So You Want to be a Game Programmer? :: Computer Science

So You Want to be a back Programmer?So, youre interested in becoming a computer support programmer?Congratulations Game programming is one of the most difficult,challenging, and sedate forms of programming. If you have a genuinetalent for it, you have excellent calling prospects. Imagine gettingpaid an entry-level salary of $40,000 for something you actually enjoydoing. When you were a kid did your p arents tell you that youll neveramount to anything if you waste your time on computer games? Well,heres your chance to show them that you were right and they werewrong.There is currently tho one way of getting a line of descent as a gamesprogrammer, and that is to write a game - or more properly, write whatis cognise in the industry as a game demo. These days, a distinctivecommercial game might take 100,000 lines of C++ code scripted by a teamof 3 programmers over a plosive of 18 months with a budget of a milliondollars. As a novice game programmer, you are obviously not going t obe able to compete in that arena. But you can and should write a fullyfunctional game of about 10,000 lines of C++ code that shows forth whatyou do best. Game companies are less interested in your tot than inwhat you have done. So write a game, burn it on a CD, and send it tothe game companies that you would like to work for. If they like it,you may strike it lucky.So where are you going to get the knowledge to write your game demo?One way is to get a college distributor point in computing machine Science. Do you have tohave a college grade to get a job programming games? Not necessarily,but things are changing as the industry matures. You can get a job byprogramming a drop-dead game demo, but umpteen companies are looking foremployees who have produced great games and have college degrees. Thismakes sense because college is a place where you can get thebackground knowledge that you need to be a competitive gameprogrammer. If you are fortunate, it can also be a place to meet creative people who can unification and support you in your quest.Choosing a CollegeA degree in Computer Science will help you on your way to becoming agame programmer, but you must choose your college very carefully. Go ascertain the Computer Science Department. You want one that is vigorous,active, exciting, and provides a comprehensive education. whole tone for adepartment with at least 15 full-time tenure-track faculty, and