HA3 Task 2 - Job Roles

My main source of information: http://creativeskillset.org/

Creative Development:

Games Designer:

A games designer is responsible for designing a game. They have a variety of responsibility's which include art, animation, puzzles and coding. Due to the diversity of their skills, they are regarded as a valuable asset to a game development team. They are hired by development studios in order to make a game for them. Game Designers work closely with other members of a development team.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/331_game_designer

Image gained from http://videogamedesignersalary.weebly.com/


Level Editor:

Level Editors are responsible for building the levels and making sure they are interesting and well structured enhancing the players experience. They can place power ups and weapons around the map in positions which would alter how a level or map would be played. They also control game spawn points which are placed around the level or map. They completely plan out and structure a level, before completely creating it using software to test how it would be like for the player.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/334_level_editor

Image gained from http://www.yoanhernalesteen.com/?page_id=813


Lead Artist:

The Lead Artist is responsible for leading the artists on a development team and being responsible for heavily contributing to the overall art style of a game. They are also responsible for the animation part of a project and lead artist usually have a vast amount of experience with game art and have a mastery of the software required to create game art and animation. They keep the artists working at a pace which fits the schedule set by the project manager. They also make sure the game budget is not exceeded in the development of a games art.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/332_lead_artist_games


Technical Artist:

A Technical Artist is responsible for gathering all created assets for a game and putting them all together to create the final product. Due to this, they are a crucial aspect of the development team and as such, a project cannot be fully completed without a Technical Artist. They are responsible for sorting out the software and applications that the development team use and to see if they are useful for the project and if they are effective in actual practice.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/339_technical_artist_games

Artist:

An Artist is responsible for creating the art and animation for a game. In short, the visible style of a game. The lead artist designs the overall artistic style of the game, and the artists create it with the input and guidance of the head artist. They use a variety of tool to assist with their job which are both digital (applications such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop) and physical (pen, paper, coloring utensils etc).
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/330_games_artist

Image gained from http://heavy.com/games/2015/04/top-best-video-game-art-books-for-sale-print-deals-modern-pop-art-coffee-table-books/

Animator:

Animators are responsible for fully animating a game. They sort out the behavior and movement within a game. To do this, they use the game engine and they try to use as many features as the game engine allows, in order to create a stunning and impressive game. They can also work closely with artists and programmers to help assist with their role in the making of a game. They aim to make the animation look as real as possible, which would add to the mood and atmosphere of the game they are working on.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/325_animator_games

Image gained from http://www.tokkunacademy.com/index.php?view=download&id=vgam_anim_tech

Audio Engineer:

The Audio Engineers are responsible for the games sound track. They can use many methods to help assist in their work. These include physical instruments, sound applications such as Garage Band etc.
They also source sounds that need to be implemented into a game and also design some of their own.
They also sort out the games dialogue and are responsible for sourcing the actors for the dialogue.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/327_audio_engineer

Image gained from http://schools-training.com/articles/careers-audio-front-house-engineering.html

Technical Development:

Game Programmer:

A game programmer is responsible for writing and designing the computer code for a game. They frequently test the code for any bugs and to ensure the code, and the game, run smoothly. They have multiple different roles when it comes to programming. They can also code multiple builds and they are tested by the QA testers to see whether they are right for the full game, and if so, how to improve them and to dispose of bugs and glitches that come up.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/336_game_programmer

Image gained from http://www.georgiancollege.ca/academics/full-time-programs/computer-programmer-co-op-copr/
Lead Game Programmer:

A lead game programmer, is responsible for the overall coding design, and upon doing so, gives the coding design to the other programmers, to work on, and to put into the game. They are also responsible for leading a game projects programming team, and giving their input into all decisions made in the programming aspect of a game development process. They make sure everything is done on time, and that the deadlines are met. They also keep a track of all the technical documentation of the programming process.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/333_lead_programmer_games

Project Implementation:

Project Manager/Producer:

The Project Manager oversees the entire game project and is responsible for making sure the game is done on time and meets the game budget. They handle the financial aspect of a project and are responsible for holding the entire project together. They keep accounts of the entire development process. They are responsible for creating goals and milestones throughout development to keep a project on time and fully completed at the end of the schedule they have set at the start of the game development process.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/337_project_manager_producer_games

Assistant Producer:

The Assistant producer is responsible for making sure they help members of the development team, with problems that would affect the delivery of the game. They generally have a certain part of the project they focus on, but their role can change depending on how the project goes. They generally have multiple roles in the entire process of making a game. They also have a few limited roles in game promotion which ties to the marketing aspect of a game's development process.
Infiormation gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/326_assistant_producer_games

External Producer:

The External Producer is responsible for making sure a game is delivered successfully and is commercially successful. They are, as evidenced by the name, externally based. They are normally employed by the publisher, and take on roles given by them.
They work with the Internal Producer and acts as their adviser. Due to this, when the Internal Producer has a problem, they consult the External producer. Due to this, the External Producer is the source of relevant information for the Internal Producer.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/329_external_producer

Creative Director:

The Creative Director is responsible for the overall style, look and feel of a game. They are one of the most important parts of the development team. Due to their role of being responsible for the overall game, they can make high level decisions. They make sure the individual aspects of the project such as audio, artwork, game play etc. Once the advertising for the game begins, they are displayed as the main person behind the project and go out with the hope of winning over public with their game and its concepts.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/328_creative_director_games
Quality Assurance:

QA Tester:

A QA Tester tests a game for bugs and glitches before it is released to the public. They also  make sure game mechanics are fair and that the game is of overall quality and to make sure it will be a commercial and critical success.  They have a somewhat systematic approach to testing games and they make sure they have covered all aspects of the game, and that they have found as many bugs as possible.  They have to repeatedly play the same level or course in order to find as many bugs and glitches as possible. Apart from complete levels, they have to try out different builds to test them for bugs and find the build most appropriate and bug free, for the full game.
Information gained from
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/338_qa_tester

Business Development:

Public Relations Manager:

The Public Relations Manager is responsible for communicating with the public when it comes to a game development process. The public and media are given their info primarily through information conveyed through the public relations manager and as such, they are the primary public mouthpiece of the company, aside from the creative director.

Product Manager:

A Product Manager is responsible for creating and managing advertising campaigns in order to gain as many sales as possible. They cooperate with the game publishers in order to obtain and maintain a budget. If they do, they can earn back the investment from the publishers, even exceed it and gain a profit, increasing the chances of getting another investment in the future from the same publishers.

  Information gained from http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/335_product_manager

Marketing Executive: 
Some information gained from http://www.gamesindustry.biz/jobs/by-category/production

Marketing Executives are responsible with coming up with new ideas, in order to impress the rest of the industry and to make their games commercial and critical successes. They are also responsible for making the game companies looks impressive to the rest of the industry. They also help develop marketing campaigns in detail and have a say in a games marketing campaign and build up to the campaign itself.

Marketing Manager:

Marketing Managers are responsible for overseeing all marketing aspects for a game release. They generally have to have great experience with things such as project management, marketing, analytical etc. They can have this experience in both digital and physical marketing. They are also responsible for marketing deadlines and schedules, and are responsible for working within the budget the publishers allocated them for marketing.