General Manager

A General Manager is an executive responsible for overseeing and managing the overall operations of an entire firm or team within a larger company. This role requires a combination of leadership, strategic thinking and a deep understanding of the video game market. A General Manager is usually involved in decision-making processes related to game development, production timelines, budgeting and resource allocation. They work closely with diverse teams, including Game Designers, Programmers, Artists and marketing professionals, to ensure that company projects are aligned with market trends and meet creative and business goals.

 

A General Manager plays a key role in setting the overall vision and direction of the studio or team. They are responsible for fostering a creative and collaborative work environment, motivating teams and ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. In addition, they frequently engage with stakeholders, such as publishers, distributors and platform owners, to negotiate deals and partnerships that can enhance the success of games in a competitive industry. Sensing the pulse of industry trends and player preferences, the successful General Manager strives to position their company as a leading player in a dynamic and ever-evolving industry.

Tools

Moodle

Adobe Captivate

Adobe Premiere Pro

Oculus VR

Trello

Bunchball Nitro

Google Analytics

Slack

Degreed

COLLABORATION WITH OTHER TEAMS:

A General Manager collaborates with various positions to ensure the success of projects. Close collaboration with Game Designers is necessary to align the game’s creative vision with market demands. A General Manager works with Design teams to understand player preferences, analyze market trends and provide strategic guidance to shape game concepts. They collaborate on defining mechanics, features and overall user experience that resonates with the target audience. Effective communication between the General Manager and the Game Designer is key to achieving a balance between innovation and sustainability in the market.

Cooperation with Technical Leads and Programmers is another integral part of successful project execution. A General Manager works closely with technical teams to ensure deadlines are realistic, resources are appropriately allocated and technical challenges are resolved quickly. This collaborative effort involves continuous communication to monitor progress, identify potential obstacles and make informed decisions to keep the development process on track. A General Manager serves as a bridge between the game’s creative vision and its technical implementation, fostering a cooperative environment where both creative and technical aspects are aligned for a successful and engaging gaming experience.

Skills

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

Hard skills

  • Strategic planning and decision making
    • Analyzes market trends, anticipates industry changes and makes informed decisions that align with long-term goals.
  • Financial management
    • Deals with budgeting, financial forecasting and resource allocation to ensure that projects are financially viable.
  • Leadership and team management
    • Leads and inspires teams, creates positive and collaborative work environments, sets clear goals and expectations, resolves conflicts.

Soft skills

  • Communication and interpersonal skills
    • Communicates the company’s vision, goals and strategies to different teams and stakeholders, encourages collaboration.
  • Adaptability and flexibility
    • Is able to adapt strategies and plans to changes in the industry, new technologies and unexpected challenges.
  • Problem solving and decision-making
    • Can analyze situations, think critically and make timely and effective decisions.

Seniority

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

Junior

  • Effectively coordinates and helps manage various aspects of projects, works with cross-functional teams and follows project timelines.
  • Understands player behavior, market trends and performance metrics, makes data-driven decisions, uses analytical tools and can extract actionable insights from data.
  • Shares project updates and communicates information between teams, maintaining a cohesive and productive work environment through effective collaboration.
  • Provides support in problem-solving processes, identifies challenges during game development, works with the team to resolve issues and assists in decision-making.

Medior

  • Contributes to and executes strategic plans for game development and business growth, aligns projects with the company’s long-term vision, identifies market opportunities.
  • Assumes multiple leadership responsibilities, inspires and mentors juniors, provides direction, provides support and fosters a positive and collaborative work environment.
  • Has an advanced understanding of financial management, optimizes resource utilization and makes strategic financial decisions.
  • Engages with stakeholders, has good negotiation skills and builds relationships to establish and maintain partnerships that benefit the company.

Senior

  • Provides executive leadership, sets the overall strategic vision of the company, makes decisions that affect the long-term direction, growth and competitiveness of the company.
  • Effectively handles crises, navigates challenging situations, makes tough decisions under pressure and mitigates risks to ensure the continued success of the company.
  • Expands presence on the market, devises a strategy for entering new regions, manages relations with international partners, understands the nuances of the regional market.
  • Is often seen as a leader and representative of the industry, represents the company at conferences and collaborates with associations.
GENERAL MANAGER // BIZ SUPPORT //
GENERAL MANAGER // BIZ SUPPORT //

EDUCATION:

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the gaming industry, consider an education that combines business fundamentals with a focus on video games and entertainment. A degree in business administration, marketing, entrepreneurship, or management with courses related to the gaming industry can provide you with an excellent foundation. Look for programs that cover topics such as strategic management, digital marketing, financial analysis, and business development, especially in the context of the video game market. Understanding the unique dynamics within the industry, including market trends, player behavior and monetization models, is critical to success in gaming business roles.

 

In addition to formal education, gaining practical experience through internships, networking and engagement in the industry is also important. Seek opportunities to work with companies to gain first-hand insight into business operations and industry-specific strategies. Participating in events, conferences and trade shows can also help you make connections and stay informed about industry developments. Developing analytical and communication skills as well as problem-solving skills will be a valuable asset in pursuing a career in this field.

Resources

Books

  • “Blood, Sweat, and Pixels” – Jason Schreier
  • “The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses” – Jesse Schell
  • “Reality is Broken” – Jane McGonigal
  • “Console Wars” – Blake J. Harris
  • “Smartbomb” – Heather Chaplin, Aaron Ruby

Individuals

  • Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier)
  • Raph Koster (@raphkoster)
  • Hideo Kojima (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN)
  • Anita Sarkeesian (@anitasarkeesian)
  • Tim Schafer (@timoflegend)

What does the interview for this position look like?​

News

Shift2Games is now available in English, Macedonian, Albanian and a "universal" language for the region!
The development of video games can be seen through both technological and creative aspects. Since the technological aspect of game development is closely linked to the creative aspect, we can freely say that game programming is a world of its own.
We talked to over 20 seniors in Serbian gaming. When you watch these six episodes, it should be much clearer to you what you can and want to do in gaming. You'll learn all about the most in-demand professions, the latest tools and different positions in the industry.
GENERAL MANAGER // BIZ SUPPORT //
GENERAL MANAGER // BIZ SUPPORT //