Video Game Programming, a subset of game development, is the development of gaming software. This profession requires some substancial skill and knowledge in simulation, computer graphics, artificial intelligence, physics, audio programming, and input.
When creating games, programmers take into account drafting a prototype and then testing several versions before actually agreeing on an idea and beginning to program the game. The tools required for programming games is where computer science plays a major role in the creation of every game.
First, like any software, programs for game development are usually generated from what is called a source code. These programs are generated from the source code to the actual program, the actual program is called the executable, and this process is accomplished through a compiler. While source code can be created with any text editor, some game programmers use an integrated development environment, known for short as an IDE, the IDE used is based on what platform is desired.
In order for this process to go smoothly, most companies spend thousands of dollars on powerful hardware, even utilizing multiple development systems and multiple monitors to ensure the programmer is able to accomplish several tasks with comfort.
Lastly, APIs and libraries are extremely resourceful when it comes to programming a game. In todays world, there are APIs and libraries that can handle graphics rendering, sound processing, input, and sometimes even handling Artificial Intelligence tasks such as pathfinding. The libraries used are solely based on the target platform and what they are looking for in the operations of the game. So a library available for a Playstation console may not be the same for Microsoft Windows, and this works vice versa also.
So overall, programming in the gaming industry can be fun, but it is also very hard and requires time and dedication. Most games take up to three years to fully develop and release. So these individuals are highly intelligent and super patient. Without programming, we would not have games. So we can thank computer science for creating such a vast amount of methods for people to entertain themselves and others.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_programming
http://yetanothergameprogrammingblog.blogspot.com
Video game design is a great bridge between computer science and creativity (not that other compsci things aren't creative...). The amount of effort that goes in to ensuring it functions properly must also go into ensuring it poses the right challenge, whether it's thought up well, and whether anyone will like it.
ReplyDeleteOn one level you're testing the black and white nature of the program and secondarily you're testing the grey area of appeal. It seems like it would require an incredibly high-level skillset to notice and be able to achieve both.
It's incredibly challenging for game companies to have to releasing games on multiple platforms, have it optimized for each, and have them not just meet the "bare minimum".
Really fascinating post!
Its so interesting to learn more about how computer games are actually developed. It is crazy to see how much the gaming industry has progressed since the first primitive games not too long ago. In this day and age there are so many games out there that creating a successful game not only requires skillful programming, but also an original and captivating concept. Another challenge is in the time it takes to develop a game; a game could be relevant the year it is projected but then flop three years later when it is released. The computer game industry is definitely a competitive one with high demand!
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