The Best Job in the World

I wonder if I even wrote the following. I don't remember doing so. Perhaps it was a long time ago...

The Fours Aspects of Game Development

1. Programmers
• Make the game work by coding all the properties to function as they should.
• Proficient in computer programming languages such as C++ and assembly.
• Have usually studied hard about topics such as software design, data structures, algorithms, and mathematics.

2. Artists
• Create all game visuals and animations.
• Proficient in drawing 2D and 3D images used in games.
• Have studied art and honed these skills, which include texture and composition, as well as using software such as Photoshop and 3D Studio MAX.

3. Sound Engineers and Musicians
• Produce music and sound effects used throughout the game.
• Are usually musicians in their own right, and are responsible for creating the sound effects and musical soundtracks for the game.
• Are both musically inclined and sophisticated users of the latest in sound editing and music composition software and equipment.

4. Game Designers
• Producer and Director of a game – create the whole game and all its aspects, while holding a base understanding of the three other parts of game development, and knowing who, what, when, where, and why.
• Understand the underlying game mechanics and theory.
• Have usually played a huge variety of games, including board games, war games and pen-and-paper role-playing games.
• Responsible for the myriad of statistics, properties and rules that go into a game, and have to balance the details to make a game fun.
• No specific course of study for designers, other than that they study everything, from science to history to the inner workings of hundreds of games.
• Spend a great deal of time creating content that goes into a game – levels, puzzles, scenarios etc.
• Also responsible for making sure everyone understands the design document, and that everything is done right.

I seriously doubt I'll ever actually design a game. However, wouldn't it be awesome to be involved in some way with a hugely successful game as a full-time job? I think so.

-Timotheos
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