Game staffing requirements

From DmWiki

This page is a list of all the positions that you can have in a game development company and what kind of responsibilities they usually take on:

Table of contents

Lead Designer

  • Key project visionary.
  • Coordinate design staff.
  • Create specifications that team can use and publisher can understand.
  • Decides what goes into the game and what doesn’t.
  • Communicates with lead programmer on what can/can’t be done.

Gameplay Designer

  • Should have a programming background.
  • Reports to lead designer.
  • Communicate with level and/or mission designers to nail their requirements.
  • Communicate with programmers to make sure a game mechanic is programmable.

Level/Mission Designers

  • Reports to lead designer.
  • Creates the levels and/or the missions.
  • Should ideally have knowledge of scripting.

Writer

  • Reports to lead designer.
  • Communicates with mission/level designers to determine what can/can’t be done.
  • Writes the story and the dialogue of the game.

Lead Programmer

  • Takes on most challenging tasks in the project.
  • Oversees other programmers’ work.
  • Assigns programming tasks.
  • Manages the different code modules that other programmers create.
  • Creates the basic game framework that all programmers will use.

Gameplay Programmer

  • Creates the playable code.
  • Reports to lead programmer.
  • Communicates with mechanics designer.

Graphics Programmers

  • Must have high math skills.
  • Reports to lead programmer.

AI Programmers

  • Reports to lead programmer.
  • Writes scripting system

UI Programmers

  • Reports to lead designer.
  • Programs the controls and user interface.
  • Must have decent artistic sense.

Audio Programmers

  • Reports to lead programmer.
  • Is in charge of implementing the audio loading and playback routines.

Tools Programmers

  • Reports to lead programmer.
  • Creates tools used to increase productivity.

Level Editor Programmer

  • Reports to lead programmer.
  • Create the world editor to be used by design staff and end users.

Network Programmer

  • Reports to lead programmer.
  • Creates the client server code.

Art Director

  • Reports to lead designer.
  • Manages art asset production.
  • Assures that dependencies are carries out properly.
  • Make sure the art assets have a common theme.

Concept Artist

  • Draws high quality sketches of the art assets before they are digitized.
  • Reports to lead designer.

2D Artist

  • Creates the user interface art.
  • Creates highly detailed backdrops.
  • Character portraits.

Renderer

  • Reports to lead Designer
  • Create lighting for the scences and levels
  • Programming shaders

3D Modeler

  • Reports to lead designer.
  • Communicates with concept artist.
  • Creates mechanical objects.

Animator

  • Reports to lead designer.
  • Must be familiar with all aspects of animation

Character Modeler

  • Reports to lead designer.
  • Creates organic objects.
  • Must be able to create low poly good looking models.

Texture Artist

  • Reports to lead designer.
  • Communicates with 3D modelers.
  • Can effectively skin 3D objects.

Network Administrator

  • Takes care of the network.
  • Make sure servers are running properly.
  • Installing and maintaining team software.
  • Assigning access privileges.

Errand runner

  • Small jobs and errands.
  • Prevent developers from getting distracted by small things.
  • Gets builds delivered.
  • Makes sure food is available.
  • Makes sure kitchen is stocked up.
  • Handles print outs.
  • Etc…

Executive Producer

  • Creates the project plan.
  • Makes sure everyone is performing their tasks.
  • Keeps track of tasks, bugs and their statuses.
  • Communicates with the leads to make sure project is on track on budget.
  • Communicates with outside world regarding company business matters.

CIO - Chief Information Officer

  • Involved in Research and Development
  • Assist in new methods
  • Write reports
  • New technologies

Writer

  • Reports to lead designer.
DevMaster navigation