What a Game Programmer Does

Computer games are written in different computer programming languages.

Video game are complex programs that are designed be a team of programmers. They can involve complex graphics, artificial intelligence and networked multi-player features. These all have to be created and written, or programmed, in an appropriate computer language.

Background

Computers can only operate based on specific instructions. These instructions must be written in a specialized language for computers to understand them. A computer programmer writes the code, or instructions, in a specialized computer language.

Description

Game programmers write the code that tells the computer what to do within a game. They need to program characters to move right when a user presses the right arrow, or how enemies react within a game.

Types

Game programmers can have very specialized tasks. A graphics programmer creates code that dictates how the game looks, while an audio programmer creates game sounds. A lead programmer oversees the whole process to make a complete game.

References

• Game Career Guide: Game Programming, An Introduction
• Gamespot: So You Wanna be a Game Designer