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How to be a game programmer and developer?

Asked by GüntherJung,

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GüntherJung

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Hello :) .I am new in this forum and i am really interested in programming.I really want to learn to program with Cuda, C++ you know. I want to make my own game engines and 3D games with stunning grafiks. I saw really interesting things in the Nvidia developer zone like Nvidia PhysX SDK, OpenGL, OpenCL, DirectX and many other stuff. I want to learn how to program with them and for what and how can i use it? What i must learn first? From what i must start? What book's i must read of i am new to software and game programming? I am really confused. Thank's :D .

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iuerg87yerg879e0rg9erugjer

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So if i learn everything in these books i will be a game programmer (not professional of course, but intermediate i think)?

*facepalm*

dude seriously... to be a gaming programmer there is more then just reading from books, as its just a small segment towards becoming a productive programmer. if your that desperate to become one then attend a University or TAFE course and get the knowledge, skills and qualifications that will allow you to be hired as a junior were you can then work your way up to start programming advanced games.

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-JMC-

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So if i learn everything in these books i will be a game programmer (not professional of course, but intermediate i think)?

Its not really that simple, but those books will teach you the fundamentals. As someone previously pointed out though, if you want to do it as a career, you would need some sort of recognised qualification which would probably take a few years to obtain. (I would also recommend going down the wider route of Computer Science, rather than narrowing your horizon this early on in your choices)

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iuerg87yerg879e0rg9erugjer

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Its not really that simple, but those books will teach you the fundamentals. As someone previously pointed out though, if you want to do it as a career, you would need some sort of recognised qualification which would probably take a few years to obtain. (I would also recommend going down the wider route of Computer Science, rather than narrowing your horizon this early on in your choices)

computer engineering is also another great degree as it covers a very wide number of aspects to a career in programming

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iuerg87yerg879e0rg9erugjer

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Ok i want to be a game programmer for hobby for now.I am really interested in that. And i don't think for a university for now, because i am in the seventh grade.

then dont put your goals so high on what you want to achieve if your just programming just as a hobby, only do the basics for now unless you actually want to put a lot of time towards your programm

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-JMC-

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Ok i want to be a game programmer for hobby for now.I am really interested in that. And i don't think for a university for now, because i am in the seventh grade.

Programming at that sort of level is pretty difficult, especially if you only do it in your spare time.

However, it is good to have an idea of what you want to do, you just have to understand that it takes a long time to get there. Most of the bigger games on the market takes teams of developers years to create.

I would suggest that if you are interested in programming to look at some of the basic tutorials for programming, maybe using Java or Python. From there you can understand what programming is about and how to develop. At this stage you would have to be more interested in programming than in programming a game. Although that is a good end goal to have, there is a lot of material you have to cover before you can even start to thinking about creating your first basic game.

Good luck.

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GüntherJung

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Ok, but really there must be a way to make a cool game like Heavy Metal Fakk 2 (i don't mean the entire game, just one simple level with the characters, blablabla an yea). I know that i isn't simple, but i really want to learn making games. I know that it isn't the time to think about making game engines, but using a game engine is easier i think. So can anyone help?

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iuerg87yerg879e0rg9erugjer

Posted
Posted

Ok, but really there must be a way to make a cool game like Heavy Metal Fakk 2 (i don't mean the entire game, just one simple level with the characters, blablabla an yea). I know that i isn't simple, but i really want to learn making games. I know that it isn't the time to think about making game engines, but using a game engine is easier i think. So can anyone help?

nup i give up, if anyone else wants to have a crack then there more then welcome to...

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Community Regular

-JMC-

Posted
Posted

No, you will be someone who has read a few books ...

xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD. Wow that was funny xD.

I think the point of this post is that you would also have to practice what the books talk about. You can't just read and expect to be able to do something.

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Community Regular

Anooxy

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Good luck learning linear algebra, matrices, differential equations, and all the other mathematic disciplines needed to write your own 3D engine.

Good luck? I studied them and had no problems. Why some people think they are that hard?

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lalalawawawa

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Posted

Professional Lurker do you know that i am below 18? I can't work if i am below 18. I want to make games for fun for now. I don't want to make games like Crysis 2 for now.

Okay... then make me a game... for fast reactions or something. Make it so that circles and squares appear on the screen, and the user must click on them to get points. If he doesn't click in time, he loses a point. Can you make this?

So much fail in this thread, by the way. :laugh:

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Elessar

Posted
Posted

Professional Lurker do you know that i am below 18? I can't work if i am below 18. I want to make games for fun for now. I don't want to make games like Crysis 2 for now.

I think EVERYONE knows you are under 18, possibly even younger than 13. As others have said, read a few books, but eventually you will need to take courses at a university or some other technical school if you want to make anything worthwhile. Them's the breaks, kid.

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Grand Master

hdood

Posted
Posted

Ok i will watch these videos, but first i want to ask everyone some stuff. I have the full source code of the Quake 3 Engine or id Tech 3 engine(they are the same) and i want to ask how to use it? I mean how to make a game with it and comply the code? What i must know? C++ i think, but what from C++? I will not use UDK soon, because my system is so slow. I have a Dell Latitude D610 and a PC with 1.8GH processor, 1GB of ram and a Geforce 8600GT GPU, but i use my PC in Summer, because my computer is far from me. I mean in an other city and my laptop is with me. So QUAKE 3 Engine is just perfect for Dell Latitude D610 and i really love the games made with that engine like Heavy Metal Fakk2 and yea.So can anyone help?I mean answer my questions :p ?

Being able to read the documentation yourself is probably a requirement if you want to be a "game programmer and developer."

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GüntherJung

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Okay... then make me a game... for fast reactions or something. Make it so that circles and squares appear on the screen, and the user must click on them to get points. If he doesn't click in time, he loses a point. Can you make this?

So much fail in this thread, by the way. :laugh:

I made one on Visual Basic before 1 year i think. It's easy.

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