Whoever thinks that the universe of games is just fun and adventure is wrong , because behind each animation there is a great job that requires knowledge and a lot of dedication. And it is this work that has caught the attention of many young people who love games and want to turn that passion into a solid career. With that in mind, I separated some curiosities about the professional game developer .
Although the growth of technology is slowly replacing some professions, others — which previously did not have much visibility in the market — are gaining more and more attention and generating many more jobs than a decade or two ago, such as game programming .
And the best part is that, in addition to these professions adopting totally innovative standards, which make the work routine lighter, it is becoming easier every day to become a game developer and make your hobby your main source of income. Check out then, 7 facts that every future game programmer needs to know before starting his career.
7 fun facts about game developers
Although most people believe that game development is a modern and recent work, the first studies and projects in the area date back to the 60s and were initiated by Computer Science academics, which reveals the countless transformations that the technological field received over the years.
And to know a little more about this area that today is so vast and desired, see 7 super important facts about the history and career in game programming .
1. Electronic games have 9 generations
In general, games can be divided into categories such as pinball, arcade, console and computer games. In addition to being the most used today, computer games continue in constant evolution and innovation, since their emergence in the 60s.
And thanks to these innovations, it is possible to identify 9 different generations in electronic games — 10 including the current generation, which started in 2016. However, it is not uncommon to see game developers mixing and/or adding one category to another, like the famous pinball that has already received several adaptations to PC games.
2. Knowing the precursor technologies is a differential
Considering the topic above, you can already imagine that imagination is not enough to make this mix of categories and generations happen, right? Therefore, knowing the old technologies can be an important step for anyone who wants to have an outstanding career in the world of game programming.
This doesn’t mean that you need to master languages that are already out of use, but knowing at least the basics of the most famous ones is a great strategy to demonstrate proactivity and still have a few more features in mind when presenting a new project to your bosses.
3. Understanding English is a basic prerequisite
Electronic games have emerged in the US, so almost all study material will be in English, and even if you have some translated manuals, your learning will be very limited. Therefore, having a good reading of the North American language is essential to work as a professional developer.
Of course, the diverse and grandiose events that take place in the area are spread all over the world and bring together people of different nationalities. In other words, having a second language to communicate internationally, in addition to facilitating your work routine, will certainly give you more opportunities abroad.
4. The most complete professionals are essential
It’s no use understanding just about game programming , you need to know at least the basics about graphic design, production and even sound effects. The more skills, the more chances to design a project that can be carried out without major changes, after all you will understand the degree of difficulty of each step of game development.
You must have your specialty, but take advantage of your free time to study the other factors that are part of the structure of a game. Preferably, take online or short courses that offer a certificate, so you can prove your level of understanding even outside your area of expertise.
5. Mastering three programming languages is essential
As mentioned in the previous topic, you should have your specialty, such as a preferred programming language , in which you have more skills and have already done more work. However, it is essential that you master at least three programming languages and are always looking to learn new ones.
The professional who knows how to work in different technologies can achieve much more success in their game development career by easily adapting to the company’s needs and being successful in all their programming. In addition, you gain more versatility even to work on your personal projects.
6. Are there game programming software for children
Yes, just as there are platforms that facilitate game programming for professionals, there are other software that teach kids how to create a game . There are also a series of on-site courses aimed at children between 7 and 13 years old, which teach how to use these platforms in a light and fun way.
But make no mistake, this does not mean that to become a game developer you need to start early or that you are too old to enter this universe. The children’s courses are proof that you can learn to program at any age, you just need willpower and an open mind to understand how codes and the like work.
7. The career is on the rise and so is the competition
Nowadays, electronic games are much more popular thanks to the accessibility that technology has gained. Not to mention that more and more features are added to games, which requires an even more capable team. Therefore, the demand for game developer tends to keep growing exponentially and offering a very attractive salary.
No wonder more and more people are getting interested in the world of programming and looking to specialize in game development . So, if you want to enter this career, forget about the time that has passed and start dedicating yourself as soon as possible to learn how to create a game . Search for courses, get involved in university projects and take advantage of the resources that the internet offers.
Now that you know some fun facts about the world of games, are you ready to fulfill the prerequisites and become a game developer ? Don’t forget that in this ever-expanding area, knowledge is never too much. Invest in your learning and put into practice your techniques to be a successful programmer.
Game Design and Development (Michigan State University)
C # Programming for Unity Game Development (University of Colorado System)
Game Design: Art and Concepts (California Institute of the Arts)
How to create a game
Since Odyssey, the first video game model, created by Magnavox in 1972, electronic games have won countless admirers since their creation.
Currently, electronic games engaged so many people who started to move true fortunes and create a sports category: the E-Sports category (from English, Electronic Sports , which means Electronic Sports).
If, on the one hand, the first electronic games were seen as harmful and associated with learning problems, hyperactivity, sedentary lifestyle, metabolic syndrome and increased risk for obesity and cardiovascular problems, today electronic games are seen as a real career option.
Institutions involved with the popularization of technology promote events with millionaire awards for the best E-Sports athletes. Among the main categories of E-sports, the following stand out:
- Fighting games
- real sports simulators
- The famous game “First Person Shooter” (FPS, English First Person Shoot )
- MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)
- Collectibles Card Games
Practitioners of these modalities can earn as much or more than practitioners of physical sports, considering that the game market moves a lot of advertising and attracts fans of different ages and nationalities. That’s why the creation of electronic games has become increasingly profitable and sought after in the market, after all the success of E-Sports is directly linked to the creation of games with the latest technology and advanced graphics quality.
Many professionals in the fields of computer science, technology and computer science in general seek to improve their skills on how to create a game , making it one of their main sources of income.
And even if you don’t have experience in the main areas associated with developing an electronic game, it is currently perfectly possible to acquire the basic knowledge to develop an initial project within weeks or months. Therefore, we present in this article the main information for you who want to learn how to create a game .
How to create a mobile game
If you are interested in knowing how to create a mobile game , you should know that there are two main distinct categories of the creation process. The first and probably most common strategy for creating a mobile game is through programming. The person with a good understanding of programming creates a scenario and programs so that the application performs actions through cell phone commands.
However, the expansion of this market has facilitated the process of creating mobile games. Currently, there are platforms, software and even applications for some smartphone models that facilitate this process. With previously developed pictures and scenario models, as well as tools that allow you to create and customize such models, you can easily create a mobile game through these platforms. Some common examples of these platforms are:
- Construct 2
- Unity
- GameMaker Studio 2
- Stencyl
- Unreal Engine 4
- Godot
Each platform has its specifics, some with paid features in some versions, but all are great options for you who want to create your first mobile game.
How to create a 2D game
In recent years the gamer industry started to move true fortunes, and this directly reflected in the graphic quality of games developed by professionals in the field. The graphic quality of the latest games is simply fascinating.
But it is important to consider that these games with improved graphics quality require more advanced audiovisual resources to be played, as computers, video games and even outdated televisions often do not allow access to all the graphics quality of such games. This means that there is even today a lot of space for simpler games, whose graphic quality allows light reproduction on different equipment.
Thus, many game developers are engaged in creating 2D games for smartphones and computers. By the way, the information we’ve seen about how to create a mobile game is the same one you should consider if you want to know how to create a 2D game because, as a rule, smartphone games are 2D games.
How to create a 3D game
Three-dimensional games, also called 3D games, are examples of games that allow the player to experience qualified realism thanks to the technology used in their development. Therefore, if you want to learn how to create a 3D game , the first thing to consider is finding an appropriate platform for such a project.
Once you have found the ideal platform to create your 3D game , just follow some steps similar to what happens in creating 2D games and mobile games, for example:
- Create graphic elements to compose the scene
- create characters
- Design a script based on the interaction between characters and elements of the scenario, as well as program the game to perform certain actions at certain points in the scenario and in front of certain actions of the characters
Following the steps mentioned above, just decide if you want to create a 3D game for computer , video game or even mobile, as some smartphone models run some 3D games. Once this is done, you should export the game in a format compatible with the target platform (computer, video game, smartphone) and test it to see if corrections are needed before definitively announcing it.
Game Design and Development (Michigan State University)
C # Programming for Unity Game Development (University of Colorado System)
Game Design: Art and Concepts (California Institute of the Arts)
How to create a game in Unity
Of all platforms used to create games, whether these games are 2D or 3D games, Unity is undoubtedly one of the main recommendations. There are several tutorials, websites and even online courses aimed at those who want to learn how to create a game in Unity .
Unity is a game engine , a kind of 3D game engine created by Unity Technologies. Thus, Unity integrates the different elements that make up the game, namely:
- Characters
- Scenario
- Character actions and interaction with scenery
- Sound effects
- Camera moves during in-game actions
All these elements are called game objects (also called GO, from English Game Objects ), and the Unity platform offers several tools for you to create, modify and adapt these objects, adding different functions and effects to them.
A feature of 3D games, for example, is the ability to rotate the camera based on the perspective of the game’s main character. And this is one of the effects you can insert through the Unity platform. In addition, you can also add sound effects to specific actions of the characters and the game’s scenario as a whole.
Some professionals working with Unity say the platform is so intuitive and complete that you don’t need to be very familiar with programming to create your first game in Unity . However, it is known that the more knowledge and familiarity with programming you have, the more quality you can bring into your project.
How to create an online game
Following the trend of graphic editing projects, video editing and some other operational functions, currently there are platforms with resources to help you create an online game . However, although many of these tools are free and intuitive, before starting your project it is important that you know how to create an online game and the main steps involved in this process.
1 – Planning precedes success
As with any project that involves time or even money, creating an online game requires strategy and dedication. Therefore, planning is essential for you who want to succeed with creating online games.
Do a market research, see what kind of game acceptance you want to create, approximately how many users consume similar games in your city, state and country as a whole. This will help you estimate the success of your project, as well as face any obstacles ahead of time.
2 – Create a programming language for your game
Some game creation platforms do not require in-depth programming knowledge. Still, it is essential that your game has a programming language so that it can be played in practice.
Many games are created with C and C++, a language that, in addition to being easier to work with, allows your game to be played on different devices, as this programming language can be used in different extensions.
3 – Choose an API to create your online game
The API ( Application Programming Interface ) is a fundamental resource when creating a game. This system is composed of the programmer’s set of routines, and is what makes it possible to integrate sound and video card resources, for example.
The API is not developed by the creator of the game. So if you are involved in the project of creating an online game , keep in mind that you will need to find a quality API to add to your game. The ideal is to test different extensions to see which best fits your game’s features.
4 – Test your game
Taking care of all stages of your online game development, you need something elementary: put yourself in the shoes of who will consume your game. For this, you should test it in its entirety, preferably in different extensions. This way, you will know what the experience will cause for users and will have the possibility to correct any limitations before sharing it with the general public.
Games Developer Courses Online
Do you want to learn online game programming at the best universities in the world? Check out some courses that I selected for you at the link below:
Game Design and Development (Michigan State University)
C # Programming for Unity Game Development (University of Colorado System)
Game Design: Art and Concepts (California Institute of the Arts)