Creative Development

Game Designer- A game designer is an individual who designs the structure of a game including how it will be played and what the rules will be. He or she may create one or more of many types of games, including table top games, card games, and board games, but the most common type currently developed are video games.

Level Editor- A level editor (also known as a map, campaign or scenario editor) is a software tool used to design levels, maps, campaigns, etc. and virtual worlds for a video game. An individual involved with the creation of game levels is a level designer or mapper.

Lead Artist- The Lead Artist (also known as Art Director or Creative Manager) is responsible for the overall look of the game. Working with the Game Designer and Lead Programmer, the Lead Artist devises the game’s visual style and directs the production of all visual material throughout the game’s development.

Technical Artist- A technical artist works with a game development team to integrate technical specifications and art in a seamless finished product. This career blends an artistic background with a familiarity in game design and the limitations that may be presented by gaming engines, software, and platforms.

Artist- Artists create the visual elements of a game, such as characters, scenery, objects, vehicles, surface textures, clothing, props, and even user interface components. They also create concept art and storyboards which help communicate the proposed visual elements during the pre-production phase.

Animator- Animators in the games industry are responsible for the portrayal of movement and behaviour. Most often this is applied to give life to game characters and creatures, but sometimes animations are also applied to other elements such as objects, scenery, vegetation and environmental effects.

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.

Technical Development

Game Programmer- Game 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 required. They test the code and fix bugs, and also develop customised tools for use by other members of the development team.

Lead Game Programmer-The Lead Programmer leads the programming team responsible for creating all the computer code which runs and controls a game. Programmers have various roles and specialisms including AI (artificial intelligence), game engine development, user interface, tools development and physics.

Project Implementation

Project Manager/Producer- the Project Manager, also known as the Producer, 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. They understand everybody’s contribution to a game and keep an overview of the entire process from start to finish.

Assistant Producer- the Assistant (or Junior) Producer works with a game's production staff to ensure the timely delivery of the highest quality product possible. Typically, they will focus on specific areas of the development process. This could involve handling the communications between the publisher and developer, or co-ordinating work on some of the project's key processes such as managing the outsourcing of art assets.

External Producer- 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 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. Not all game companies employ Creative Directors. Some companies prefer to continue to split the duties between a game's Lead Artists, Lead Programmers, Designers and Producers.

Quality Assurance

QA Tester-Quality Assurance Technicians, or Testers, perform a vital role. They test, tune, debug and suggest the detailed refinements that ensure the quality and playability of the finished game. They play-test 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.

Business Development

Public Relations Manager-A public relations (PR) manager is in charge of overseeing how a person or company is viewed by customers or the media. Also called a PR manager or a public relations specialist, a public relations manager helps a company control its publicity. The job of a PR manager usually involves both generating positive publicity and managing negative publicity.

Product Manager-The Product Manager's role is to help create and implement marketing campaigns to maximise the sales of the games they are working on. Working in the 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 providing a strategic overview of how a game brand should change over time.

Marketing Executive-Marketing executives are involved in developing marketing campaigns to promote a product, service or idea. It is a varied role that includes planning, advertising, public relations, event organisation, product development, distribution, sponsorship and research. The work is often challenging and fast-paced.

Marketing Manager-A marketing manager’s main job is usually to oversee a company’s marketing department, as well as to influence the creativity and productivity of individual marketing teams. “Marketing” in this sense is usually understood to include traditional advertising and sales teams as well as public relations divisions. This sort of professional’s main duty is to help promote the corporate image to customers, and to grow the customer base in the process. Successful marketing can help a business be profitable, while poor or weak strategies often end up costing money, at least when it comes to missed potential.