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role of a writer varies with the genre of thegame. Some genres, especially role-playinggames, rely heavily on dialogue and needwriters to prepare scripts for all in-gameconversations. Other genres, such as puzzlegames, have little need for writers.ProgrammersProgrammers see a video game differentlyfrom the way its players—or even their fellow game development team members—do.To programmers, a video game consists ofnumerous lines of code that dictate how thecomputer should handle everything from thegame’s rules to its graphics. Under the guidance of the lead development team, programmers build video games from the ground up:writing code, line by line, in computer programs.Programmers use different types of coding languages. Each language has differentcapabilities, and programmers choose thelanguage that best suits their needs. The typeof language that programmers select also isdetermined by the type of platforms—computers, consoles, or mobile devices—on whichthe game will be released.Creating a full-featured videogame requires many different types ofProgrammers buildvideo games fromthe ground up: writingcode, line by line, incomputer programs.6 Occupational Outlook Quarterly Fall 2011programmers. Some programmers work onthe game engine, the foundation upon whichthe game runs. Other programmers have morespecific tasks, such as crafting the game’sdifficulty. “Almost any programmer can makea human player lose,” says Bert Bingham, aproducer at Gas Powered Games in Redmond,Washington, “but a truly good programmerknows how to make a player barely win.”Lead programmer. Lead programmersassign work to and develop schedules forthe programming teams. Although they areskilled in writing code, lead programmersoften spend most of their time on supervisoryduties. They also meet frequently with theart, design, and production team leaders toaddress issues that arise during development.Artificial intelligence programmer.Artificial intelligence programmers dictatehow computer-controlled opponents and alliesreact to a player’s actions. Artificial intelligence enables computer-controlled charactersto respond realistically and strategically. Somevideo games, depending on the genre, requiremore complex artificial intelligence than others.Graphics programmer. Graphics programmers create tools that allow artists tobring their work to the screen. Using theirknowledge of advanced mathematics, graphics programmers implement complex algorithms to produce 2D and 3D graphics. Theseprogrammers also work closely with artists todetermine the best way to incorporate artworkinto a game.Network programmer. Many videogames are played online, allowing playersacross the globe to compete against or cooperate with one another. Network programmerswrite the code that enables this online play.They also develop security measures to prevent players from cheating.Physics programmer. Video games aren’tconstrained by the real world, so physicsprogrammers write the code for any naturallaws, such as gravity, a game should follow orignore. Guided by the designers’ vision, physics programmers create rules that are eitherrealistic or stylized. They also determine how

the different objects in a game will interact,such as two cars colliding in a racing game.And physics programmers usually write thecode that dictates how particle effects, suchas explosions and splashes, appear in videogames.Tools programmer. Tools programmerswrite code to automate some tasks, makinggame development easier for less technicalteam members. For example, tools programmers might write a program that simplifies theprocess of creating new levels or for importingart into the game. Tools differ from one gameto another, based on designers’ needs.User interface programmer. The graphical menus in video games range from simple,two-button commands—“play” and “quit”—to complex series of menus with options. Userinterface programmers also build heads-updisplays, which provide vital information toplayers. Collaborating with designers and artists, user interface programmers ensure thatthese systems are intuitive and as straightforward as possible.ArtistsArtists breathe life into games. They design agame’s aesthetic, or visual style, and create allof its artwork, including environments, characters, and objects. Artists also may designthe game’s manual, packaging, and promotional material.Some artists use traditional methods,such as sculpting and freehand drawing, toillustrate their ideas. Preliminary artworkhelps game designers visualize their ideas andserves as a guide for other artists to createcomputer art. Digital artists use modern toolsthat include 3D modeling, software created bythe programmers, and motion-capture technology.Art director. The art director coordinateswith the lead development team and managesthe art department, including its budget andschedule. By consulting with key designersand programmers, the art director also definesthe game’s aesthetic.Lead artist. A video game may have oneor more lead artists, each of whom manages aArtists may use moderntools, such as a graphicstablet, to create a game’svisual style.team and plans its method and tools for creating artwork. Lead artists also ensure that theirteam’s art is consistent in quality and style.Concept artist. Following the game’saesthetic direction, concept artists envisionlandscapes, objects, structures, characters,and key moments in a story. Concept artistsproduce a variety of art, including drawings,paintings, sculptures, and storyboards. Thisartwork helps designers visualize their ideasand guides other artists.Modeler. Modelers build 3D characters and environments that are based on theconcept art. To create the models’ surfaces orskins, they paint and wrap 2D textures on adigital frame. Modelers also create characterskeletons, which animators then control.Animator. Animators manipulate modelsto create movements for objects and characters in the game. They digitally control themodel as if it were a puppet and performanimations that dictate how the character orobject will move in any given instance. Forexample, there might be an animation for apalm tree moving with the breeze or a character running.Other artists. Other artists are involvedin the development process, depending on thegame. For example, motion-capture artistsrecord the movement of real objects or people,Fall 2011 Occupational Outlook Quarterly7

which then helps animators create morerealistic movement in the game. Cinematicartists produce marketing videos to promotethe game. And a photographer snaps picturesto inspire the game’s concept art.Other major occupationsMany other workers contribute to a game’sdevelopment. These workers add sounds to thegame, handle the studio’s business concerns,and test the game for bugs.Audio workers. Workers in the audiodepartment develop, record, and process all ofthe game’s sounds, including music, dialogue,and all other noises, both real and fictitious.Occupations include audio designers, audioengineers, audio programmers, composers,and musicians.Executives. Studio executives, such as thechief executive officer and president, overseethe company and establish its philosophy, corporate structure, and business plan. They alsonegotiate business contracts and communicatewith stakeholders.Producers. Producers manage the administrative details of the studio’s products anddepartments. Responsibilities include callingmeetings, maintaining schedules, and keepingWorkers in the audiodepartment develop,record, and processall of a game’s music,dialogue, and othersounds.8 Occupational Outlook Quarterly Fall 2011development costs within budget. Producersalso help to ensure that a game is released onschedule, and they serve as liaisons betweendevelopers and executives.Quality assurance testers. During postproduction, quality assurance testers identifyand report problems with the game. Theseproblems may include software bugs, artglitches, and issues arising during gameplay.A lead tester oversees the quality assuranceteam and notifies other departments of problems that must be fixed.Skills and trainingVideo game developers need skills and training specific to their job tasks, but they sharesome common aptitudes. For example, theability to work well as part of a team not onlyis expected of game developers but may berequired. “Successful work on a collaborativeproject is something we look for in hiring newemployees,” says Ben Bell of Salt Lake City,Utah, executive producer of The Sims 3 Pets.Of course, a big part of collaboratingis being able to articulate ideas clearly toother team members. This skill is especiallyimportant in game development, where teams

comprise members from several diversedepartments. “You communicate with yourlead artist, designers, and programmers—allusually very different types of people withvery different points of view,” says Catanzaro.“It’s absolutely critical that you understand theart of communication.”Most workers also should be adaptableto making changes and work well underpressure. And those in leadership roles maybenefit from having basic business skills inmanagement, budgeting, and scheduling.Highlighted next are the particular skillsor training that different types of developersneed.DesignersThere are no educational requirements forvideo game designers, but a college degree ingame design, game development, or computerscience is helpful. Experience in other rolesin video game development is also beneficial.For example, some workers become designersafter being promoted from other teams, suchas quality assurance, programming, or art.Game designers also need some background in programming and knowledgeof scripting languages, especially Lua andPython. In addition, designers might need tobe experts in other computer software. Leveldesigners, for example, frequently use 3Dmodeling programs.ProgrammersAlmost all programmers must have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or computerengineering. Some colleges and universitieshave specialized programs that focus on videogame programming.Most importantly, programmers must beexperts in the programming languages andoperating systems used in game development.Nearly all programmers are skilled in C orC , computer languages that are commonlyused to create video games. Depending ontheir specialty or the game platform, programmers also might need to know other languages, such as Perl, Assembly, or Lua.Many programmers, especially those whocreate vector graphics, have knowledge ofhigh-level math. Other skills vary by specialty. For example, network programmersshould have expertise in server security issues,and graphics and user-interface programmersusually have some training in art.ArtistsEducational requirements for video gameartists vary, but most artists have attendedart school. In addition to teaching art theory,these schools introduce artists to differentart styles and methods. This background isimportant because all game artists must firstmaster traditional art techniques and theirbasic principles—such as form, line, and colortheory. They also need to understand modernartmaking tools, such as modeling and editingsoftware.But an artist’s most important asset isthe portfolio, which showcases his or herexperience and talent. And formal instructionimproves the artist’s work, says Catanzaro:“Your education sharpens your skills andrefines your portfolio.”Other major occupationsOther occupations are diverse, so their educational requirements vary. Audio workersneed technical training, which can require anassociate’s or bachelor’s degree. Executivesand producers usually need at least a bachelor’s degree. And quality assurance testerssometimes need no more than a high schooldiploma.Rewards and challengesWorking in video game development hasboth advantages and disadvantages. One ofthe advantages is earnings. The U.S. Bureauof Labor Statistics (BLS) does not collectdata specifically on the video game industry,but anecdotal information suggests that mostof these workers earned more than the BLSmedian annual wage estimate of 33,840 forall workers in May 2010.Fall 2011 Occupational Outlook Quarterly9

According to Game Developer magazine,which surveys the industry each year, averagesalaries for video game development workersin 2010 ranged from about 49,000 for qualityassurance testers to 107,000 for business professionals, such as executives. Audio workers,artists, and designers earned an average of atleast 68,000, while programmers and producers averaged more than 85,000. As withsalaries in other industries, salaries for videogame developers vary by occupation, experience, and location.For many people in the video game industry, though, their jobs are more about passionthan pay. “We work on something we love,”says Bingham. “When we leave the office, wego home and play games.”Working in a game studio provides anopportunity to interact with others who sharethat passion. The workers who contribute tomaking a video game foster a fun and creativecommunity. “I love being able to work alongside people who do amazing things everyday,” says Rachel Steinberg, a public relationsMost video gamedevelopers enjoyplaying games evenin their free time.specialist for Electronic Arts in Salt LakeCity, Utah.But creating games isn’t all fun. Althougha good game might receive critical or popularacclaim, a bad game could mean financialtrouble for a studio and its employees. Consequently, the pressure to succeed is oftenintense.Limited time and resources can frustratedevelopers who have ambitious game ideas. Insome cases, the final game might not performthe way the designers originally envisioned.Even more demoralizing is a game conceptthat works only on paper. “We are trying tocatch lightning in a bottle,” says Sirlin of Sirlin Games. “It can be soul crushing when youfind out that your game really doesn’t work.”Even when a concept does work, turning itinto a full-featured product is a daunting process. Developers work long hours to releasea game on schedule. And if studio executivesfear that the game might miss productiondeadlines, they usually increase the hours anddays the staff will work—often for months ata time. This period, known as “crunch time,”is tough on workers and their families.Despite the challenges of developingvideo games, many workers say they’d stillchoose their jobs over others. “You’re notsitting at a desk pounding away at numbersall day,” says Denny Chiu, a corporate communications manager at Electronic Arts. “Wemake fun.”Finding work in videogame developmentAs the costs of producing a video game haveincreased, many large studios are choosingto focus their resources on creating higherquality, but fewer, games. To maximize quality, these studios usually seek experiencedemployees to work on their most lucrativeprojects.Because of the difficulty of getting anentry-level job at a large studio, many prospective workers enter the industry throughalternative paths. For example, as the tools for10 Occupational Outlook Quarterly Fall 2011

making games become more accessible, aspiring developers are better able to build portfolios. A designer might make a small, originalgame or modify an existing one. And an artistmight create artwork in the style of his or herfavorite game. “You don’t have to wait to bediscovered,” says Sirlin. “The barriers to entryare lower than ever before.”But getting a job at a large studio isn’tthe only option for working in game development. More developers now work for the smallstudios that create the increasingly populargames for social media and mobile devices.These games are usually shorter and simpler to make, providing workers an excellentopportunity to become developers.Another useful strategy for breaking intothe video game industry is to visit the websites, blogs, and online forums that developers frequent. “Developers often post openpositions and ask for portfolios through thosevenues,” says Catanzaro. Contributing to theseonline resources can also help increase yourexposure.Exposure is important because it helpswith networking, which is a great way to findvideo game work. “I wrote about game designon my blog and on large gaming websites,”says Sirlin. “My posts increased my visibility,opened doors for me, and allowed me to meetthe right people.”The rules for finding work in today’svideo game jobs may not apply to the jobs thatemerge tomorrow. But that’s one more thingvideo game developers find exciting abouttheir work. “Gaming is morphing into something unknown,” says Bingham. “The possibilities are endless.”For more informationVideo game development is a lengthy processthat involves many different types of workers. This article describes the major occupations involved in creating a video game. Mostof these occupations and hundreds of othersare described in the Occupational OutlookHandbook, online at www.bls.gov/ooh. TheHandbook also is available in print in manypublic libraries, career counseling offices, andjob centers.For general information about the videogame industry, contactEntertainment Software Association575 7th St., NWWashington, DC 20004www.theesa.comFor more information about the salariesand benefits of video game professionals,contactGame Developer Magazine600 Harrison St.6th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94107www.gdmag.comFor more information about video gameartists, contactGraphic Artists Guild32 BroadwaySuite 1114New York, NY 10004(212) 791-3400www.graphicartistsguild.orgFall 2011 Occupational Outlook Quarterly11

The different design teams focus on dif-ferent parts of the game, under the direction of a lead designer. Some designers craft engross-ing plots and characters. Other designers work on the mechanics of the game. Lead designer. Lead designers collect and organize the design teams' ideas into a cohesive game design document. They also