Game Production Careers: Game Developers vs Game Designers

Mainstream media often treats gaming as a niche market but a quick comparison of gaming market to that of music and film shows that gaming is much larger than many non-gaming professionals realise. This growing aspect of modern living is providing many new opportunities at game production companies. A quick search for locations of the world's most successful Game Production Studios on the Develop 100 ranking charts makes for an interesting read if you are interested in finding out more about large player in your region.

It might be that you are looking to work for one of the large companies (such as Nintendo, infinity Ward, EA, Ubisoft, Sega, Capcom or Foundation 9) or wish to work in a niche market. Whatever console or final format you wish to work with game production provides an ever-changing landscape of projects and skillsets. If you are interested in a career in game production the first thing to note is that there is a distinction between game development and game design.

Simply put, a game developer uses a wider variety of skills to take a game from the beginning stages all the way to production. Game development regards managing a whole project. In contrast game design entails working in conjunction with the game developer but only on specific aspects of the project such as the character design, game rules, gameplay features and storyline.

Studying Game Design:

You will most likely cover the following topics in a typical game design course:

• Programming and Animation techniques, including learning the maths behind in game physics such as collision and motion.
• Creating music soundscapes, special effects and creating non-linear audio for games.
• Creating Game art and assets using 3d modelling software.
• Other Game art theory such as characters, vehicles, props and special effects for visual impact.
• Planning and building levels and gaming environments.
• Using PhotoShop for texturing game assets.
• Game sound and visual integration and game asset management.
• Interfacing with external devices such as gamepad controllers and java enabled phones
• Game engines and how to compatibly export 3D work

Studying Game Development:

Apart from the above mentioned topics regarding game art, design and programming, a normal game development course will also delve deeper into advanced game production techniques:

• Game analysis theory with especial focus on contemporary trends and product assessment.
• Development stages and conceptualisation.
• Interactive Sound production techniques.
• Planning complex scene and multi level development.
• Character design techniques and working with concept art.
• Advanced animation, movement and object modelling in 3d environments.
• Lighting and Camera techniques.
• Scriptwriting and Storyline management.

As with most design and development jobs it is a good idea to try and attend a course that is focused on both the practical and theoretical elements of game development and game design. Find out if you will be producing a portfolio of work, if the college has work placement programmes or if any of the current lecturers work part time in the industry. The sooner and more frequently you can apply your new found knowledge in real-life scenarios the better your chances are of finding your dream job in the game production industry.

Pulse College offers professional Game development and Game design courses in Dublin Ireland. http://www.pulsecollege.eu