The game developer creates the concept of the game, character design, game mechanics, and brings the project to production. If you love to play and dream of making your own Minecraft or Greenlight, then the profession is for you. How to become a game developer? How to master a profession from scratch and what knowledge and skills are required from high school students?
Who Is a Game Developer?
This specialist develops games inside and out: thinks over the concept, draws graphics, designs characters, and sets up scenarios for their development. The developer creates a whole virtual world that exists according to its own laws. In fact, this is the programmer. The main task of a game developer is to write code and select such tools so that this world “comes to life” and the game becomes interesting for the user. The developer can be responsible for the entire project or a separate part of the game: gameplay, animation, templates, graphics, internal structure, or services.
Responsibilities of a Game Developer
It can be anything. One person often solves several problems or, vice versa, the tasks of one specialist are assigned to a whole group. Generally speaking, the key tasks of a game developer are:
- Programming;
- Designing characters and scenarios for their interaction;
- Selection and integration of effects;
- Creation of game functionality;
- Implementation of plugins and SDKs for advertising, analytics, compliance control, etc.;
- Optimization of codes for speed and exactingness.
The game developer works with ready-made software assemblies that make games work (the top 5 most popular are Unity, Unreal Engine, GameSalad, CryEngine, HeroEngine). In addition, the game developer has to be proficient in programming languages — C++, Java, Python, etc., and understand a wide variety of optimization software created for the industry.
Where to Begin?
To get the appropriate experience, you will have to take the first steps yourself. Many game companies require examples of projects and a minimum set of skills for employment.
- Develop simple mini-games. The Internet is full of pieces of code and templates that you can take to assemble your game. Don’t try to make a big dream project right away. Let them be primitive and even unfinished, but you will not be distracted by more complex details like animation. You can always modify them in the future.
- Create game mods. If you don’t have enough knowledge and skills to create a full-fledged game, then start with mods of your favorite copies of the game. These are add-ons that improve gameplay and visuals, or simply new game elements — characters, items, music, and special effects. To develop such add-ons, special development kits are needed (they are usually included with games). They will help you understand the internal logic of games and practice development.
- Get a job in a game studio. You can attach ready-made games and mods in your portfolio and show them to the employer. Then your chances of finding an internship or getting a job as a junior specialist in the company will increase. This is a required step. After all, in the company, you can work on real projects. So, develop skills and grow.
- Read specialized literature. Practice should be supported by theory.
- Communicate on forums and chats. During the study, you will have many questions. You can ask them in thematic communities.
What Does a Game Developer Need to Know and Be Able to Do?
First of all, you have to understand how computers and networks work and learn some additional information. What else?
- Know the math. Game elements are all based on algorithms and models.
- Work on one of the game development platforms. Most often, game developers use Unity or Unreal Engine.
- Learn foreign languages to quickly master the capabilities of the platforms.
- Understand other specializations at a basic level. For example, learn how to animate a character and add sound effects.
- Present the structure of projects and tasks and organize your work.
Newbies often underestimate the complexity of the game-making process. After a few Unity lessons, they want to create big games like Skyrim or Dota 2. In practice, this can’t be done even if you work with a whole team. As you study all the details, you will realize that making small games is even more fun. The main thing in the profession is not the scale of the games but their technical uniqueness.
It’s a good idea to start creating your own games as early as possible. By the first interview in the company, you already need to have a portfolio of work: with it, it is easier for employers to understand the level of a developer on completed projects. You need to work on your games, try new mechanics, and use new tools throughout your career. This will help you find higher-paying jobs or earn money from your games.