More often than not, a game designer’s job is to translate someone else’s vision, be it from a creative director, a product manager, or a client, into a concrete plan.
This means you have to create detailed proposals and present them to the team as if they were your own.
It’s common for a feature that has been proposed, discussed, and approved to be changed by a developer or even your boss just a few weeks later. The original plan is often sacrificed for faster execution.
When this happens, you meet again and discuss what changed, and someone in a senior position makes an executive call. That’s just how it works.
It’s said that Michelangelo used to make fake ‘final touches’ to his works so that his patrons could feel a sense of authorship. I don’t know if the story is true, but it makes perfect sense.
While game design is central to development, it’s an activity that involves the entire team. We, as game designers, are there to facilitate this process. Patience is key.
daily thoughts on game design