Production 101 – #1 What does a producer do?
An introduction to the roles and responsibilities of various types of Game Producers.
Welcome to the inaugural Production 101 post! Here is where we dive deep into game production. What better question to start with than ‘What does a producer do?’
Stepping into the world of game production is a journey that involves guiding a game from its early conceptual stages right through to its release and beyond. The role of a Game Producer is multifaceted and dynamic, encompassing the oversight of various phases of game development. This includes everything from sparking the initial concept to steering the game through its live release phases.
Types of Producers:
Some Game Producers take on the mantle of project leaders. They’re the linchpins coordinating the development team’s efforts in this capacity. They manage the project’s timeline and personnel, ensuring the game crosses the finish line on schedule and within the allocated financial resources.
Collaboration is a vital part of a Game Producer’s role. They work hand in glove with different disciplines—art, design, programming—to pave the way for the game’s successful development. Tasks such as conceptualisation, line production, and managing outsourcing relationships also fall within their purview.
There’s another breed of Game Producers who focus on managing relationships with external teams. Known as External Producers, they’re pivotal in crafting statements of work, assessing progress through milestones, and serving as the vital link between their studio and external partners.
Building on the diverse roles within game production, some Game Producers carve out niches for themselves by specialising in specific areas of game development. These specialists dive deep into the technical intricacies vital for modern games to thrive in a competitive market. Some Producers, for instance, focus on the seamless integration of servers, ensuring that multiplayer experiences run smoothly without a hitch. They might also immerse themselves in analytics and telemetry, gathering and interpreting data to refine the gaming experience based on actual player behaviour.
Localisation is another critical area where specialised Producers make their mark. They oversee the adaptation of game content to different languages and cultures, ensuring that the game resonates with players across the globe. Additionally, managing outsourcing relationships is a crucial responsibility for some Producers. They navigate the complexities of working with external studios and freelancers, ensuring that outsourced work meets the project’s standards and is delivered on time.
In the game development ecosystem, Publishing Producers play a pivotal role from the perspective of publishing and distribution. These Producers often collaborate with console platforms and app stores, focusing on navigating the game through the myriad of steps required for its release to the eager public. They guide the complexities of working with external studios and freelancers, ensuring that outsourced work meets the project’s high standards and is delivered on time.
Additionally, Publishing Producers frequently engage with licensors, especially when the game incorporates specific brands or music. This aspect of their role involves ensuring that all content is correctly licensed and that the game complies with legal and commercial requirements of using third-party intellectual property. Through their concerted efforts, publishing producers ensure that the game reaches its audience and does so in a manner that respects the creative and commercial partnerships that enrich the gaming experience.
With more experience, some Game Producers take on even greater responsibilities. They venture into securing funding, recruiting top talent, and navigating through the challenges during the production game. Often, they become people managers accountable for the personal development of their more junior Producers.
Becoming a Producer:
Forging a path to become a Game Producer requires a deep dive into the games industry, usually building on several years of experience. Many start in roles such as assistant producer, gradually climbing the ladder from other areas of development like Quality Assurance, Product Management, or Development itself.
For those aspiring to this role, it’s crucial to immerse oneself in the industry, honing skills in project management, forging solid relationships, marketing, and, importantly, cultivating a rich understanding of the games industry’s inner workings.
More about each of these types of Producers:
In the next post in the series of Production 101, we explore in detail the roles and responsibilities of the different Game Producers. We also look at the various levels of producers in typical organisations, from Associate to Executive Producer.
