Data Analyst

A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, interpreting and using data to improve various aspects of a video game. They use the data they get from in-game metrics, player behavior and user feedback to identify patterns and trends. By analyzing this data, they provide insight into engagement, player retention and monetization strategies, and help developers make informed decisions to improve the gaming experience. A Data Analyst also plays a vital role in evaluating the impact of game updates and adjustments, ensuring that the changes meet the intended goals and do not negatively impact the player base.

 

In addition to collecting and analyzing data, a Data Analyst often works closely with Game Designers, Programmers and Product Managers to provide useful recommendations to improve gameplay, balance in-game systems and optimize the overall player experience. They can also contribute to the development of key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboards that track game performance over time.

Tools

Autodesk 3ds Max

Unreal Engine

Unity

Maya

Substance Painter

Houdini

Blender

Adobe Photoshop

COLLABORATION WITH OTHER TEAMS:

The Data Analyst role involves working closely with various other roles in the gaming industry. They often collaborate with Game Designers to understand player behavior and preferences, which helps them provide feedback on the design of mechanics, levels and overall gameplay. A Data Analyst helps Game Designers make data-driven decisions to create a more engaging and balanced gaming experience. They also work closely with Programmers to monitor the impact of updates and changes, ensuring that these modifications align with the game’s goals and do not disrupt the player experience. Also, they collaborate with QA Testers to identify bugs and issues in the game through data analysis. Additionally, they collaborate with Product Managers and the Marketing team to optimize monetization strategies, player retention and UA efforts by providing insight into player engagement and user acquisition channels.

 

A Data Analyst plays an important role in player support and community management. They help Customer Support teams by providing data-driven insights into common player issues, enabling faster problem resolution. They also collaborate with Community Managers to confirm understanding of player feedback, sentiment and needs, thereby helping shape community engagement strategies and developing new content or features. This role is highly interdisciplinary, serving as a bridge between game development, design, QA, marketing and the community to improve the overall gaming experience.

Skills

Depending on seniority, this position is expected to be able to master, do and deliver the following:

Hard skills

  • Data analysis
    • Can collect, clean and manipulate data, is skilled in statistical analysis and interpretation, derives insights from complex data sets.
  • Database programming and management
    • Has a solid foundation in SQL and performs data transformation tasks.
  • Data visualization tools
    • Present insights in a visually understandable format and help communicate complex findings to non-technical roles.

Soft skills

  • Critical thinking
    • Questions assumptions, makes connections and draws conclusions from complex data sets that it applies critically and creatively.
  • Communication
    • Communicates findings and insights across teams to ensure data-driven recommendations are implemented by non-technical individuals.
  • Problem-solving
    • Approaches problems related to player behavior, game balance and user engagement systematically and devises data-driven solutions.

Seniority

U zavisnosti od senioriteta, od Data analitičara/-ke se očekuje da može da savlada, uradi i isporuči sledeće stvari:

Junior

  • Processes data from various sources, understands data sources, checks data quality and performs basic data cleansing and transformation.
  • Performs basic data analysis, such as generating descriptive statistics, creating simple visualizations and identifying trends and patterns in data.
  • Creates basic reports and dashboards summarizing key metrics and insights, uses entry-level data visualization tools to present findings.
  • Communicates effectively within the team, collaborates with others, articulates findings and insights clearly and concisely, both orally and in written reports.

Medior

  • Performs advanced data analysis, including regression analysis, hypothesis testing and more complex statistical modeling, thoroughly understands statistical concepts.
  • Develops data visualizations and dashboards that can effectively communicate complex information and insights to various stakeholders.
  • Plans and executes A/B tests and experiments to evaluate the impact of game changes or new features, analyzes results and makes recommendations for game improvements.
  • Is skilled in understanding the needs and perspectives of different teams and aligning their analysis with the broader goals of game development.

Senior

  • Develops a data strategy for the game, which includes defining key performance indicators (KPIs), data collection and storage methodologies.
  • Applies predictive analytics and machine learning techniques to predict player behavior, optimize in-game features and personalize the user experience.
  • Guides juniors and mids, helping them develop their skills and manage complex data analysis tasks.
  • Influences strategic decisions related to game development, monetization and player engagement, works closely with management.
DATA ANALYST // DATA //
DATA ANALYST // DATA //

EDUCATION:

If you are interested in working with data in the gaming industry, an education in areas such as data science, statistics, computer science or business analytics would be valuable to you. Look for programs that offer courses in data analysis, machine learning, database management, and programming languages ​​commonly used with data (such as Python, R, SQL, or Scala). An understanding of statistical methods, data visualization techniques and predictive modeling will be essential to using data to make decisions and optimize the player experience.

 

In addition to formal education, gaining practical experience through internships or projects related to data analysis can provide you with valuable insights and skills. Look for opportunities to work with companies or independent developers, where you can apply data-driven approaches in game design, player behavior analysis, marketing strategies, or business operations. Networking with professionals in the community, attending relevant conferences or workshops, and following industry trends will also help you stay competitive and informed in the field. Demonstrating an excellent ability to extract actionable insights from data and effectively communicate findings will be key to your success in these roles.

Resources

Books

  • “Game Analytics” – Magy Seif El-Nasr, Anders Drachen, Alessandro Canossa
  • “Data Science for Business” – Foster Provost, Tom Fawcett
  • “Python for Data Analysis” – Wes McKinney
  • “Practical Statistics for Data Scientists” – Andrew Bruce, Peter Bruce
  • “Machine Learning Yearning” – Andrew NG

Individuals

  • Anders Drachen (@andersdrachen)
  • Mike B (@mikeBGameDev)
  • Magy Seif El-Nasr (@MagySeif)
  • Damion Schubert (@zenofdesign)
  • Gamasutra (@gamasutra)

What does the interview for this position look like?​

News

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DATA ANALYST // DATA //