Thursday, 12 September 2013

Task 2 Job Roles



Task 2
Job Roles
Profile each of the main job roles within the industry.
  
Creative Development:
  • Game Designer:

Game designers are responsible for devising how a game will play and what it consists of. They define the elements of a game and what it’s components. i.e.: the characters, story flow, setting, structure, objects, props, vehicles and devices available to characters, modes of play and interface design. The game designer can even be the originator of the game's concept or premise.

 

  • Level Editor:
A level editor defines and creates interactive architecture for a segment of a game. This includes; the landscape, buildings and objects. Level editors must stay true to the overall design specification given by the game designer, using characters and story elements defined by the game designer.

However, they often have considerable scope to vary the feel and specific look of the level they are responsible for.

  • Lead Artist:
The lead artist is responsible for the overall look of the game and, in the first instance, works with the game designer to devise the visual style of the game and directs the production of the visual material throughout the games development.

The lead artist produces most of the initial artwork themselves to set creative and technical standards as well as determining the best tools and techniques to use.

  • Technical Artist:
The technical artist ensures art assets can be easily integrated into a game without exceeding the technical limits of the platform being used or sacrificing the overall artistic vision. They act as a bridge between the artists and programmers working on a game.

This role is relatively new to the games industry but as consoles and PC hardware becomes more complex, this role is becoming more important.

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

It’s the artist’s job to model and texture characters and objects to get the desired result, whether the game needs a realistic look or a more stylized or fantastical look. The look of the game and its graphical detail is the second most significant factor in a game’s success under the game’s playability.

There are several specialisms in the art department, like; 3D modelling, character design, environments, textures, and more. All have responsibility for the creation of particular art assets in the game. There is also a lot of movement between roles.

  • Animator:
In the games industry; animators are responsible for the portrayal of movement and behaviour, this is applied to bring characters and creatures to life, as well as being applied to other elements like; objects, scenery, vegetation and environmental effects. 

Animations are created using specialist software packages and are used for both automated or in-game behaviours and predefined cut scenes or sequences.

Well animated characters can bring a game to life, giving players more sense of involvement and interaction in the game. Animators need to portray movement and behaviour efficiently and effectively to make best use of the game engine’s technology and maximise the opportunities for interactivity and game play.

Animators work for either publisher-owned or independent development studios, as well as specialist outsourcing companies and are usually permanently employed. 

  • Audio Engineer:
The audio engineer is responsible for creating the game’s soundtrack, which could include music, sound effects that support the game action, character voices and other expressions, spoken instructions and ambient effects.

The soundtrack reinforces the mood of the game, giving the player a more immersive experience and can also affect the tempo and add emotional depth, enhancing the game play. 


Technical Development: 

  • Lead Programmer and Programmers:

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. They work at the heart of the game development process, designing and writing 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.


Project Implamentation:
  • Project Manager/Producer:

The Project Manager controls the financial, and other, resources needed for a project and co-ordinates the work of the production team to make sure that the quality and vision of the game is maintained regardless of any problems. They are responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of a game, on time and within budget.
  • Assistant producer: 
The Assistant Producer works with a game's production staff to ensure the timely delivery of the highest quality project possible and typically focus on specific areas of the development process.
  •  External Producer:

The External Producer works externally from the development team and ensure the successful delivery of a game. 


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. 
  •  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.


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.


Quality Assurance:
  • QA  Tester:
QA 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.


Business Development:
  • Product (Brand) 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. 


Operating as a part of a marketing team, they support the senior marketing managers who organise international or global campaigns.


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