What does it takes to be a Game programmer?
Game programming can include a wide range of skills. To be a game programmer, you must, of course, know a bit about programming. You should also know the basics of computer graphics. In addition, it helps to know how to design games.
It also helps to be a musician and an artist. That's not really required. However, you do have to know how art and music are handled on a computer. If you've ever drawn something using the paint program that comes with Windows, you know the basics of creating art on a computer. If you know how to rip MP3s, you know how to prepare music for games. But if you've never done either of these, don't worry.
The most essential skills are you'll need: programming, computer graphics, game design, art, and the ability to use sound and music.
The C++ Programming Language
Consider yourself lucky. Programming in binary isn't much fun. Instead, you can now write programs in languages that are similar to the languages people speak. Most games are written in a language called C++ (pronounced see-plus-plus).
The C++ programming language enables you to write statements that let you control all parts of a computer, such as the display, sound card, or joystick. With C++ statements, you can display aliens on the screen, let the player control a space fighter, and shoot the aliens into space dust. C++ also lets you play music and add sound effects. It is a fast, efficient language that you must know to be a professional game programmer.
C++ programs start as C++ instructions that we store in text files. A text file is just what it sounds like: It's a file on the disk that contains textletters and numbers. C++ text files are also called source files. The entire collection of C++ instructions is called the source code of the program.
Graphics Libraries
Many of the tasks involved in games are universal in game programming. For example, several times a second, every type of game gets user input, reacts to it, and updates the contents of the screen. No matter what type of game you're writing, your game follows this design.
The basic tasks in all games are by far some of the hardest. It's not easy to draw circles, lines, and so forth on the screen. A lot of very smart people had to think for a long time to learn how to do these tasks efficiently. The methods they use are very advanced and very involved. This stuff is not easy, and it used to be the case that every game programmer had to know how to do it all.
Fortunately, you no longer have to bother with learning how to do these basic tasks. When you write your games, you'll use a tool called a graphics library. A graphics library contains code that does all the basic graphics tasks such as drawing lines and circles, or displaying pictures on a screen. The library uses all the best methods and techniques that were developed by all the smart people. As a result, you already have code for the basic tasks you'll do when you write games. You don't have to write it yourself.
By the way, the graphics library you'll use is called OpenGL. OpenGL is used in high-powered games such as Quake and Doom from id Software.
Microsoft also provides a graphics library called DirectX Graphics (more commonly called Direct3D). Like OpenGL, Direct3D is used for professional games. Direct3D is part of DirectX, which contains libraries for adding sound, music, and networking to games.
Whether you use OpenGL or Direct3D is largely a matter of preference. They both will get you where you need to go. Though it's will be easier to learn OpenGL, if you are familiar with C or C++.
If you're planning on becoming a professional game programmer, it's best to be familiar with both OpenGL and DirectX.
Now, you know the language i.e C++, the Graphic Library OpenGL. Go get an IDE. Write some code. Compile and Run it. Give a try. A well begun says half done.
You reached this article describes that you are going on well. Keep the spirit up - you are a Game Programmer on the way.
Game programming can include a wide range of skills. To be a game programmer, you must, of course, know a bit about programming. You should also know the basics of computer graphics. In addition, it helps to know how to design games.
It also helps to be a musician and an artist. That's not really required. However, you do have to know how art and music are handled on a computer. If you've ever drawn something using the paint program that comes with Windows, you know the basics of creating art on a computer. If you know how to rip MP3s, you know how to prepare music for games. But if you've never done either of these, don't worry.
The most essential skills are you'll need: programming, computer graphics, game design, art, and the ability to use sound and music.
The C++ Programming Language
Consider yourself lucky. Programming in binary isn't much fun. Instead, you can now write programs in languages that are similar to the languages people speak. Most games are written in a language called C++ (pronounced see-plus-plus).
The C++ programming language enables you to write statements that let you control all parts of a computer, such as the display, sound card, or joystick. With C++ statements, you can display aliens on the screen, let the player control a space fighter, and shoot the aliens into space dust. C++ also lets you play music and add sound effects. It is a fast, efficient language that you must know to be a professional game programmer.
C++ programs start as C++ instructions that we store in text files. A text file is just what it sounds like: It's a file on the disk that contains textletters and numbers. C++ text files are also called source files. The entire collection of C++ instructions is called the source code of the program.
Graphics Libraries
Many of the tasks involved in games are universal in game programming. For example, several times a second, every type of game gets user input, reacts to it, and updates the contents of the screen. No matter what type of game you're writing, your game follows this design.
The basic tasks in all games are by far some of the hardest. It's not easy to draw circles, lines, and so forth on the screen. A lot of very smart people had to think for a long time to learn how to do these tasks efficiently. The methods they use are very advanced and very involved. This stuff is not easy, and it used to be the case that every game programmer had to know how to do it all.
Fortunately, you no longer have to bother with learning how to do these basic tasks. When you write your games, you'll use a tool called a graphics library. A graphics library contains code that does all the basic graphics tasks such as drawing lines and circles, or displaying pictures on a screen. The library uses all the best methods and techniques that were developed by all the smart people. As a result, you already have code for the basic tasks you'll do when you write games. You don't have to write it yourself.
By the way, the graphics library you'll use is called OpenGL. OpenGL is used in high-powered games such as Quake and Doom from id Software.
Microsoft also provides a graphics library called DirectX Graphics (more commonly called Direct3D). Like OpenGL, Direct3D is used for professional games. Direct3D is part of DirectX, which contains libraries for adding sound, music, and networking to games.
Whether you use OpenGL or Direct3D is largely a matter of preference. They both will get you where you need to go. Though it's will be easier to learn OpenGL, if you are familiar with C or C++.
If you're planning on becoming a professional game programmer, it's best to be familiar with both OpenGL and DirectX.
Now, you know the language i.e C++, the Graphic Library OpenGL. Go get an IDE. Write some code. Compile and Run it. Give a try. A well begun says half done.
You reached this article describes that you are going on well. Keep the spirit up - you are a Game Programmer on the way.
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