Article Written By
Prof. Dr. Faisal Riaz
This blog caters about the hot trends in computer sciences and practices. These can be adopted by the computer science and Engineering students to earn handsome amount of money. This is a potential series of blog, and I will try to summarize these trends in three aspects.
What to learn, why and how?
1. What to learn.
There are certain hot keywords, which vary with the change in trends, in freelancing community i.e., Game development, video animations, 3D modeling and Mobile app developments. Let us discuss these terms one by one.
2. Game Development
let’s just start from our homes. If we see our kids, we will find that they are addicted to the games and spend most of their free time in playing video games. The area of online gaming is leading the industry where multi-players interacting with each other and playing games in teams. Furthermore, the latest trend in online gaming is Virtual Reality (VR) games giving more interactive options to the teams and sense of physical presence.
This raises an important question, why learn Games development?
With the passage of time gaming industry will nourish, and it is expected that by 2026 game industry will be of worth $321 Billion. From this global market if we just focus on Pakistan where it is relatively new industry the revenue of online gaming is expected to reach US$ 27.07 Million. This small amount of revenue shows that a lot of potential exists in online gaming for newcomers/coming generations to earn handsome amount of money.
Who is a Game developer
In past painters and artists carried out their imaginative feats on canvases. In modern era video game developers translate their conceptual world into gaming reality. The art consists of coding, programming, and tedious testing before final product.
Many people love video games and enjoy them. If you are one who loves using computer and wants to develop a career of future, then video game development is for you.
Types of Game Developers
Like several industries known, this industry offers several typically roles. There is a first party game developer, like X-box, which internally develops games for one platform. A second party developer, such as Game Freak, which develops exclusively, knowing that game is not owned by one platform, for console. Third-party developers, like third party apps, make games for other game publishers.
Independent (indie) developers are ones who develop games with self-finance, and these are smaller individual groups. Choice of your path depends upon your standing in your career. What are the aspects you are qualified to develop in a game.
Job Description of Game Developers
The work assignments you receive as a game developer depend upon your expertise and the company you join. A huge enterprise requires specialized individuals for relevant tasks. At medium sized or small enterprise, you might have to handle multiple tasks related to game development. Some tasks which could be expected from a game developer.They usually work with
- Development of game
- Visuals/ Graphics
- AI
- Game logic
- User interface
- Development of novel ideas for design
- Conversion of concepts into visuals through code
- Prototype, reiteration, and finalizing gameplay
- Guiding designers, artists, and analysts
- Stability across platforms
- Improvement in game Code
Who can become a Game Developer?
Most of the novel, especially digital era careers, like Video game development are considered coveted. Game lovers and anyone working in the field of software is more prone to infatuate with the field of game development. But loving games is merely enough, education along with skills are required to get such fancy jobs because of tough competitive market.
Educational Prerequisites
Game development as well companies which publishing games look for individuals who have a computer science degree. There are universities around the world which offer degrees as well as short courses in game design. These courses are found to be more suitable for video game industry.
Degree is necessary and it can take you places where diplomas or short courses wont. It also helps to develop technical skills for a handful software developer.
Specific set of skills
Going for a specific job and having specific skills might not stand you apart in an interview, but it will make you confident to tackle the tricky questions. If you have set of required skills, you can get better opportunities as a game developer. Skills mostly listed for a game developer are experience with engines and coding (C++).
- C++ A general programming language often taught in beginner level classes is used to make games. It also runs several system applications as well.
- C# (C-sharp) was developed in 2000. A language used to develop games and apps.
- Unreal Engine, In the start it was developed for games with first-person shooters. It has evolved into a 3-dimensional platform used for creating games for range of platforms. C++ language is a must for unreal engine.
Getting job in gaming industry
Like most of the careers in the digital world, your passion for your job is most important ingredient for success. Enjoying your work will make you far more successful than running after money. Blending technology creatively can get you established in the gaming industry.
Start with baby steps
Your skills can only be polished if you utilize them right away. Make basic and simple games. Make you way with simple programming tasks in C# or and work yourself up gradually to highly complex projects.
Make a portfolio
As you make games, do not forget to make them part of your portfolio. This is your only way to tell your potential employers what is it that you are capable of. This is how you can start:
- Build four unity projects with the Orga Design and Development 2018 Specialization from State University.
- C++ Programming for Game Development Specialized from the State University.
Become a Quality Assurance tester
QA systematically go through the games thoroughly to find and report bugs. This is an entry level which can benefit any one interest in the gaming industry.
Attend game industry events
An effective relationship or a network is always helpful to not only find but get better opportunities otherwise not known. You must attend gaming events, especially large-scale industrial ones, to make acquaintance with other developers as well as game studios.
How to learn Game Development
If you are willing and hardworking individual who wants to make a career in ever evolving field of game development, there are several free online courses available. Nature of courses vary according to the specifications particular institutions are offering. Development is not a difficult job. An online course can be accessed with single click on the link given below.
C# Programming – Unity Game Development Certification (Coursera) [
URL: https://www.udemy.com/course/unity-developer-course/]
Unity Certified 3D Artist Specialization (Coursera)
[ URL: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/game-design-and-development]
Complete C# Unity Game Developer 2D (Udemy)
Computer Science for Game Development (edX)
Create Your First Game with Python (Coursera).
