30/07/2014 - Meet the Team #2: Gary Leach Lead Game Engineer

So I get what a Game Designer does and what a Game Developer does, but what does a Game Engineer do?

It varies from studio to studio (role titles are so uninformative in the industry these days), but in general gaming engineers are specialized software engineers who design and program the game. They'll typically work with teams of developers on the entire process of creating the game (particularly from a technical standpoint).

Beginning with the conceptual development and initial prototype development, an engineer will provide knowledge of programming and the realities of game design. Engineers are often responsible for creating coding sequences to create gameplay, and may need to create multiple codes for different gaming devices.

Engineers must also help with the troubleshooting of the finished product. Running tests and reviewing codes will show an engineer what needs to be redone or changed.

In the studios I may or may not have worked with/in, they are also the ones that more intimately deal directly with the harsh reality of their platforms limitations. I don't envy them being in a position where the art/design direction has a fantastic idea, and it simply isn't implementable. Even with a solid go, sometimes a magnificent plan with great potential just gets dumped on the cutting-room floor. On the other hand, they are the Rock Stars that translate an idea into a working design. #muchrespect.

I like how he related their design format to an excavation. An interesting metaphor, and I can agree that it must be terrifying at times. 

Would mr. Leach be interested in coming over for a little Q&A? (after the settlement revamp has been delivered of course)

Let us know a bit in advance if mr. Leach is open to the idea so members have an opportunity to gather their thoughts and formulate some questions.

Also, the way I envision it, it wouldn't be one big session where Gary sits down one time for a couple of hours. It'd be more like him sitting down for about half an hour to 45 minutes at the end of a day and answering some questions and then doing this for about a week. (if there are enough questions to go around of course, which I'm sure will be the case)

As not all the regular members are at the forum every day and especially not at the same time, doing something like I proposed would provide opportunity for more of them to get a question in. It would probably also be easier on Gary this way. Not to mention that it would probably allow the conversation to go deeper and evolve better as more people would be able to take in what others say and build on each others topics.

Please be aware that I just added a little bit to my post above.