10.4. Designers¶

We have already learned much about exactly what designers work on and what skills they need to have. They are not just idea people - instead they are people with a wide range of skills who understand how code, art and gameplay all work together.

To develop a game, teams of designers are responsible for writing detailed descriptions of the game, including plot, characters, and mechanics. While a game is in production, designers work closely with programmers and artists to ensure that the designs are being realized and to refine the designs to work around problems.

Designers frequently use scripting languages, a type of programming language that controls applications, to view their ideas within the prototype game. Scripting languages do not require extensive coding and allow designers to test various concepts as they arise in gameplay. Then, designers choose the concept they like best.

The different design teams focus on different parts of the game, under the direction of a lead designer. Some designers craft engrossing plots and characters. Other designers work on the mechanics of the game. Common roles include:

• Lead Designer : Responsible for overall design process and managing the design team.
• Content Designer : Design aspects of the game like characters, objects, etc...
• Level Designer : Use an understanding of game mechanics and content to build interesting levels using technology provided by the game engine.
• Writer : These are often seen as part of the game design team.

Education

There are no educational requirements for video game designers, but a college degree in game design, game development, or computer science is helpful. Experience in other roles in video game development is also beneficial. For example, some workers become designers after being promoted from other teams, such as quality assurance, programming, or art. Game designers also need some background in programming and knowledge of scripting languages, especially Lua and Python. In addition, designers might need to be experts in other computer software. Level designers, for example, frequently use 3D modeling programs.