Personality Traits in Game Development

TL;DR

This study investigates personality traits of game developers, revealing distinct differences from other software professionals, which have implications for team dynamics, recruitment, and stress management.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of personality traits specific to game developers, highlighting role-based differences and practical implications for management.

Findings

Game developers show lower Extraversion than other roles.

Higher Neuroticism in game developers may relate to burnout.

Distinct personality profiles differ from general software developer norms.

Abstract

Existing work on personality traits in software development excludes game developers as a discrete group. Whilst games are software, game development has unique considerations, so game developers may exhibit different personality traits from other software professionals. We assessed responses from 123 game developers on an International Personality Item Pool Five Factor Model scale and demographic questionnaire using factor analysis. Programmers reported lower Extraversion than designers, artists and production team members; lower Openness than designers and production, and reported higher Neuroticism than production -- potentially linked to burnout and crunch time. Compared to published norms of software developers, game developers reported lower Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion and Agreeableness, but higher Neuroticism. These personality differences have many practical implications: differences in Extraversion among roles may precipitate communication breakdowns; differences in Openness may induce conflict between programmers and designers. Understanding the relationship between personality traits and roles can help recruiters steer new employees into appropriate roles, and help managers apply appropriate stress management techniques. To realise these benefits, individuals must be distinguished from roles: just because an individual occupies a role does not mean they possess personality traits associated with that role.