What it takes to be a great game producer
Elliot Callighan
Monday 18th July 2022
The value of skilled producers in game development simply cannot be overstated. Without these unsung heroes and heroines overseeing workflows and processing many moving parts, most games would likely churn forever in development hell.
But what makes a good producer great? And who makes for strong (even if unexpected) candidates to step into this role?
Producers in our industry cover a wide range of responsibilities, depending on where you look. In-house producers juggle many needs across a studio's internal teams alongside any outside partners, while those outside of fully integrated studios often manage a tighter scope of products and processes in collaboration across multiple developers at once.
The common profile of a producer in either environment is someone who obsesses over organization, boasts strong communication skills and has a penchant for project management. But what makes a strong producer extra super is determined by so much more than that.
I sat down with Unlock Audio's own producer and project manager, game development veteran Michelle Thomas, to discuss her path to project management and learn what sets producers (and their teams) up for collaborative success.
Anyone pursuing a role as a producer can easily take advantage of the myriad programs built around learning the ins and outs of project management. It's important to know the typical development frameworks and methodologies -- such as Kanban, Agile, Scrum and Waterfall -- and be able to apply each appropriately to various project types and partnership styles along the way.
These types of certifications are great, but nothing can substitute for applied experience in the kind of work you oversee.
"Working in QA
Read more on gamesindustry.biz
