animators – Animators give movement to rigged models.
animation – An animation is a series of movements given to a 3D model in order to convey a specific scene or action.
autodesk 3ds Max – Originally called 3D Studio Max, this versatile program is used by many MMO developers, including World of Warcraft, to create 3D models, animations, and effects.
blender – Blender is a shareware program that aids in creating 3D models, animations, and effects.
concept artist – 2D artists who translate a designer’s vision into physical art depicting the environments, characters, and architecture.
designer – These are the people create the plan for specific systems of gameplay. Mini-games may have whole designers dedicated solely to them.
engine – Also known as a game engine, this is a software system used in the creation and development of video games. Engines can be fairly simple or extremely complex for building MMOs. Most engines have a tool that allow level designers to create areas. Some of the more well-known MMO engines are HeroEngine by Simutronics, the Torq 3D engine, and BigWorld Technology.
environment – These specific 3D models are composed of buildings, the ground, water, and anything that can make up the world where other models are placed.
environmental artists – These specific people create textures and design the models for the buildings, ground, caves, and anything that might be used to create an area.
level designer – Level designers build areas using tools built directly into the game or engine.
maya – A powerful software that allows integrated 3D modeling, animation, rendering and visual effects owned by Autodesk. This program is also used often by architects.
model – 3D models are the actual items being rendered in 3D. In an MMO, this includes everything from the weapons and mounts to the actual characters running around the world.
modeler – Modelers create 3D models using a 3D rendering program such as Maya, 3D Max, or Blender. This is a very generic term. Most modelers pick a specialty such as 3D character artists or 3D environmental artists.
rigger – A rigger ties your model to a skeleton so that animators can do their work.
scripter – Scripters are level designers who created scripted events for an area. Some of these include NPC interactions and basic story for a specific area in the game.
storyboard – Storyboards consist of a series of graphics, usually simple 2D drawings, that display a sequence for a specific animation.
UI – User interface is how players interact with the game, and most UIs are drawn by 2D artists.
