The person or group of people responsible for the design and production of a video game. Professional production studios usually employ one or more development teams (including computer graphic artists, animators, level designers, programmers), providing access to technology and equipment as well as administrative support over the production process.
Large publishing companies operating in the video game industry usually have their own development teams created as a result of acquisitions of other companies or appointed to implement specific projects. They are usually responsible for the development of the most profitable series. At the opposite end of the continuum are independent authors, i.e. small, often one-man studios producing small, but often very ingenious games (the so-called indie games).