Game Development Essentials An Introduction

Chapter 10Roles & Responsibilities

developing the team

Key Chapter Questions■ What are the company roles associated with game

development studios, publishers, licensors, and manufacturers?

■ What are the team roles and responsibilities associated with producers, artists, designers, programmers, writers, composers, sound designers, and testers?

■ What specific techniques and tools are utilized by different team members during game development?

Company Roles

• Developer• Publisher• Manufacturer• Licensor

Team RolesProduction

• Executive producer• Producer• Associate producer• Assistant producer

Team RolesDesign

• Creative director• Design director• Lead designer• Interface designer• Level designer

Team RolesArt

• Art director• Lead artist• Concept artist• Technical artist• Modeler• Texture artist• Animator

Team RolesProgramming

• Technical director

• Lead programmer

• Engine programmer

• Tools programmer

• Graphics programmer

• Network programmer

• Artificial intelligence (AI) programmer• Audio programmer• Physics programmer• Interface programmer• Quality assurance (QA) programmer• Associate programmer

Team RolesAudio

• Audio director• Composer• Sound designer• Voiceover artist

Team RolesTesting & Quality Assurance (QA)

• Testing manager• Lead tester• Compatibility tester• Playability tester• Beta tester

ToolsDesign

• Aurora Toolset• Valve Hammer Editor• Unreal Editor• CRYengine

CRYengine Unreal Editor

ToolsProgramming

• Engine

• Compiler

• Debugger

• IDE (integrated development environment)

• API (application programming interface)

• SDK (software development kit)

Gamemaker Torque

ToolsArt

• Discreet 3D Studio Max

• Alias/Wavefront Maya

• NewTek Lightwave

• Adobe Photoshop

3D Studio Max Maya

ToolsAudio

• Microsoft DirectX Audio• Microsoft DirectMusic Producer• Digidesign ProTools• Emagic Logic• Analog Devices • SoundMAX Smart Tools

DirectMusic Producer

Summary

Company roles• Developer• Publisher• Manufacturer• Licensor

Team roles• Production• Design• Art• Programming• Audio• Testing & QA

Tools• Design• Programming• Art• Audio