Game designers are artists, not necessarily graphic artists allthough many are those too. But game design when done is more of a touch and feely thing than a programming thing, and very experimental.
Many programmers and artists are technicians and not all that creative, thats usualy why good flowing gameplay is hard to achieve.
Also most games are designed by more than one person. The game designer usualy has a concept that they have to convey to the team. but more often the core part of a team develop the game and the designer pulls everything together focusing on the original idea. And play testing and tweaking to get things just right.
It's very rare that someone just sits on their own and then tells everyone what to do. But it does take a single person with vision and a deep understanding of gameplay, what makes things fun, fluid and realise a concept and honing it into a real product that appeals to the targeted audience.
Anyone can design a game, and make a clunky thing thats playable but doesnt flow. Many can make one too, but most of the hard stuff that makes something work really well comes from talent and hard earned experience.
I definately think Game designers are artists, just like actors and musicians are artists.
Many programmers and artists are technicians and not all that creative, thats usualy why good flowing gameplay is hard to achieve.
Also most games are designed by more than one person. The game designer usualy has a concept that they have to convey to the team. but more often the core part of a team develop the game and the designer pulls everything together focusing on the original idea. And play testing and tweaking to get things just right.
It's very rare that someone just sits on their own and then tells everyone what to do. But it does take a single person with vision and a deep understanding of gameplay, what makes things fun, fluid and realise a concept and honing it into a real product that appeals to the targeted audience.
Anyone can design a game, and make a clunky thing thats playable but doesnt flow. Many can make one too, but most of the hard stuff that makes something work really well comes from talent and hard earned experience.
I definately think Game designers are artists, just like actors and musicians are artists.