JOB ROLES IN VIDEO GAMES
PRODUCTION, PROGRAMMING & DESIGN
ROLE DUTIES
PRODUCER Producers must ensure that
the delivery of a game is on
time and within budget.
They also have to control
financial and other
resources needed for a
project and co-ordinate the
work of the production
team.
SKILLS QUALITIES REAL EXAMPLE FROM
GTA IV
A good knowledge of games A strong leadership and Leslle Benxles
and the games industry interpersonal skills
The ability to manage A good organisational and
people, time and resources. problem solving ability.
Knowledge of the
requirements of the
relevant Health and
Safety legislation and
procedures.
ASSISTANT PRODUCER They work with a game The ability to plan ahead, A keen eye for detail and William Mills
production staff to ensure set objectives and prioritise high standards of work.
that the delivery of the
Knowledge of the The reason for this is
game is timed well and that
it is at the highest quality. requirements of the because the assistant
relevant Health and producer works with the
They also have work with Safety legislation and producer, so they both have
the producer and the procedures. similar amount of work to
production team. They too do.
have to ensure that the
timely delivery of the
highest quality project
possible.

SENIOR/LEAD The lead artist/programmer A spatial awareness and the An attention to detail and John Whyte
PROGRAMMER works with the game ability to visualise layouts; the ability to evaluate
designer in the first instance imagination and creativity. quality

They produce much of the

artwork themselves, setting
creative and technical
standards.

PROGRAMMER The programmer is
responsible for creating all
of the codes for that runs
and controls the game
ability to write in C, C++ and
other languages
specific platform experience
– e.g. PS2, DirectX
good understanding of Karim Hemraj
game play
ability to take instruction
and work to deadlines,
tenacity and patience
GAME/SENIOR DESIGNER The game designers are
responsible for devising
what a game consists and
how it plays. I.e. characters,
objects and modes of play.
LEVEL EDITOR/ DESIGNER The Level Editor defines and
creates interactive
architecture for a segment
of a game, including the
landscape, buildings, and
objects.
ROLE DUTIES
CREATIVE/STUDIO The Creative Director is the
DIRECTOR key person during the game
development process,
overseeing any high level
decisions that affect how
the game plays, looks or
sounds.
information design and user
interface design skills
information design and user
interface design skills
IT skills and competence in
the use of world editing
tools
knowledge of different
platforms
spatial awareness and the
ability to visualise layouts;
imagination and creativity
SKILLS
good understanding of the
financial and managerial
aspects of game
development
ability to inspire a team
thorough understanding of Simon Lashley
game play theory
Imagination and creativity
attention to detail and the James Arthur
ability to evaluate quality
a passion for games and
knowledge of game design
theory
QUALITIES REAL EXAMPLE FROM
GTA IV
excellent imagination, Andrew Sempie
creativity and problem-
solving skills
a passion for games and a
good understanding of what
makes a game appealing to
different audiences
 The Creative Director is also
responsible for the overall
look and feel of a computer
game

TECHNICAL The Technical Artist acts as Knowledge of console ability to think creatively to Obbe Vermaij
ARTIST/DIRECTOR a bridge between the artists hardware architecture resolve technical challenges
and programmers working and limitations
Understanding and
on a game.
proficiency in using 3D ability to anticipate the
graphics software needs of the artists so as to
The main areas of
responsibility for Technical streamline their
Artists include setting up productivity
and maintaining the art
production workflow as
well as making decisions
about which art packages
and tools a studio should
use.

ANIMATOR/ ANIMATION
Animators in the games
DIRECTOR
industry are responsible
for the portrayal of
movement and behaviour.
Game production is a
collaborative process and
Animators work as part of
knowledge of traditional spatial awareness and a feel Alex Horton
and computer 2D and 3D for movement over time
animation techniques
knowledge of constraints
– meaning you must
restrict/limit yourself.
knowledge of full motion
 the art department team
LEAD/CONCEPT ARTIST
The Lead Artist is
responsible for the overall
look of the game.
A Lead Artist’s day to day
work can vary greatly
according to how far down
the development path the
project has progressed.
AUDIO ENGINEER/ The Audio Engineer creates
SUPERVISING SOUND the soundtrack for a game.
EDITOR 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 Audio Engineer
produces a sound design for
video (FMV)
traditional and computer knowledge of constraints, Michael Kane and Ian
art and design skills conflict resolution and Mcque
problem solving skills
knowledge of 2D and 3D
modelling and animation a passion for games and a
packages good understanding of what
makes a game visually
appealing and fun to play
sound engineering skills creativity and Matthew Smith & Allan
and knowledge of the imagination Walker
relevant tools and
technology ability to work to
deadlines
“aural skills”, a sense of
timing, and attention to a feel for the atmosphere
detail of games
ability to compose and
perform music
 the game and, when this
has been agreed, realises it.
This might involve the
composing, scoring and
recording of music.

QA TESTER/MANAGER 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
good negotiation and persistence and patience Iain Smith, Jeff Rosa and
conflict resolution skills Craig Arbuthnott
ability to play games for
long periods
ability to communicate
tactfully with other
members of the team

They must ensure that the

game has no mistakes on it.
I.e. spelling mistakes.