Non-Programming Aspects of Game Design

The first thing anyone thinks about in game design is the programming required to craft a new product. There are more than a million lines of code in even short games and that means hundreds of thousands of man hours poured into the production and development of a quality game that actually makes sense in the context of its genre.

But, game programmers only make up one portion of the employees at a developer. If you can’t wrap your brain around all that math or if you’d rather work in something a little more creative, there are opportunities.

·         3D Animators – Animators are needed to develop the 3D environments and textures used in the game. Degree programs are offered in the advanced software used by these artists, as well as at home training programs if you have the PC power needed to run the software.

·         Art Designers – More traditional designers are also employed for developing the creative side of a game, mapping out the routes and game world of a new production. Character design, item development and general aesthetics are all a major part of this process.

·         Game Testers – Testers are needed from the moment the game gets its first build, and are used until only days before a game’s release. Game testing is generally an entry level position but can quickly blossom into a higher paying, high yield job over time and is a great stepping stone to other positions in the industry.

·         Producers - Producers will oversee every aspect of a game development. Like super-powered project managers, producers are used for each segment of a game – from sound to video to animation and game systems.

·         Writers – Most games have dialogue, menus and storylines that require writing. Creativity, technical ability and flexibility as a writer can all help you in your quest to land a job writing game scripts. In many cases, multilingualism can also help.

Game development is a team effort. There can be anywhere from thirty to five hundred people working tirelessly on a new game, pouring hours of effort into every inch of it from start to finish. Programming only makes up one small part of that process. If you have the skills, you can be a major part of any other aspect of the team.