look like, this look should be able to change at any time just in case instead of realistic animation, they want a cartoon themed game. The lead artist must make sure that this is possible.

Technical Artist

The technical artist works with both artists and programmers while working on a game.

They ensure art assets can be easily integrated into a game without ruining any originality.

They should also know the technical limits of the chosen platform the game will be created on and for.

Artist

Artists create the visual elements of the game. They work very closely with the lead artists.

They make most elements in a game such as; scenery; vehicles; characters; objects; textures; props

Artist also helps create concept art and storyboards which help communicate (which is a key skill) during pre-production.

Animator

Animators in a game are responsible of smooth movement and behaviour of items and objects.

They will make things move; give life; and simple things such as wind on vegetation and environmental effects (weather)

Audio Engineer

Audio engineers make the soundtrack, music and sound effects such as; gunshots; vehicles; explosions; voices; expressive tones; ambiance  crowds; weather

Technical Development

Lead Programmer

The lead programmer leads the programming team responsible for all the computer codes which will run the game.

Programmers have various roles and specializations including AI (artificial intelligence); game engine; tools; physics; interface

Programmer

Programmers work with the technical artists and lead programmers

They will test the game codes and fi bugs they may also develop tools for use for them or other members of the development team.

They may also make custom codes which will run the game more smoothly or better.

Project Implementation

Project Manager/Producer

The project manager is responsible for ensuring a very successful delivery of a game, the timing and within budget.

They control the financial and resources needed for a project and co-ordinate the work of the production team, making sure the quality and vision of the game is at least satisfactory and maintained, whenever and wherever problems arise.

Assistant Producer

The assistant producer works with the games production staff to ensure the timely delivery of the highest quality project possible.

Typically, they will focus on specific areas of the development team’s process.

External Producer

As the job title suggest, the External Producer is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of a game, while working externally from the development team.

External Producers are almost always employed by a game publisher. Working out of the publisher's head office, they will liaise between the publisher's sales and marketing departments and the game developer, which may be located hundreds of miles away.

Creative Director

The Creative Director is the key person during the game development process, overseeing any high level decisions that affect how the game plays, looks or sounds.

Creative Directors are employed by development studios, both publisher-owned and independent, but not all game companies employ Creative Directors. However, some companies prefer to continue to split the duties between a game's lead artists, programmers, designers and producers

QA Tester

Quality Assurance Technicians, or Testers, perform a vital role, testing, tuning, debugging, and suggesting the detailed refinements that ensure the quality and play-ability of the finished game.

Their job involves play-testing the game in a systematic way, analysing the game’s performance against the designer’s intentions, identifying problems and suggesting improvements.

Product (Brand) Manager

The Product Manager's role is to help create and implement marketing campaigns to maximize the sales of the games they are working on. Operating as a part of a marketing team, they support the senior marketing managers who organised international or global campaigns.