There are several types of people that make up a game development team; they all do something different that will contribute to the final product, the game. Below I have listed the most common roles within a game development.
GAME DESIGNER – A game designer will think up ideas for new games and plan the mission/objective of the game. They will collaborate with the rest of the team to get their ideas known.
GAME CONTENT DEVELOPER – A game content developer will write the actual content of the game, which includes things like what each character is saying, etc. They will work closely with the game designer to produce a plan of the game.
GRAPHICS DESIGNER – A graphics designer will create all the necessary graphics and images that will be used in the game, and even design the images for the user interface. They will work closely with the game designer to ensure everything LOOKS as it should do.
ANIMATOR - An animator will make each graphic come to life; they will create the transitions and 3D effects for the game itself. They will work closely with the graphics designer and the game designer to produce something that LOOKS the way it should.
AUDIO SPECIALIST - An audio specialist will specialise in sound and music creation. They will create the audio needed within the game to make it more realistic. They will work closely with the game designer to make the game SOUND as the designer wanted.
PROGRAMMER – A programmer will write the actual code and produce the application that will be the game itself. The programmer will bring together all of the contributions made by the other members of the team to create the final product.
WEB DEVELOPER – A web developer will design and create the website that the finished game will be available on. They will work closely with the graphics designer and the marketer to ensure maximum popularity and an accessible website.
MARKETER – A marketer will get more people to play the game, using a variety of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and advertising techniques. They will work closely with the web developer to get the most from the game website.
PROJECT MANAGER – The project manager will be in charge of the entire game development team and will assist each individual in their work at some point throughout the project. They will be making decisions both financially and socially to motivate and get the best from their team.
By now you should have an understanding of the main roles inside a game development team, admittedly, there are many more people that help to produce a game, but these are the bare minimum. Other roles include a financial advisor, lawyer, artist, etc.