Introduction to Game Development
Instructor: Lindsay Grace

 

What's my Role on this Game Again?

In case you don't have your GAD110 Introduction to Game Development book handy, or if the dog ate the handouts I wrote for you last quarter about game roles (GAD420: Game Prototyping), I've supplied them here.

This first set are provided through wikipedia - while not a great resource, it does provide some basic answers to your questions. Please keep in mind that in our "indie" game development company, people are responsible for a variety of tasks that may fluctuate as the quarter continues.

You may also want to review a few real job descriptions in order to understand what companies define as your role. These are some common target jobs for our students:

Entry Level Game Design Jobs:

Not to related to what we are doing for this game, but useful in your career options:

Finally, to get you started, I have taken some excerpts from entry level positions and a position that could be in your 3-5 year plan. Its important that you start thinking about what you want to do (and how to get there) now. You are only a few months from graduating.

Entry Level

 

Entry-level America s Army level designers should be self-motivated with a passion for building solid, visually stunning 3D environments and scenarios. Our level designers bring together the work of a talented team of modelers, texture artists, scripters, and programmers. It's up to them to combine each discipline in a way that is compelling and fun while fulfilling project-specific requirements. The successful applicant will have a strong passion for playing and designing games with a willingness to work on the leading edge of game development where innovation occurs as a result of hard work and dedication.
Responsibilities will include implementing art and gameplay, working with Unreal Editor 2.x and 3.0, creating visually compelling levels, developing or testing next-generation assets in-game, working with 3D applications, developing game concepts, developing gameplay prototypes, and supporting ongoing game production with gameplay and art consultations, testing, and refining.
REQUIRED SKILLS:

 

 

Job Title:        Designer-Scripter Intern

 

 
Basic Function: A designer-scripter takes high level designs for missions and works with engineering systems and art assets to create the mission behavior in game.
 
Duties and Responsibilities:    
  1. This position typically involves using specialized tools to edit game data and mission scripts, working with an overall game design as well as specific scenario designs established by others. These scenario designs are provided by the project's lead designer or by a Mission Designer.
  2. Implements scenario features within a draft mission design.
  3. Building of complex missions, mini-games and interactions for the creation of enjoyable game play experiences are the major responsibilities of a scripter.
  4. Prioritization skills are necessary as much of the work is interruption driven.
  5. Must work well in a team of other scripters; as sharing information and ideas is absolutely necessary.
Qualifications: 

 
  1. Knowledge of a variety of types of games
  2. Demonstrated programming skill, preferably in at least one of the following languages: C, C++, C#, Java
  3. Previous industry game development experience is not necessary.
  4. Previous personal game programming projects are expected. 
  5. A passion for developing for high quality games.

Experienced:

Provided by Lindsay Grace for students of the Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago. These documents may be used by others when properly credited. Please email lgrace at aii edu for more information.