The games industry has eight primary divisions, each with their own subdivisions.
The PRODUCTION teams organise the creation of the game, releasing it on time and within the constraints of their budget.
GAMES PUBLISHER - Give developers money to make a game to an agreed brief, a budget, and a deadline.
GAMES PRODUCER - Find a publisher for the game, control the money, negotiate contracts.
ASSISTANT GAMES PRODUCER - Filing and archiving assets as well as submitting games to publishers and localising them. Also orders food.
MARKETING EXECUTIVE - Create campaigns targeting audiences about key aspects of the game through many platforms.
COMMUNITY MANAGER - Responsible for the game's community of fans and followers. Attend events, write newsletters, deal with criticism.
ESPORTS PRODUCER - Plan esports broadcasts and make them happen. Write scripts, get commentators, manage staff.
The DESIGN teams create the look/feel/story of the game, deciding how it will play.
LEAD GAMES DESIGNER - Figure out how the game looks, how it'll play, what the characters and props are like, what's going to happen. Decide if changes are needed.
GAMEPLAY DESIGNER - Design the mechanics and structure, rules, characters, props, modes of play. Act as a bridge between the technical and art teams. Train testers.
LEVEL DESIGNER - Design levels and the actions, events, environment, and characters within.
WRITER - Think of a story, give characters names and lore.
USER EXPERIENCE (UX) DESIGNER - Ensure players get clear and effective feedback through the user interface and HUD.
The ART teams create the artwork for the characters, vehicles, environments, etc.
CONCEPT ARTIST - The first to draw environments, characters, etcetera. Create a style and look for the game.
3D MODELLING ARTIST - Create models for all 3D assets.
ENVIRONMENT ARTIST - Create environments the player can explore - from fields to offices.
TEXTURING ARTIST - Map textures onto the surfaces of 3D models. Add imperfections.
The ANIMATION teams use the artwork from the art teams to create the illusion of movement in characters, objects, etc.
ANIMATOR - Make 2D and 3D assets move and animate. Add personality, emotion, realism.
TECHNICAL ANIMATOR - Make the animator's job easier by solving problems with animation. Act as a bridge between programmers and animators.
The TECHNICAL ART teams act as a bridge between the programmers and artists to create even more complex artworks.
TECHNICAL ARTIST - Develop the engine to work as well as possible for artists.
VISUAL EFFECTS (VFX) ARTIST - Develop particle effects and environmental effects (such as water).
GRAPHICS PROGRAMMER - Making the graphics as detailed as possible without impacting performance.
The AUDIO teams compose the music and create sound effects, integrating them into the game.
MUSIC COMPOSER - Create the game's music to suit various requirements and moods.
SOUND DESIGNER - Curate sound effects and music for the game, making the gameplay more exciting.
AUDIO PROGRAMMER - Create scripts that determine functions of the music and sounds - volume, interaction with the environment, etcetera.
The PROGRAMMING teams include coders that improve the engine of the game and people who make characters seem intelligent with their movements.
GENERALIST PROGRAMMER - Write code that controls the game, including ready-made and custom scripts.
GAMEPLAY PROGRAMMER - Write code specifically for gameplay and interactions.
PHYSICS PROGRAMMER - Create software that forms the base of physics - crashes, collisions, and other movement.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) PROGRAMMER - Create code for NPCs to make decisions and behave in believable ways.
VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) PROGRAMMER - Add code for compatibility with VR headsets and controllers. Make the experience as smooth and non-nauseating as possible.
TOOLS ENGINEER - Create programs to make the jobs of designers, artists, and programmers easier.
ENGINE PROGRAMMER - Develop the game engine, adding new functionality and rewriting existing functions as needed.
NETWORK PROGRAMMER - Develop code for online multiplayer.
The QUALITY ASSURANCE teams spot mistakes in games, checking them for bugs/glitches/typos.
GAMES TESTER - Test specific aspects of games and write reports on every bug they find.
QUALITY ASSURANCE BUILD ENGINEER - Make sure an up-to-date build of the game can be created fast.