Browsers are
difficult
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Game
structure
User
experience
(UX / UI)
Menu systems
Settings
Credits
Load system
Ingame (G)UI
Inventory
Menus
Information panels (Char /
Obj / Npc / Skills /...)
Skill / ability systems
Game manager
Chats / chat rooms
Friend lists
Shops
Stuff unrelated to game(s)
Much more
Game portal / Webpage
Gameplay and Mechanics
(game design and game code)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gameplay
Rules / systems of interaction (Game mechanics)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_mechanics
Player - game interaction
cycle (game mechanics)
Immersion
Player's skills and abilities
Player character actions
Abilities
Skills
Interaction with game
objects
Game Environment
Master AI
Game Logic
NPC / Agent AI
Pathfinding
Goals
Game Contents (UX, audio, plot, graphics)
Plot
Characters
Characteristics and
Details
History and Story
RPG Element of Characters
Game world
History and Story (Lore)
Situation
Conflicts
Actors and Factions
Future
Goals and Freedom of Action
Main Goals
Inbuilt Goals
Moral Codes
What things can be
done in the game
RPG elements
See DnD or Ars Magica
character sheets
Abilities, skill, characteristics, features, backgrounds, traits,
physical traits, history, personality, alignment, experience,
race, class,...
Story Elements
Story-not-told
Plot Line
Quests and Side Quests
Small Plots
Divergent Storylines
Narrative Tools
Game Engine
Functionality
(engine / base
code)
Software architecture
https://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Software_architecture
Engine, Frontend
and Backend
Engine / server functionality and features
Code / Script
Ingame functionality and features
Menu, game lobby and other
systems functionality and features
Middleware
(examples)
Full 3d game engine: unity, unreal, source 2,
cryengine V, lumberyard, blender
animation engine (armature, keyframes, IK,...)
rendering engine (opelgl, shaders, materials, camera,...)
Added functionality and features
AI: AI.implant, AiLive, xaitment
Audio engine: wwise
Human animation: euphoria
Physics engine: havok, bullet, physx, ode
(open dynamics engine), box 2d
ragdoll, rigid body, collisions, soft body,
cloth, procedural animation,...
Publisher functionality and features
(SteamWorks)
Achievements, cards,
statistics,...
Vegetation: speedtree
Visibility and occlusion culling: umbra 3
Visual fx: nvidia gameworks
Game
Creation
Tools
Code / Script
Ingame functionality and features
Procedural Generation Systems
Assets
3D / 2D / Add-Ons / Audio / Templates / Tools / VFX /
Simulation / Related to Other Industries...
Custom Game Making Tools
Created to make the game creation process more efficient
Audio
Engine Related Stuff
Mixers / Audio sources / Audio listener...
Music
Ambient
SFX
Voice-overs
Graphics
Concepts
Storyboards
Character and World Concepts
Scenes and Objects
Objects
Models
UV Layers
Materials
Shaders
Textures
Sprites
Animations
Armatures
Procedural
Lighting
Rendering
Post-Processing
Cut Scenes
Marketing Materials
Game Development
aka Project /
Company structure
Game development wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_development
Leading and management:
Company matters, vision and values,
policies, financing, strategy, advice
and coop networks,...
Board of Directors / Owners
Advisory Board
Staff (leaders / managers)
PR and marketing:
Event org, reports, blogs, news, damage
control, social media, market material
management, viral marketing,...
Product (Brand) Manager
Marketing and Social Media Experts
Publishing:
Localizing, customer base management,
page content, managing builds and
features, marketing, packaging, pricing,
errors and fixing, bug reports,...
Publishing Platforms Manager
Localization Experts
Human resources and recruitment:
Well-being, benefits, morale, crew
happenings, resource surveys and
management, physical and
psychological well-being,...
HR Manager
Representatives (Health and safety,
employee, employer's)
Recruiters (good know-how)
and Wellbeing Workers
Community management:
Communication, community
upkeep, forums, happenings,
feedback and wishes,...
Community Manager
Development support:
Feedback, quality assurance,
testing, external work /
services, subcontracting,...
External Manager
QA Manager
QA Personel and Testers
Admin and support teams:
Backend management, security,
download / upload, server
management,...
Admins
Hackers / Server Rulers
Game Core
Development (team):
Design and develop
game and game
related tech / content
Leading and management:
Leading, management and scheduling,
motivating, internal communication,
budget planning and financing, plans,
visions and values, risk analysis, design
documents and business plans,...
Producer / Project manager
Assistant Producer
Creative Director (overall look and feel)
Audio:
Soundscape, music, ambiance, sfx (effects),
voice overs (dialogs), marketing audio,
composing, recording, inventing sounds,
creating mood,...
Audio Leader / Audio Manager
Creators / Audio Engineers
Code:
Code base (all), code design, game engine
parts (tech structure: graphics, audio,
occlusion,...), game functionality and
mechanics, AI and agents, game related
functionality and systems, scripting,
middle-ware, server code,...
Lead Programmer / Senior Programmer / Technical Manager
Game Programmers
DevOps Engineers (online infra, sec and stability)
Design / plot:
Design documents, game mechanics, world
design, textual content, dialogues, dialog
system, UI design, design support,
document management, core loop,
monetization,...
Lead Designer / Design Manager
Game Designers
Copywriters (plot and dialogue)
Graphics:
Style, models, materials, textures, effects
and particles, characters, sculpting,
armatures, animations, scenery and props,
videos, marketing materials,...
Lead Artist / Creative Manager
Game Artists (CG artists) and Animators
Implementation:
Content export-import, timing, level / map
creation, prefab creation, bounding boxes
and physics settings, scripting, engine
assets...
Production Manager
Technical Artists (art + programming)
Implementor (engine assets + custom tools)
Level Editors / Level Designers
UX:
Menus, ingame (G)UI, game manager,
gameflow, user - game interaction loop,...
UX Manager
UX Designers
UX Implementors
Mind map of Game / Project / Company Structure
Thank you for everyone who has extended my view
of the Game Industry throughout the years.
© 2017- Risto Koskenkorva
https://www.linkedin.com/in/koskenkorva/
References (found after most of
the map was already created)
Note: More detailed referencing
after a research.
Heinonen, S. (2020, June 18). IDENTIFYING COMPETENCE WITH DIGITAL BADGES —
GAME INDUSTRY COMPETENCE TARGET MAP. https://pelimerkit.metropolia.fi/
en/2020/06/18/identifying-competence-with-digital-badges-game-industry-
competence-target-map/
Pelimerkit. (2020, June 30). Gamebadges [kumu.io based map of Competence-
based open badges for the gaming industry]. Retrieved June 2, 2022, from https://
kumu.io/-/209159#map-WoYEQUtu
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