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Game Producer, Game Development Producer, Project Manager, Game Production Manager, Game Director, Game Development Coordinator

Job Description

What do you think is the top-earning business area within the entertainment industry? Many people might say “Hollywood” or the “music industry,” both of which rake in billions. But if you said the “video game industry,” you’re right! In fact, the gaming industry earns more than movies and music combined

Per Mordor Intelligence, “the Gaming Market was valued at USD 198.40 billion in 2021, and it is expected to reach a value of USD 339.95 billion by 2027.” With that kind of money pouring in, it is easy to see why video game careers are hotter than ever. Yet the job of a Video Game Producer is often overlooked. People tend to think about the technical side of making games and forget that, just as films are produced, video games are, too! 

Indeed, Video Game Producers are integral to the entire process. From testing ideas and obtaining funding to finding the right talent and getting games published, they’re responsible for managing game projects from start to finish!

 

Rewarding Aspects of Career
  • Participating in massive projects employing hundreds of workers
  • Envisioning creative projects and helping to bring them to (virtual) life
  • Being part of the team that creates entertainment and educational resources for families around the world
$78,918
The Inside Scoop
Job Responsibilities

Working Schedule

  • Video Game Producers may work full-time, with overtime needed if a game’s development is running behind schedule. They typically work in offices and collaborate with team members in-person or virtually.  

Typical Duties

  • Source suitable talent, including designers, building engineers, artists, and programmers
  • Meet with teams to discuss storylines and characters
  • Study target consumer demographics to understand who games will be made for and marketed to
  • Raise money to fund projects; oversee and manage budgets, as applicable
  • Establish a schedule with clear goals and deadlines
  • Ensure progress is being made and which teams are responsible for which goals
  • Facilitate collaboration across various teams and resolve disputes as needed
  • Set up test environments to gain feedback, ensure player expectations are met and discover flaws and bugs
  • Negotiate contracts with game publishers and employees/contractors
  • Work with publishers as ideas evolve or change to ensure they agree
  • Oversee or manage various aspects of game projects
  • Organize press releases; handle the business and marketing side of the development with efficiency 
  • Be familiar with intellectual property rights, laws, and licensing requirements
  • Understand how games are distributed and marketed across various platforms, including mobile apps, PC games, downloadable games for consoles, and physical games sold in stores
  • Manage LiveOps for games

Additional Responsibilities

  • Have a strong working knowledge of all aspects of game development
  • Work with animators and marketers to ensure suitable graphics are used for ads
  • Collaborate with teams to come up with workable fixes that can be implemented within a feasible budget and timeframe
  • Understand budgeting, planning, timelines, and project management
  • Share, maintain, and organize documentation and files, including revision histories and updates, as needed
Skills Needed on the Job

Soft Skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Collaboration 
  • Communication skills
  • Creativity
  • Negotiation skills
  • Organization skills
  • Perceptiveness 
  • Presenting 
  • Problem-solving 
  • Time management 

Technical Skills

  • Familiarity with marketing and advertising principles
  • Familiarity with budgeting and project management software
  • Familiarity with legal terms and contracts
  • Knowledge of gaming and gaming culture
  • Some computer programming knowledge may be useful 
Different Types of Organizations
  • Video game design companies (such as Nintendo, Rockstar Games, Electronic Arts, Activision, Sony, Ubisoft, Sega, Capcom, Bandai, Mojang, Epic Games, etc.)
Expectations and Sacrifices

Without Video Game Producers, we wouldn’t have amazing games and series like Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, Pokémon, Fortnite, Minecraft, Call of Duty, Sonic, and so many others! The video game industry exploded into the mainstream in the early 1980s and has since turned into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Indeed, many games have launched entire empires of their own, like Pokémon, which has raked in over $90 billion as a media franchise with books, trading cards, TV shows, apparel, and tons of other merchandise. 

The field has become crowded as thousands of companies now compete for customers. Meanwhile, as game and console prices skyrocket, Video Game Producers have the heavy burden of figuring out what the next big hit could be. They must then convince others to invest their time and resources to develop the concept, which can be a risky endeavor. When a game makes it big, producers are celebrated…but when games flounder it can be a reputational blow. 

Consider the cautionary tale of former game designer Howard Scott Warshaw. Though not a producer, Warshaw has been unfairly crticized for decades after creating E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial on a very rushed timeline for Atari back in 1982. Generally cited as the worst game ever made, E.T. has the bonus honor of being blamed for leading to the video game crash of 1983 which bankrupted many companies. Warshaw was really just a scapegoat who took the fall for a greedy company that had set him up for failure. Still, the legacy of that single crisis ruined his career in the industry.

Current Trends

As people stayed home more during the height of the Covid pandemic, video game sales spiked. Many discovered the joy and stress relief that gameplay provides, which has continued to aid the already popular industry! Games like Grand Theft Auto and Fortnite have become sales juggernauts, reaping massive profits enabling them to partner up with musicians and actors. 

For example, GTA 5, though almost a decade old, got a new lease on life via a unique collaboration with hip-hop star Dr. Dre, whose exclusive music could be unlocked by fans through gameplay. Fortnite’s recent partnership with Hollywood icon Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson delighted players by allowing them to unlock The Rock’s character “skin” and become the armored hero “The Foundation.” 

Video Game Producers have to constantly seek timely collaborations with trending and well-established entertainers who can grab attention and connect games with modern players. Some cross promotions might seem odd at first, yet pay off because of their sheer silliness (Exhibit A: Fortnite’s “Rickrollin’” collab with singer-turned-meme sensation Rick Astley). These gambits require producers who really have their pulse on what’s hot and what’s funny at the time in the ever-changing gaming culture.

What kinds of things did people in this career enjoy doing when they were younger…

In their youth, Video Game Producers probably enjoyed — you guessed it — gaming! In fact, many continued their love affair with games and decided to pursue careers in the industry. In addition to video games, some may also have enjoyed computer programming, graphic design, board games, and learning the “behind-the-scenes” of how things get made. 

Other traits many producers share are persuasiveness and collaboration. Producers in all industries must be experts in the fine art of negotiating and getting people from different backgrounds on the same page. Such teamwork skills are often learned through group activities in school.

 

Education and Training Needed

Education 

  • Many Video Game Producers earn a bachelor’s degree in a field related to game production, game design, or business
  • Aside from game-related classes, common general courses may include math, economics, finance, marketing, contract law, psychology, film studies, graphic design, computer science, programming, and more
  • Completing an internship or working as an assistant producer can provide a practical, real-world education that can’t be gained from college classes
  • Many students study project management and earn a certificate to boost their academic credentials 
  • Some schools feature bootcamps and ad hoc game design courses (like those offered by Vertex School) that students can take, such as game art and animation, programming languages, visual effects, 2D animation, 3D modeling, and concept art
  • Students can learn a lot by making games themselves and creating a games portfolio. Getting feedback from other gamers helps inform future decisions about what to produce (or not!)
    • Note, there are different types of games, such as console games, mobile games, computer games, and massively multiplayer online games, each of which may require different skills
Things to look for in an University
  • Video Game Producers have a few degree options to consider, but all students should look for accredited schools. Game-related majors are very suited for flexible online and hybrid learning, but in-person team-building skills are also important to develop.
Things to do in High School and College
  • To produce games, it is useful to understand how they are designed! Practice your skills early with easy, no-coding programs like GameMaker 
  • Play a wide variety of videogames and take notes on which aspects you find most (and least) engaging. Don’t just stick to console games — also play mobile games, computer games, and massively multiplayer online games
  • Talk about gaming with players in the community, both online and in-person
    • Remember to have conversations outside of online forums, because in-person dynamics can generate different thoughts and ideas
  • Work on an online portfolio showcasing your best work. Keep it updated as you get better
  • Sign up for programming language courses or study them on your own. Common languages for game development include C++, C#, JavaScript, Java, Lua, and Python
  • Take edX or Coursera courses if you need extra focus on topics such as object-oriented programming and algorithms, or with using video game engines like Unity and Unreal
  • Read books and blogs, watch YouTube tutorials, and join school groups related to the field (not just playing games, but developing them!)
  • Start publishing your games on sites like Itch.io, IndieGameStand, Desura, Kongregate, and Roast My Game to gain feedback 
  • Check out the MasterClass article How to Become a Video Game Producer
  • Apply for gaming, business, and marketing apprenticeships 
    • It may be useful to intern with popular game partnership franchises, like Disney and Marvel
  • If you want to work with immersive games like GTA (which features a storyline in the fictional city of Los Santos), study art, architecture, landscapes, interior design, and color theory
  • Subscribe to popular YouTube gaming channels
  • Grow your network by making connections with people in the industry as well as fellow students, teachers, and alumni
  • Look for applicable scholarships to help take off the financial burden of school
Typical Roadmap
Video Game Producer Gladeo Roadmap
How to Land your 1st job
  • To get hired, Video Game Producers need a strong mix of academic and real-world job experiences. They usually have to work their way up from junior positions 
    • Many start as quality assurance game testers, then later get project management and assistant producer roles
  • Let your network know you are looking for work and share your online portfolio! Be sure to include any games you may have created and launched on your own
  • Be persistent as you search for opportunities on Glassdoor, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, and other job portals. Don’t forget to search for Video Game Designer internships, as well as business and marketing internships
  • Visit websites of popular game companies to see if they have opportunities listed. Try landing a job at a smaller company; it might be easier to get your foot in the door
  • Interview a working Video Game Producer. Ask for tips on breaking into the business
  • Ask your professors, supervisors, and professional peers to serve as references for you
  • Check out your school’s career center. They may be able to help polish your resume and practice interview skills
  • If attending a game-related college program, ask the department about recruiter connections. They might be a pipeline to employers looking to recruit talented grads
  • Consider moving to another state with a high employment level for video game jobs, such as California, Washington, Texas, Florida, and New York
  • Check out Video Game Producer resume templates and game-related interview questions 
  • Always dress professionally for job interviews and take notes afterward about what questions they asked (and how they responded to your answers)
  • If needed, complete any additional certifications or ad hoc courses to qualify for the best jobs
How to Climb the Ladder
  • Probably the best way to rise in this industry is to produce awesome games that sell!
  • Learn from mistakes, keep on top of gaming and marketing trends, and study what the competition is doing
  • Find “big name” entertainers and media franchises to partner with
  • Always meet budgets and deadlines and be known as the “go-to” problem solver
  • Build your reputation as a creative, calm-under-pressure producer who treats people with dignity and respect 
  • Put yourself in the shoes of the team members. Listen to their problems and concerns
  • Master the art of presentation so you speak with ease in front of a group while pitching ideas
  • Network with other producers, including those outside the game industry 
  • Set goals for continual learning and improvement
  • Consider doing an advanced degree or additional certification
Plan B

You may love playing or even designing video games — but if producing them doesn’t sound like quite your cup of tea, have no fear! We’ve got plenty of related job titles for you to consider, below: 

  • Animator
  • Audio Engineer
  • Esports Producer
  • Film/Television Producer
  • Game Designer
  • Software Developer
  • Computer Programmer
  • Technical Support Specialist
  • Video Game Tester
  • Visual Effects Producer
  • Writer

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