Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
The producer is responsible for getting the testing results to the correct
people so that any necessary fixes can be implemented.
All the tasks the game producer accounts for, is shown in the following figure:
Who is the producer?
You may have deduced that there is a lot to learn on the job. Luckily, other profes-
sionals have figured this out and education in this role is available through institu-
tions of higher learning. Many colleges and universities offer certification in Software
Production Management as well as Computer Science.
Business administration is an obvious choice, but also training in game design
and development, production and more specialized courses in animation, music, or
scriptwriting can help to gain a foothold in the industry.
It is definitely worth considering spending the time and money on nailing down the
basic skills before joining the school of hard knocks. It will save you money and can
pay for itself during your first project from the mistakes you've avoided.
As a producer, be prepared for a high level of stress, lack of sleep, and possible
burnout. You are everything to the team and they will look to you for solutions, resolu-
tions, and endless snacks and drinks. Along the high demands come great rewards;
however, the satisfaction of a successful product is priceless.
So keep smiling, get as much sleep as you can along with some exercise and a
healthy diet. Take up a sport, learn to meditate, find some old comedies on the tube.
Find healthy ways to relax and stay balanced.
There is a prime example of this from a project one of the authors worked on, a few
years ago. He took the position of producer with a couple of fellows who had finan-
