A video programmer develops video games for entertainment or educational purposes, writing code and scripting supplementary components. They may specialize in sound, graphics, or animation, requiring creativity and proficiency in math and physics. A bachelor’s degree in computer science is usually required.
A video programmer, also known as a game software engineer or video game programmer, develops video games intended for educational or entertainment purposes. While there are typically several layers to this position, the video programmer is primarily responsible for the task of writing the code that runs the game and drives the likely outcomes of the game. They are also involved in scripting supplementary components such as development tools and computer-aided software to establish the game’s platform and interface capability, as well as developing its architecture. Typically, a team of programmers works together to produce a single video game. However, many video programmers specialize in a specific area of development.
For example, a video programmer might be dedicated to working exclusively on a video game’s sound engine, including writing scripts to design 3D positional sound, more commonly known as surround sound. The challenge of this role is to develop code to target specific sounds and variations in sound to reflect the attributes of certain game characters and the actions they perform, as well as indicate the level of play or goal achievement.
On the other hand, a video programmer may be assigned to focus on developing the graphics for a game. Depending on the device the game was designed for, the programmer may be asked to develop two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) graphics, the former usually being reserved for handheld games, PDAs, and cell phones. In the case of the latter, the video programmer may specialize in creating code to perform advanced 3D graphics effects, known as pixel and vortex shading, which provide sharp contrast and color tones to produce a realistic 3D appearance.
Some video programmers specialize in animation, which involves developing a predictable set of laws of physics that may or may not resemble those found in the natural world. Also known as dynamic simulation, this aspect of game development is attributed to the creation of a physics engine, which defines how certain characters and objects will move in a given environment and how they will behave when that environment is changed due to the occurrence of an event. event. in the game.
As you would expect, a video programmer must be highly creative, as well as be able to use a variety of disciplines such as math and physics. In fact, most programmers are proficient in several areas of these disciplines, including linear algebra, software engineering, and artificial intelligence technology. For those who want to become video game programmers, a bachelor’s degree in computer science is usually required, in addition to a solid background in physics and mathematics.
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