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The Producers Guild of America’s Code of Credits for Producing Video Games is intended to serve as a resource for the entertainment community. We hope that it will help to inform and educate producers and companies regarding the varied and involved work performed by producers of video game work so that appropriate producing credits and terms can be negotiated.
While this section is intended to capture and inform on core producing team positions within the video game industry, the PGA is cognizant that projects can vary by genre, platform, complexity, scale, and resources which are determinants in what credits are designated, and if applicable, public facing.
Video games that are developed either commercially or independently will also determine the types of producing credits used, where disciplines normally divided among many can instead reside with a single individual. Depending upon the companies involved and their respective policies and interpretations, the internal management of a project may not be synonymous with their public facing credit nor adhere to film and television crediting practices.
Executive Producer
Senior Producer
Producer
Game Producer
Creative Producer
Technical Producer
Associate Producer
Production Supervisor
Production Coordinator
Executive Producer
Executive Producers oversee the creative, business, financial, and technology partnership aspects from a strategic level of a successfully delivered video game product. The Executive Producer manages producers and personnel (e.g. developers, artists, programmers, engineers, testers) that work within the following:
• Video Game Developer - responsible for the game development process and the disciplines and workforce employed in creating the video game.
• Video Game Publisher - responsible for the publishing of the video game product.
These organizational roles typically exist as separate companies but they can also exist within a single entity if the studio is large.
Typically not involved in the day-to-day aspects of game development, they are the key figure in ensuring that the project stays on schedule, within budget, and meets quality standards. While quality is an ethos that is prevalent through Senior Producer down to Producer levels, if the product does not meet game quality standards it is the Executive Producer’s responsibility to delay, drive fixes, or cancel the project. An Executive Producer of a video game project applies to creative and strategic contributors under one or several of the following categories:
• A Creative Director responsible for the conceptualization and development of the video game.
• Senior company executive from the game developer with oversight of the creative and technical development, and day-to-day production of the video game.
• Senior company executive from the game publisher responsible for bringing the video game product to market for wide exploitation and monetization.
• Internal or external producers with oversight of multiple video game projects under a single company portfolio (both game development and game publishing).
Note: Internal producers of the game developer with oversight of multiple video game projects may also be titled as Senior Producer.
Senior Producer
The Senior Producer functions as the top-level product owner that manages the project team and focuses on the strategic aspects of the production such as high-level planning, budgeting, and risk management. They are responsible for schedules and milestones of the overall production pipeline of a single project, multiple projects, or the overall production pipeline within a studio.
Producer
The Producer (or Project Manager) works with both creative and technical staff in managing the day-to-day operations throughout the video game project’s development. The Producer works closely with the creative team to ensure that the game’s vision is synchronized with the Game Design Document (GDD). The Producer is responsible for overseeing the game design, art, and technical implementation, ensuring that the creative aspects align with the overall project goals, and managing the development pipeline.
The Producer may also have a title that reflects their focus within specific discipline areas of a single production phase such as game design, programming, level design, art production, audio design, and testing and iteration. The larger the project, the more likely they are to have additional oversight roles which will include but are not limited to user interface (UI) design, motion capture/performance capture, animation scripting, modeling, texturing, visual effects, cinematics, music, etc.
Producers are also designated in the post production/post launch phase of the product and are responsible for downloadable content (DLC) after the initial release for continued monetization.
Note: Internal designation or title may be Lead Producer, Development Producer, or Development Director.
Game Producer
The Game Producer works for the game developer and typically is designated on a specific game or project. They are responsible for managing the internal development team, overseeing the production process, and ensuring that the game is completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. The Game Producer acts as the primary point of contact between the development team and other stakeholders, including the game publisher.
However, in some cases, a publisher might assign a Publishing Producer or a Product Manager to work closely with the Game Producer to ensure that the developer’s work aligns with the publisher’s expectations and deadlines. Despite this collaboration, the Game Producer’s priorities and responsibilities rest with the developer.
Note: Internal designation or title may be Lead Producer.
Creative Producer
The Creative Producer is focused on the video game's narrative, artistic direction, and overall creative vision. They work closely with designers, writers, and artists to ensure the game’s creative elements are cohesive and compelling. They guide the narrative and artistic direction, make decisions about storylines, characters, and visual styles, and ensure that the game’s creative vision aligns with the target audience.
Technical Producer
The Technical Producer is responsible for the technical aspects of the video game’s production. They manage the development environment, address technical challenges, oversee tool development, and coordinate with the programming team to ensure technical feasibility. The Technical Producer ensures that the development process uses the right tools, technology, and workflows. This role is closely tied to software project management and is more technical in nature which requires a more granular understanding of the specific pipelines and how things are built.
Associate Producer
The Associate Producer acts as a support to the main Producer, assisting in the overall management of the project. They often handle day-to-day tasks to keep the production moving smoothly. Associate Producers frequently coordinate between different teams (e.g. art, design, programming) and external partners (e.g. marketing, legal, quality assurance). They facilitate communication to ensure that the entire team is aligned with the project's objectives. The Associate Producer may interact with external stakeholders, such as licensors or publishers, to ensure their needs and expectations are met.
The Associate Producer may also have an internal title that reflects their focus within a dedicated function of the game development process. For example, in projects with larger budgets, they can function as an outsource producer which manages relationships with external partners (usually offshore), third parties, or vendors that are responsible for creating specific parts of the game, such as art, animation, or audio. They coordinate with external vendors, ensuring that outsourced work meets quality standards, and integration of external assets into the main project.
Production Supervisor
The Production Supervisor is primarily focused on the day-to-day operations and execution of the production process. They oversee the implementation of the production plan and ensure that the teams are adhering to schedules and quality standards. The Production Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the necessary resources (e.g., personnel, tools, software) are available and used effectively by departments throughout the production.
Note: This category may also apply to titles which are derived from their designation over specific disciplines, components, or departments of the production. Those titles may include but are not limited to QA Supervisor or Technical Supervisor.
Production Coordinator
Production Coordinators provide organizational and administrative support to the production team. They ensure that the production process runs smoothly by handling logistics, scheduling meetings, and maintaining communication between different departments. Production Coordinators track tasks assigned to different team members and ensure that deadlines are met which involves maintaining and updating project management tools and documentation.