JOB ROLES IN VIDEO GAMES

PRODUCTION, PROGRAMMING & DESIGN

ROLE DUTIES SKILLS QUALITIES REAL EXAMPLE

FROM GTA IV
• Successful delivery for the • Budgeting • can handle more than one Leslie Benzies
PRODUCER game work
• Multiple projects
• Working externally from the simultaneously • Involves a lot of responsibility
development team • Heath and safety • High levels of stress
• Marketing departments and • Knowledge if project • A passion for games
game developer management software • Time and resources
• Consider the role comparable • Visual and technical arts • communication and
to consultancy • Demonstrate a track record presentation
• Ensuring the publisher has all gained across the whole life • Enthusiasm for and detailed
the relevant information. cycle of a project knowledge of games industry
• Experience at senior level are prerequisites
game development

• Ensure the timely delivery of • Handling communications • A passion for games William Mills
ASSISTANT the highest quality project between the publisher and • high levels of motivation
PRODUCER possible developer • High standards of work
• Coordinating work on some • ability to plan ahead, set
projects ssuch as managing the objectives, and prioritise
outsourcing of art assets. • Health and Safety legislation
• Working within a development and procedures.
studio often involves managing
communications between
different teams such as design,
art and programming.

• The senior lead programmer • Advanced programming skills John Whyte

SENIOR/LEAD leads the the programming • Excellent people management •Can deal with being under
PROGRAMMER team responsible for creating and communication skills pressure
all the computer code which • Health and Safety legislation •ability to multi-task
runs and controls a game. and procedures. •Creativity
• It is also their job to make sure • Problem solving •hands on understanding all
that everything happens
programmer roles
effectively and on time.  
• tThey develop the technical
specification for the game
 JOB ROLES IN VIDEO GAMES
PRODUCTION, PROGRAMMING & DESIGN

ROLE DUTIES SKILLS QUALITIES REAL EXAMPLE

FROM GTA IV
• They design and write the • Good understanding of • Ability to write in C, C++ Karim Hemraj
PROGRAMMER computer code that runs game play and other language
and controls the game • Problem solving • Creativity
• Adapting any ready made • Health and Safety legislation • Meeting deadlines
code libraries and writing and procedures. • Ability to listen to
custom code as needed. instructions
• They develop customised • Ability to work
tools for use by other independently and as part
members of the of a team
development team. 
• Game designers are • Storytelling and narrative • Thorough understanding of Simon Lashley
GAME/SENIOR responsible on what the development skills game play theory
DESIGNER game consist and how • Health and Safety • Imagination and creativity
much it plays legislation and • Work as a team and
• They plan and define all procedures. independently
elements of the game • Excellent communication
• Must decide how to make and presentation skills
the best game using them
elements
• It creates interactive • IT skills and competence in • A passion for games and John Haime
LEVEL EDITOR/ architecture for a segment the use of world editing knowledge
DESIGNER of a game example tools • Knowledge of different
landscape buildings • Health and Safety legislation platforms
• Develops the game play for and procedures. • Ability to evaluate quality
the level, which includes the • Excellent communication • imagination and creativity
challenges that the skills
characters face.
• Helps define challenges like
hiding places test of skill and
other elements to explore
 JOB ROLES IN VIDEO GAMES
DIRECTION, ART, ANIMATION, SOUND & Q.A
ROLE DUTIES SKILLS QUALITIES REAL EXAMPLE
FROM GTA IV
• High level decisions that • Problem solving skills • Inspire a team Chris Brincat
CREATIVE/STUDIO affect how the game plays, • •
Good commutation and A passion for games and
DIRECTOR looks or sounds. presentation skills what makes a game
• Responsible for the overall • Health and Safety legislation appealing to different
look and feel of a computer and procedures. audiences
game • • Creativity
Understanding of the
• The creative director financial and managerial
focusing on ensuring the aspects of game
quality and ensuring of the development
gameplay

• Setting up and • Health and Safety • minimum supervision Aaron Garbut

TECHNICAL maintaining the art legislation and • creatively to resolve
ARTIST/DIRECTOR production procedures. technical challenges and
• Works part of the art • Good organisational skills limitations
team, and coordinates • understanding and • knowledge of console
closely with the lead proficiency in using 3D hardware
artists and the art graphics software
director, as well as the
lead programmers.
• Decision about what art
packets and tools they
should use
• Are responsible for the • Health and Safety legislation • Creativity and imagination Alex Horton
ANIMATOR/ movement and the behavior and procedures. • knowledge of full motion
ANIMATION of the player • good communication and video 
• Give life to the characters presentation skills •
DIRECTOR and creatures
To work as a team and
• Organisational skills and the independently
• While using animation tools ability to work to deadlines
and techniques provided by
the selected 3D animation
software package.
 JOB ROLES IN VIDEO GAMES
DIRECTION, ART, ANIMATION, SOUND & Q.A
ROLE DUTIES SKILLS QUALITIES REAL EXAMPLE
FROM GTA IV
• They produce the artwork • Traditional and computer • to manage people, time and Michael Kane
LEAD/CONCEPT themselves art and design skills resources
ARTIST • It puts together and • Health and Safety • a passion for games
manages the team of artists legislation and • Hitting the correct target
and animators who produce procedures. audience
the bulk of the art assets for • Communication skills • Work part as a team
the game
• Also researches and tests
out different modelling,
texturing, animation etc..
• Creates the soundtrack of • strong communication and • To compose and perform Nicholas Montgomery
AUDIO ENGINEER/ the game interpersonal skills music
SUPERVISING • The soundtrack helps the • Health and Safety legislation • creativity and imagination
player feel more realist with and procedures. •
SOUND EDITOR the game •
Can feel the atmosphere
“aural skills”, a sense of of the game
• Enhance game play by timing, and attention to
affecting the tempo and detail
adding emotional depth.
• The job involves play testing • excellent communication • Passion for playing games Craig Arbuthnott
QA to se if there are any skills • Communicate tactfully with
TESTER/MANAGER problems or improvements • Health and Safety other members of the team
that need adjusting to the legislation and • attention to detail
game procedures. • Ability to play games for
• Detailed refinements that • negotiation and conflict long periods
ensure the quality and resolution skills
playability of the finished
game.
•  Testers must know which
are the most important and
be able to prioritise.