Game developer roles depend on the size and type of studio. Here are some of the common positions you will find.
Project Manager
The project manager makes sure that the game development process runs smoothly, milestones are met, risks are predicted/reduced, and team members do what they are supposed to do. They are often the center of communication between developers, design teams, and executives. Project managers are exceptionally organized and must have excellent communication and people skills.
Game Developers / Programmers.
Game programmers help develop games by turning design concepts into code to create playable games. Programmers are specialists with extensive programming experience, and have the combination of creativity, math skills, and patience to successfully translate ideas into interactive visuals and sounds. They ensure that the game runs smoothly.
Game designers
A game designer is the creative driver of a game, and generally a mixture of a writer and an artist, with knowledge of programming. A section of the game design pipeline involves creating compelling stories, characters, goals, rules, and objectives that encourage interaction with other characters, users, or objects. Designers may be responsible for:
Developing the storyline, character backstory, and dialogue
Developing gameplay, rules, and scoring system
Determination of difficulty levels
Building environments, protrusions, obstacles, and objects
Level and world design
Programming / scripting
Digital editing
If you work for a larger company, these tasks may resemble individual roles, which we’ll look at next.
Level designers.
A video game level designer is responsible for creating interesting and engaging levels. Their job is to keep the player focused on progressing through the game and achieving their goal or mission, while reducing the possibility of confusion.
Because games are much more complex than they used to be, larger studios often have game designers dedicated solely to level design. Level designers draw inspiration from concept art, photo guides, and GDDs to draw believable maps and create physical models of levels.
Depending on the type of game and whether it is based on real events (such as a World War II battle), they may need to learn all about a particular period of history and explore real locations to make sure the level is realistic and believable. If the game is adapted from a book or movie, they will need to read/watch the original and look for clues. If the world is entirely fictional, they’ll need to use their creativity and draw inspiration from the concept art provided.
Then, using the level editor (the software used to design levels and maps), they will create levels, stages, or missions. Their work may also include things like planning start and exit locations, determining where tunnels and hidden passages will be, places where interactions or dialogue will take place, monster appearance points, trigger points where certain actions will take place, and more.
Level designers are responsible for identifying and fixing bugs, such as players walking out of the playground or getting stuck and not being able to get out. The problem with video games is that once a game is released, it is no longer in the hands of the designer. The player can interact with worlds in unexpected ways, revealing bugs that went unnoticed during development.
Game Artists.
Game artists can include concept artists , animators , 3D model developers and FX artists. This group is responsible for bringing color, movement and life to the game. While the concept artist is mostly active in the pre-production phase, when they are developing the initial look (usually in 2D), they may be involved again later in the game development process if new elements are added or the game changes course.
The 3D concept artist (who may be the same artist) will use digital sculpting software such as ZBrush, Maya, and Photoshop to create 3D props, resources, and environments. They will also add textures and details.
3D Model Developers.
3D model developers create models of people, objects, props, weapons, and environments, which can then be textured and animated as needed. Model developers need to know how to collect and use high-quality reference materials, especially if they are replicating real objects (e.g. AK-47, Buzzard Attack Chopper, Eiffel Tower, etc.).