Job roles in the games industry

1. Game Designers
Game Designers are responsible for devising what a game consists of and how it plays. They plan and
define all the elements and components of a game: its setting; structure; rules; story flow; characters; the
objects, props, vehicles, and devices available to the characters; interface design; and modes of play.
Sometimes the Game Designer is the originator of the game’s concept or premise. More often, most of
the core ingredients are already defined and the Game Designer must decide how to create the best
game using these elements, within the constraints of budget and timescale.
Games are usually large projects and the design process might be shared between a number of different
people, overseen by the Lead Designer.
Game Designers are employed by development studios, both independent and publisher-owned. The
current industry climate means that most conventional publishers and developers are increasingly risk
averse.
Originality and creativity are valued, but a thorough knowledge of a game’s target audience and market is
equally if not more important. Game Designers should also have a deep understanding of the capabilities
and benefits of different hardware platforms (eg PC, console, mobile device, etc.), as well as familiarity
with software technologies and techniques appropriate to each platform.
A lot of game design builds on what’s gone before, but as the medium develops and matures the
challenge for the Game Designer is to create new and engaging titles that will expand the current genre
base and cater to new audiences.

2. Programmers
Programmers work at the heart of the game development process. They design and write the computer
code that runs and controls the game, incorporating and adapting any ready made code libraries and
writing custom code as needed. They test the code and fix bugs, and they also develop customised tools for
use by other members of the development team. Different platforms (games
consoles, PCs, handhelds, mobiles, etc.) have particular programming requirements and there are also
various specialisms within programming, such as physics programming, AI (artificial intelligence), 3D engine
development, interface and control systems.
Games development is an increasingly complex process and large teams of Programmers might be involved
in creating a game, some in leadership roles, some working on just one aspect. Programmers are employed
by development studios – publisher owned and independent. They also work for middleware producers, an
increasingly important sector providing cross platform graphics rendering, game physics, sound
management, AI, and other specialist tools. Programmers might also work for localisation companies which
translate and re-version games for different territories.
The work is office based and the atmosphere is usually informal. It can also be a highly pressurised job and
Programmers often work very long hours, particularly as launch dates approach. The financial rewards for
good Programmers are potentially high and their skills are in demand not just in the UK, but also in Europe
and the US.

3. External Producers
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. Large developers may also employ External
Producers; for example, if they are subcontracting projects to smaller developers.
Most External Producers handle more than one project and work with more than one development studio.
For this reason, the job can involve travel, and plans that change at short notice.
Game development is a highly complex process often lasting two years or more, involving teams of up to
100 people and budgets over £5 million. Helping to managing this is a big job, which involves a lot of
responsibility, as well as the requirement to work long hours and deal with high levels of stress, particularly
during the final stages of production.

4. Artists
Artists create the visual elements of a game, such as characters, scenery, objects, vehicles, surface
textures, clothing, props, and even user interface components.
Artists also create concept art and storyboards which help communicate the proposed visual elements during
the pre-production phase.
Some games try to look as realistic as possible while others aim for a more stylised or fantastical look and it is
the Artist's job to model and texture characters and objects to achieve the desired result. The look of the
game and its graphical detail is often a significant factor in a game's success, second only to its playability.
There are various specialisms within the art department, including 3D object modelling, character
design, textures, environments, and so on. Each has responsibility for the creation of particular art assets
with a game, but there is also a lot of movement between roles.
Artists are employed by development studios, both independent and publisher-owned. As well as producing
graphics for the game itself they might create artwork for packages, promotional materials and websites.

5. Creative Directors
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.
Where the position is used, each game development team has its own Creative Director, although some
particularly experienced and talented practitioners oversee multiple projects.
As a highly paid and senior role, it involves a lot of responsibility, as well as the requirement to work long
hours and deal with high levels of stress, particularly during the final stages of production.

6. Technical Artists
The Technical Artist acts as a bridge between the artists and programmers working
on a game. They ensure art assets can be easily integrated into a game without
sacrificing either the overall artistic vision or exceeding the technical limits of the
chosen platform.
The role is a relatively new one for the games industry, but is becoming increasingly
important as consoles and PC hardware becomes more complex.
Despite their technical knowledge, the Technical Artist works part of the art
team, and coordinates closely with the lead artists and the art director, as well as
the lead programmers.

7. QATs
Quality Assurance Technicians, or Testers, perform a vital
role, testing, tuning, debugging, and suggesting the detailed refinements that ensure
the quality and playability 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.
They test for bugs in the software, from complete crashes to minor glitches in the
programme. They also act as the game’s first audience, reporting on its playability, and
identifying any aspects which could be improved.
Testers are employed by design studios and publishers. They might have to work long
hours, under pressure, depending on the release schedule for a game, and at times the
work can be hectic and stressful.

8. Lead Artists
The Lead Artist is responsible for the overall look of the game.
Working with the Game Designer in the first instance, the Lead Artist devises the game’s visual style and
directs the production of all visual material throughout the game’s development.
The Lead Artist produces much of the initial artwork themselves, setting creative and technical standards
and also determining the best tools and techniques to deploy.
In conjunction with the producer, the Lead Artist puts together and manages the team of artists and
animators who produce the bulk of the art assets for the game (including
environments, characters, objects and effects) under the Lead Artist’s direction.
The Lead Artist must ensure that the art and animation team works to schedule and within budget. They
also work closely with the programming team to make sure that all art and animation assets produced
can be easily imported into the game engine.
Lead Artists are employed by development studios, both independent and publisher-owned. This is the
highest paid position in the art department, reflecting the skills and experience required.
The computer games market is highly competitive and subject to seasonal peaks – the hours can be long
and the work quite pressurised, particularly as launch dates approach

9. Assistant Producers
The Assistant (or Junior) Producer works with a game's production staff to ensure the timely delivery of the
highest quality project possible. Typically, they will focus on specific areas of the development process.
This could involve handling the communications between the publisher and developer, or coordinating
work on some of the project's key processes such as managing the outsourcing of art assets.
Assistant Producers are employed by publishers as well as development studios. Working within a
development studio often involves managing communications between different teams such as design, art
and programming.
In a publisher environment, Assistant Producers will focus on liaising between sales and marketing
departments and the developer, and supporting the work of the publisher's external producer.
Game development is a highly complex process sometimes lasting three years or more, involving teams of
up to 100 people and budgets over £5 million. Helping to managing this is a big job. Hence the work can
involve long hours and might be stressful, particularly as a game's launch approaches.

10. Project Managers
The Project Manager is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of a game, on time and within
budget.
They control the financial and other resources needed for a project and co-ordinate the work of the
production team, making sure that the quality and vision of the game is maintained, whatever problems
may arise.
The Project Manager has to know the value of everybody’s contribution to a game and keep an overview
of the entire process from start to finish.
This is an increasingly important role as production schedules lengthen and development costs increase.
Game development is a highly complex process often lasting up to 2 years and requiring teams of
programmers, designers, artists, writers, musicians, and even actors.
A typical development team might start off small but by the end of the project could involve 30 people or
more, and game projects increasingly require investment in excess of £2 million. Managing this is a big job
which carries considerable financial responsibility.
Project Managers are employed by development studios and within publisher’s in-house development
teams. The work can involve long hours and might be stressful, particularly as launch dates approach.

11. Level Editors
The Level Editor defines and creates interactive architecture for a segment of a game, including the
landscape, buildings, and objects.
They must be true to the overall design specification, using the characters and story elements defined by the
Game Designer, but they often have considerable scope to vary the specific look and feel of the level for
which they are responsible.
The Level Editor also develops the game play for the level, which includes the challenges that the characters
face and the actions they must take to overcome them. The architecture helps to define those challenges by
presenting obstacles, places to hide, tests of skill, and other elements to explore and interact with.
The setting and atmosphere devised by the Level Editor can also give the player clues as to different ways of
progressing though the level and the game as a whole.
Level Editors play an important role in game development, creating memorable environments and game play
elements to satisfy an increasingly sophisticated and widening games audience.
They need to be inventive, and understand the design factors which contribute to an entertaining and
absorbing game play experience.
They should also keep up to date with advancing technologies. Level Editors are employed by development
studios, both publisher-owned and independent.

12. Product Managers
The Product Manager's role is to help create and implement marketing campaigns
to maximise the sales of the games they are working on. Operating as a part of a
marketing team, they support the senior marketing managers who organise
international or global campaigns.
The Product Manager may also work with a Brand Manager, who is responsible for
developing long-term plans for individual game franchises and provides a strategic
overview of how a game brand should change over time.
Product Managers typically work for game publishers or independent marketing
companies who work with publishers. Only the largest game developers require
internal Product Managers. The work can involve long hours and might be
stressful, particularly as deadlines and launch dates approach.

13. Audio Engineer
The Audio Engineer creates the soundtrack for a game. This might include music; sound effects to support
the game action, such as gunshots or explosions; character voices and other expressions; spoken
instructions; and ambient effects, such as crowd noise, vehicles or rain.
The soundtrack helps to create a more immersive experience for the player by reinforcing the mood of the
game. It can also enhance game play by affecting the tempo and adding emotional depth.
Audio Engineers work for development studios, both independent and publisher-owned. The size of the
audio department depends on the company, but can consist of just one or two people who are sometimes
required to work very long hours, particularly as launch dates approach.
Budgets and resources vary, but the role of Audio Engineer is becoming increasingly important as game
projects grow in complexity, with some titles requiring full orchestral scores.
Audio Engineers also work for specialist outsourcing companies and localisation services that re-version
games for different territories.