The Very Difference Between Game Design and Game Development

Today, getting into the gaming industry is not so easy and every gamer dreams about it. This area is changing all the time, introducing new technologies, and development methods. Many experienced gamers are interested in this industry and are even trying to start a new project. Of course, what could be better than turning your hobby into a job and making it profitable? If you do not find the answer to this question and are interested in game development, you should pay attention to different concepts in this industry and know what they mean. 

Game design and game development are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different aspects of video game creation. Game design is the process of conceptualizing and planning a game’s mechanics, rules, story, characters, and overall gameplay experience. Game development, on the other hand, is the technical implementation of the design, including programming, testing, and debugging.

While game design and game development are distinct disciplines, they are closely intertwined and require collaboration between designers and developers. A game designer must have a deep understanding of the target audience, the market, and the industry trends, as well as creative and analytical skills to come up with a compelling game concept and design. A game developer, on the other hand, must have a strong background in computer science, programming languages, and software development tools, as well as problem-solving and debugging skills to turn the design into a functional and bug-free game.

Understanding the difference between game design and game development is crucial for anyone who wants to pursue a career in the video game industry, whether as a designer, developer, or both. While some professionals specialize in one area or the other, many companies require their employees to have a broader skill set and be able to collaborate effectively with others. In the following sections, we will explore the key differences between game design and game development in more detail and provide some insights into the roles and responsibilities of each discipline.

What Is Game Development?

To begin with, we’ll start simple. Who is a game developer? It is a specialist who takes care of all technical aspects of game development. Sometimes game developers may work alone, but if the company is experienced, its team will be from 3 to 1000 well-reputed experts. The number of game specialists directly depends on the project budget, but if the funding is minimal, the game developer performs the functions of all specialists or the tasks that he is able to do. This is a responsible job in which accuracy and the desire to create unique projects are very important. 

The work of a game developer includes creating codes – the basis of the game world, sound effects, software programming, rendering, testing, engineering, and many other difficult processes. Thanks to this, players can move around the game world and, of course, interact with it. Codes and programs based on the game concept. Usually, it is developed by designers. 

The main goal for a game developer is to follow all ideas and layouts of the game designer. If a game designer comes up with the concept, sketches of environments and characters, and creates the best user experience, the game developer’s job is to breathe life into these ideas, make them work, and bring them to perfection. 

However, it is not as easy to become a game developer as it may seem at first sight. You should have experience in game development, valuable skills, take many courses, and also be ready to sit at the computer for 8-12 hours a day. It’s not easy, but if you have patience, love for codes, and desire to create unique opportunities for players, this is the job for you.

The game developer job will be interesting for people who are fond of computer games and at the same time have good knowledge of mathematics and physics. By the way, the job of a game developer is not only excellent knowledge of the programming language and writing codes. It is also the ability to work in a team.

Game Developer Qualities

For the team work reason, a game developer must have the following personal qualities:

• Stress tolerance;
• Endurance;
• Lack of psychological problems;
• Tendency to work for a long time;
• Ability to be a leader;
• Ability to work in a team;
• Well-developed fantasy.

Of course, the most important thing is your programming skills. To create simple games, it will be enough to know to program, but game development has long gone ahead and requires much more skills, among which the following should be highlighted:

• Ideally use the powerful Unity tool and other engines that are necessary to create 2D and 3D games;

• Taking into consideration the laws of physics and apply them to certain situations;

• Learning the programming language C ++, C#, Java, Python, and others;

• Know the stages of gameplay design, drawing, rendering, animation, physics, and other aspects of the game;

• Know the basics of developing games for mobile devices;

• Skills in 2D and 3D games optimization.

Game Development Lifecycle

Game development is a process that involves various stages, from conception to release. The game development lifecycle typically consists of the following stages:

1. Pre-production: This stage involves conceptualizing the game idea and creating a game design document. The game design document outlines the game’s concept, gameplay mechanics, art style, and other features.

2. Production: This stage involves creating the game’s assets, such as characters, levels, and environments. The game’s code is also written during this stage.

3. Testing: This stage involves testing the game for bugs and glitches. The game is played by testers to identify any issues that need to be fixed.

4. Release: This stage involves releasing the game to the public. The game is made available on various platforms, such as consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.

Programming and Technical Development

Programming and technical development are crucial aspects of game development. Game developers use programming languages such as C++, Java, and Python to write code for the game. They also use software tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and GameMaker Studio to create the game’s assets and environments.

Game developers must have a good understanding of computer science, mathematics, and physics. They must also be familiar with game engines and development tools.

Game Development Tools and Engines

Game development tools and engines are software programs that game developers use to create games. These tools and engines provide game developers with a range of features and functionalities, such as 3D modeling, animation, physics simulation, and sound design.

Some popular game development tools and engines include Unity, Unreal Engine, GameMaker Studio, Construct, and RPG Maker. These tools and engines are used by both indie game developers and large game development studios.

Who Is a Game Designer?

The only one who has played a lot of different games can become a game designer. You need to understand the genres, mechanics of games, and monetization models, work with the balance of the game, delve into analytics, and monitor the market. Game design is not only creating wonderful environments and characters or setting the color palette. This industry requires creating a unique game concept to differentiate a project from all others and decide what feelings and emotions players will experience. 

The job of a game designer is very similar to a filmmaker. In addition, the game designer manages the production process of the game, and he can act as a full-fledged product manager. The game designer constructs the basic dynamics of the game, which are responsible for the users’ experience. The dynamics are based on the game mechanics – the way objects interact with the player and the game space.

Core Concepts in Game Design

The core concepts of game design include the game mechanics, story, characters, and game world. Game mechanics refer to the rules and systems that govern the gameplay. The story is the narrative that drives the game forward, while characters are the individuals that players interact with in the game world. The game world is the environment in which the game takes place and includes the setting, art style, and sound design.

The main goal of the game designers is to come up with the right game concept that will adhere to all client’s desires and needs. Game design specialists should have endless creativity and the ability to think quickly. First, game designers take into account the next aspects:

• The main plot of the game;
• Game genre;
• Target audience;
• Maps and levels;
• User interface;
• Rules of the game;
• Game process;
• Environment and characters.

Of course, there are many more aspects that can be considered when creating a game concept, but these are the main of them. Without this information, game designers can’t implement the client’s needs. At this stage, it is very important to learn about all the details and get as much information as possible. Follow-up works with other game specialists to make sure everything is under control and every process is related to the game idea.

Game Design Process

The game design process typically involves several stages, including concept development, prototyping, playtesting, and refinement. The concept development stage involves brainstorming ideas and creating a high-level overview of the game’s mechanics and story. Prototyping involves creating a basic version of the game to test the core mechanics and gameplay. Playtesting involves getting feedback from players to identify areas for improvement, while refinement involves making changes to the game based on feedback.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Game Designer

Game designers are responsible for creating the overall vision and structure of the game. They work closely with other members of the development team, including programmers, artists, and sound designers, to ensure that the game is cohesive and engaging. Game designers must have a strong understanding of game mechanics, storytelling, and player psychology. They must also be able to communicate their ideas effectively and work collaboratively with others.

By the way, it is very important how many game designers are working on one project. If the budget of the game company allows more employees to be hired, they can be divided into groups that are responsible for a specific aspect of the game. Thus, the work of the designer will be improved as more specialists focus on certain details.

What Features Differentiate a Game Designer from a Game Developer?

As you can see, the main difference between game development and game design is the end goal. Game designers make sketches of the future game, come up with concepts, dialogues, model characters, and create attractive worlds. Game design can be considered a planning tool for the game creation process. No game can be made without a plan, and game design is the process of creating it.

The game developer’s goal is to bring life into ideas and let them function as they do in real life by writing codes. They solve the issues of game mechanics development, how the game should function, and what should happen. We can get a playable project only with the help of game developers. 

The game development and game design can’t be compared, because they complement each other and together help create a unique project. Despite the fact that they have different end goals, they are interrelated.

The Interplay of Design and Development

Game design and game development are two distinct yet interrelated fields. The success of a video game depends on the seamless collaboration between game designers and game developers. In this section, we will explore the interplay between design and development in video game creation.

Collaboration between Designers and Developers

Game designers and game developers have different skill sets and areas of expertise. Game designers are responsible for conceptualizing the game, creating the game mechanics, and designing the game’s visual elements. On the other hand, game developers are responsible for bringing the game to life by coding, programming, and testing the game.

To ensure a successful collaboration between game designers and game developers, it is essential to have a clear understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities. For example, game designers should provide detailed design documents that outline the game’s mechanics, levels, and visual elements. Game developers should use these documents as a reference to develop the game.

Communication and Workflow Integration

Effective communication and workflow integration are critical to the success of any video game project. Game designers and game developers should work closely together to ensure that the project runs smoothly and efficiently.

One way to achieve this is by using project management tools that allow designers and developers to collaborate and communicate effectively. For example, Trello and Asana are popular project management tools that allow team members to track their progress, assign tasks, and communicate with each other.

In addition, game designers and game developers should have a clear understanding of each other’s workflows and processes. This can help to identify potential bottlenecks and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.

In conclusion, the interplay between game design and game development is essential to the success of any video game project. By collaborating effectively and communicating clearly, game designers and game developers can create engaging and immersive video games that captivate audiences.

Game Developers and Game Designers Salaries

Since these professions are now in demand and require special skills, analytical and creative mindsets, as well as higher education and courses, the salary will be correspondingly high. You should know that you will sit at the computer for 8-12 hours a day and concentrate on one thing for a great income. Even if you are a beginner and just trying your hand at game design or game development, you can make good money on it. 

Fortunately, information about game developers’ and game designers’ salaries is available on the Internet. Of course, the income depends on the company reputation, specialization, project budget, your country, and many other factors

Nevertheless, we believe that salary does not play the most significant role here. Your interests, teamwork skills, and the ability to adapt to the client’s needs should come first. If you have never been interested in game design or game development before and want to join the ranks of these specialists because of the salary, we can disappoint you. 

First of all, you need to pay attention to your creative mind if you want to become a game designer, as well as patience and perseverance if you want to become a game developer. This is all individual.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary responsibilities of a game designer compared to a game developer?

Game designers are responsible for creating the overall concept and vision for a video game. They develop the game’s story, characters, and gameplay mechanics. On the other hand, game developers are responsible for implementing the game designer’s vision into a playable game. They write the code, create the graphics, and ensure that the game runs smoothly.

How do the skill sets required for game design differ from those needed for game development?

Game designers need to have a strong understanding of game mechanics, storytelling, and player psychology. They must be creative and have excellent communication skills. Game developers, on the other hand, require a strong technical background in programming, computer science, and software engineering. They must have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work well under pressure.

What educational paths are best suited for a career in game design versus game development?

For a career in game design, a degree in game design, graphic design, or a related field is preferred. Game designers may also benefit from taking courses in creative writing, psychology, and marketing. Game developers typically require a degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. They may also benefit from taking courses in mathematics, physics, and programming languages.

In the gaming industry, who typically earns a higher salary, a game designer or a game developer?

According to Payscale and Glassdoor, game developers tend to earn a higher salary compared to game designers. However, this can vary depending on the company, location, and level of experience.

How does the role of a game programmer differ from that of a game developer?

Game programmers are responsible for writing the code that brings the game to life. They work alongside game developers to implement the game designer’s vision. Game developers have a broader role, overseeing the entire development process, including design, programming, and testing.

Does the game design process involve extensive programming, or is it more focused on conceptual aspects?

The game design process is primarily focused on conceptual aspects, such as developing the game’s story, characters, and gameplay mechanics. While game designers may have some programming knowledge, their main focus is on the creative and conceptual aspects of the game. Game developers handle the programming and technical aspects of game development.

The Bottom Line 

The difference between game designers and game developers lies in different purposes. We hope we helped you to understand the features of both works better and now you have a clear image of these occupations. If you are passionate about games and possess all the necessary qualities, there is absolutely no reason why you will not be able to find a job in the gaming industry.

As you can see, game developers and game designers complement each other and create a strong team together. At EJAW, we always have a goal to improve your knowledge of game development and collect the most useful information. Learn more about the game development industry with EJAW!