Video Game Designer
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A Video Game Designer is a digital media designer who can perform video game design (crafting the rules, mechanics, and structure of interactive games across various platforms).
- Context:
- It can (typically) design Gameplay Mechanics for interactive video games by determining the core rules, goals, and challenges players will face.
- It can (often) work with Level Designers, Character Designers, and other team members to develop a cohesive game experience.
- It can range from being a Lead Designer responsible for overseeing the entire project to being a Systems Designer focused on balancing game mechanics.
- It can create documentation like Game Design Documents (GDD) to communicate ideas to the development team.
- It can be responsible for integrating user feedback to improve gameplay balance and overall experience.
- ...
- Example(s):
- Shigeru Miyamoto (1952-), legendary for creating Super Mario Bros., pioneering platform games with engaging level design and creative power-ups.
- Roberta Williams (1953-), a pioneer in adventure game design, known for creating King's Quest and co-founding Sierra On-Line.
- Sid Meier (1954-), famed for his work on Civilization, focusing on strategy and simulation design to create expansive, turn-based gameplay experiences.
- Will Wright (1960-) is the designer behind The Sims, emphasizing open-ended simulation and player agency in sandbox-style games.
- Jordan Mechner (1964-), known for designing the iconic game Prince of Persia, blending action, puzzles, and storytelling.
- Amy Hennig (1964-), recognized for her narrative-driven work on the Uncharted series, integrating storytelling with action-adventure mechanics.
- Hideo Kojima (1963-), celebrated for his work on the Metal Gear series, known for its complex narratives and stealth mechanics.
- Brenda Romero (1966-), renowned for designing the Wizardry series and for her contributions to game design and education.
- Sheri Graner Ray (1966-), a prominent advocate for diversity in games and the lead designer of titles such as Ultima Online.
- Tetsuya Nomura (1970-), known for his role in designing characters and gameplay for the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series, blending RPG elements with innovative battle systems.
- Patrice Désilets (1974-), the creator of the Assassin's Creed franchise, known for blending historical settings with open-world mechanics.
- Neil Druckmann (1978-), co-writer and director for the The Last of Us series and Uncharted 4, known for deep narratives and character development.
- Jenova Chen (1981-), best known for his work on Journey and as a co-founder of Thatgamecompany, focused on creating emotional and immersive experiences.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- Software Engineers, who focus on the technical programming aspects rather than gameplay design.
- Game Producers, who oversee the business and project management side of video game development.
- See: Level Designer, Game Mechanics Designer, Lead Designer.
References
2024
- (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_design#Game_designer Retrieved:2024-9-14.
- A game designer is a person who designs gameplay, conceiving and designing the rules and structure of a game. Salem, Zimmerman 2003 Oxland 2004, p. 292 Moore, Novak 2010, p. 74 Many designers start their career in testing departments, other roles in game development or in classroom conditions, where mistakes by others can be seen first-hand. Bates 2004, p. 179 * Lead designer coordinates the work of other designers and is the main visionary of the game. Oxland 2004, pp. 292-296 Bethke 2003, p. 40 Lead designer ensures team communication, makes large design decisions and presents design outside of the team. Oxland 2004, pp. 293-294 Often the lead designer is technically and artistically astute. Oxland 2004, pp. 294, 295 Keeping well-presented documentation also falls within the lead designer responsibilities. Oxland 2004, pp. 295-296 Lead designer may be the founder of a game development company or a promoted employee. * Game mechanics designer or systems designer designs and balances the game's rules. * Level designer or environment designer is a position becoming prominent in recent years. Level designer is the person responsible for creating game environment, levels and missions.Moore, Novak 2010, p. 76 Shahrani 2006, part I Oxland 2004, pp. 296-297 Bethke 2003, pp. 40-41 * Planner is a term referring to a game designer in the Japanese video game industry, where game designers are typically credited as planners.