Required skills
analytical skills to:
analyse and assess quantitative requirements for data storage and data throughput
analyse game architecture and game system implementation requirements in the context of the proposed database architecture
assess how well the implementation of the data model maps to the game artefacts, the game-play rules and the game design requirements
communication skills to:
identify and discuss game-play rules with game designers
define and describe data throughput requirements and discuss these with game designers
negotiate with project managers to determine database implementation resource requirements, project timeframes and deliverables
propose data structures to implement game-play functionality and system requirements
initiative and enterprise skills to:
assess proposed database architectures within the context of existing enterprise technologies, infrastructure and industry standards
recommend solutions to problems or deficiencies associated with the implementation of the database
learning skills to:
acquire the skills and knowledge required to overcome current limitations in data throughput and query execution times
stay at the cutting edge of industry developments, industry standards and innovative applications of relational database management systems to problems of persisting state in computer games
literacy skills to:
document physical design inconsistencies
interpret documentation describing game design requirements and game-play rules
interpret related game industry standards and associated database management system standards and query language standards
write requirement specifications for physical database implementation
planning and organising skills to:
organise resources, documentation and infrastructure elements required for the implementation of a relational or object-oriented database management system
plan an effective implementation to a relational or object-oriented database management system
problem-solving skills to:
debug query scripts, identify script errors and resolve all query scripting issues
identify and implement solutions to problems with the initial conceptual database model
identify problems with physical model and implement solutions
research skills to:
enhance knowledge of industry standards and industry trends related to computer game state management techniques and relational or object-oriented database management systems
identify and locate sources of information that provide solutions to technical problems
identify sources of information and documentation required to build a database to support a computer game
technical skills to:
execute data and query analysis tools and evaluate data input and output performance statistics
redefine data structures to improve the efficiency of data throughput
use an integrated development environment to build, modify and manipulate relational or object-oriented data structures
write code to implement a physical database design.
Required knowledge
computer hardware specifications and hardware performance expectations
creation, use and testing of stored procedures:
defining input parameters
defining output parameters
database stress testing and stress testing software
database testing methodologies
object-oriented database management systems
relational database management systems:
IBM DB2
Microsoft Access
Microsoft SQL (MS SQL) server
MySQL
Oracle
Postgre Structured Query Language (Postgre SQL)
relational database modelling building blocks and theory:
attributes
entity relationship modelling
normalisation of database tables
relationship cardinality and connectivity:
1:1
1:M
M:N
SQL, such as:
data definition language
data manipulation language
evolution of relational database management systems and their relationship to the flat file, hierarchical and network data storage legacy of games
important functions of a relational database management system within the context of a computer game, such as:
controlling data access for multiple users
interpreting data access languages, such as SQL and LINQ
interpreting data application programming interfaces (APIs), such as ADO.Net
managing data integrity
managing disaster recovery and backups
managing the data dictionary
managing the data storage
managing the security requirements of the data
transforming and presenting data
importance of data models
different types of data models, such as Chen and Crow’s Foot models
relationship between game-play rules and the modelling of the database structure.