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At Savannah College of Art and Design, professionals from Zynga, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, and Google visit with students every quarter, interviewing for positions and reviewing portfolios. These opportunities reflect SCAD's status as one of the world’s most acclaimed universities for the study of interactive design and game development. Learn more. 

Common Questions About the Differences Between Game Design and Similar Careers

Posted by Michelle Burton. Last updated August 28, 2019.

Q&A

Common questions about the differences between game design and similar careers asked by our readers:

What’s the difference between a game designer and a game developer?

Game designers are responsible for the overall creative vision for the game while game developers take the game designers concepts and build the game. Game developers are software developers and engineers who code and program games.  Game designers create characters, settings, stories, props, and even the rules for games. However, because many game design curriculums teach game programming, production, and development, game designers may handle tasks in these areas as well.

What’s the difference between a game artist and an illustrator?

Game artists develop 2D and 3D characters, environments and graphics for video games. They create the art behind the games. Some game artists may create storyboards to present their ideas or they may have other duties such as concept development. Illustrators create pictures for books, magazines, and other publications and for commercial products, such as textiles, wrapping paper, stationery, greeting cards, and calendars. Illustrators increasingly use computers in their work. They might draw in pen or pencil and then scan the image, using software to add color, or they might use a special pen to draw images directly onto the computer.

What’s the difference between a game designer and a game programmer?

Game designers are responsible for the overall creative vision for the game. They create characters, settings, stories, props, and even the rules for games. However, because many game design curriculums teach game programming, production, and development, game designers may handle tasks in these areas as well. According to AllArtSchools, game programmers take the design specifications of game designers, and integrate art and sound, translating it all into a playable game. Programmers map the terrain of the game environment, implement artificial intelligence for non-player characters, and connect player input via the controller to the events happening onscreen.

What’s the difference between a game designer and a game artist?

Game designers are responsible for the overall creative vision for the game. They create characters, settings, stories, props, and even the rules for games. However, because many game design curriculums teach game programming, production, and development, game designers may handle tasks in these areas as well. Game artists develop 2D and 3D characters, environments and graphics for video games. They create the art behind the games. Some game artists may create storyboards to present their ideas or they may have other duties such as concept development.

What’s the difference between a game developer and a game programmer?

Game developers are software developers and engineers who create video games. They are often involved in many aspects of a game’s creation from concept to coding. Game developers may create storylines, create prototypes, design role-play mechanics, and document game design processes. They create the core features of video games for PCs, consoles, and mobile devices. According to AllArtSchools, game programmers take the design specifications of game designers, and integrate art and sound, translating it all into a playable game. Programmers map the terrain of the game environment, implement artificial intelligence for non-player characters, and connect player input via the controller to the events happening onscreen.

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