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Game designer vs producer

The differences between game designers and producers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a game designer, becoming a producer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a game designer has an average salary of $87,645, which is higher than the $72,202 average annual salary of a producer.

The top three skills for a game designer include unity, UI and game development. The most important skills for a producer are work ethic, video production, and client relationships.

Game designer vs producer overview

Game DesignerProducer
Yearly salary$87,645$72,202
Hourly rate$42.14$34.71
Growth rate3%8%
Number of jobs45,22710,610
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4440
Years of experience412

What does a game designer do?

A video game designer is responsible for making a concept of a video game and creating the storylines, scenarios, maps, character development, user interfaces, and in-game objectives. Typical responsibilities include adding computer scripting using computer software, which will then generate events, objects, commands, and characters that end-users can choose from to interact with during the game. Additionally, you will write code using different computer programming languages and designing characters, animation, and levels. To become a successful video game designer, you must be creative, innovative, and ambitious.

What does a producer do?

A producer is an individual who is responsible for providing infrastructure, resources, and logistics in making a movie, television show, or stage production. Producers hire production staff such as director, crew, and sometimes actors to coordinate their activities throughout the production process. They support the creative team by conducting meetings to discuss the production's progress and ensure adherence to deadlines. Producers also travel often either to film on location for a movie or to tour with a theatre production.

Game designer vs producer salary

Game designers and producers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Game DesignerProducer
Average salary$87,645$72,202
Salary rangeBetween $60,000 And $127,000Between $43,000 And $120,000
Highest paying CityReno, NVSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaNevada
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between game designer and producer education

There are a few differences between a game designer and a producer in terms of educational background:

Game DesignerProducer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorGraphic DesignCommunication
Most common collegeStanford UniversityHarvard University

Game designer vs producer demographics

Here are the differences between game designers' and producers' demographics:

Game DesignerProducer
Average age4440
Gender ratioMale, 88.2% Female, 11.8%Male, 58.2% Female, 41.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.3% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%14%

Differences between game designer and producer duties and responsibilities

Game designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead brainstorming meetings to develop new ideas and concepts.
  • Manage the bug tracking database for the entire design team.
  • Lead the design of world-class social games on the Facebook platform.
  • Manage creative team including lead illustrator, lead painter, animation and sound design.
  • Manage QA and drive testing plans, which deliver a high quality product on time.
  • Design the project's path, and manage an android programmer, a graphic designer and a musician.
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Producer example responsibilities.

  • Manage and augment existing budget with EP.
  • Manage production of a Sony HD motion graphics internal sales video.
  • Manage all union matters including, IASTE, DGA and AFTRA.
  • Prospect and generate new business through telemarketing leads, referrals, networking and cold leads.
  • Lead the creation of key titles including high profile X360 launch title and new NFL brand IP.
  • Manage and guide guest bloggers through the editing process, copy edit blogs and produce content in HTML.
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Game designer vs producer skills

Common game designer skills
  • Unity, 10%
  • UI, 6%
  • Game Development, 6%
  • Game Mechanics, 6%
  • C++, 5%
  • Math, 4%
Common producer skills
  • Work Ethic, 9%
  • Video Production, 6%
  • Client Relationships, 6%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Cross-Selling, 6%
  • News Stories, 4%

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