What is Game Developer? Road to becoming a Game Developer

What is Game Developer? Is Game Developer a game programmer? How to build a roadmap to become a Game Developer ? The following article will answer these questions in turn.

1. What is Game Developer?
When asked what is Game Developer?  Many of you misunderstand that Game Developer is game programmer. In fact, Game Developer is a concept that is common to all those involved in the design of a game. For example: programmer, 2D/3D graphic designer , project manager, etc. In this article, I will talk about Game Developer as a programmer.

Game Developer is considered a software developer specializing in creating games on many computer or smartphone platforms. They play the role of converting the ideas of Game designers (Game Designers) into actual games by coding. 

Description of Game Developer
In addition, game developers also do things like software-programming, sound effects, engineering, rendering, and testing. test) and some other processes to keep the game running.

A game developer might focus on a specific aspect such as artificial intelligence programming or the virtual landscape of a game. With Game Developer you can also work as a freelancer.

2. What skills do game developers need?
2.1. Programming skills
In terms of Game Developer as a game programmer, the first skill required is programming skills. Good coding ability will help game developers to organize all concepts, sketches and plots into thousands of lines of code to bring the game to life and bring to market.

2.2. Ability to self-study and update knowledge
Game software is one of those industries that is constantly changing. Along with that, the changing trend of gaming leads to the change of video games. In order to keep up with the market, Game Developers need to be able to self-study and constantly update their knowledge of the game.

2.3. Foreign language ability
If you want to work in a foreign company, the ability to communicate in English is an indispensable skill. You don't have to speak like a native, but at least you have to know how to use it so people understand what you're saying.

If you say you do not intend to work in a foreign company, you do not need a foreign language. In fact, you must at least be able to read English to understand the material.

2.4. Teamwork skill
A familiar skill but I can't help but mention it. To build a successful and fast game requires good coordination between positions together. Teamwork skills show that you are a good listener and persuade your teammates about problems that occur during game development.

2.5. Love to play games
This is not necessarily a skill, but when you like and are passionate about games, you can develop long-term on the challenging Game Developer path.

3. Game programming industry in Vietnam
According to many "people in the profession", game making activities in Vietnam mainly focus on mobile, few people care about PC. On the other hand, PC games require high funding and are difficult to reach users, so most investors are afraid to invest capital. It can be said that game programming in Vietnam is not really good and has developed as well as other programming industries. 

However, in the coming years, the popularity of phones, computers, tablets as well as entertainment needs will increase, making game programming more developed. Therefore, if you want to catch the trend on the way of Game Developer, you should learn carefully and be persistent to develop with this market.

4. The Road to Becoming a Game Developer
4.1. Where to start?
Go college
If you do not know how to start, start with the basic subjects at the University. While a degree is not always required, a degree can help you build the basic skills and techniques to become a Game Developer.

Road to becoming a Game Developer
Many game development companies are always looking for candidates with bachelor's degrees in game programming related fields. So what does Game Developer study? Here are a few key industries you can refer to:

Computer science
Information technology
Software technology
The question is "Can I do game programming without going to university?". Surely the answer is yes. You can completely self-study or sign up for the courses you want. However, it will be much more difficult if you do not have enough background knowledge in university.

Practice making games and learning Code
Two requirements you will often see on job descriptions are experience with game development tools and programming ability (usually C++ or C#).

Unity: is a cross-platform game engine that allows you to develop 2D and 3D games. Unity is popular for indie games (indie games) and mobile games. Especially this tool is free for employees so you can start creating games and gain experience before you go to work.
Unreal Engine: a software used to develop video games on many platforms from PC to consoles such as PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Unreal supports two programming languages, C++ and Python. 
C# : programming language commonly used to develop games and mobile applications, especially with the Unity engine.
C++ : a general-purpose programming language commonly used to develop not only games but also operating systems and applications.
4.2. Tips to help you be more competitive in the Game Developer recruitment market
Start with small games : to develop your skills initially you can try creating an in-game behavior or keyboard movement in C#.
Create a good portfolio: what projects have you built, what programming language have you learned, C++ or C#, think about it and add it to your experience section.
Start as a QA tester: A QA is someone who systematically checks the game to find any flaws or bugs. This is also a good start for you to gain experience.
Participate in Game Events: these are the places where you can meet real Game Developers and game development companies. Attending events is a good opportunity for you to make friends, build relationships or simply find a job.
This post is already quite long. Hope the above information is useful on your way to becoming a Game Developer or at least you can understand what Game Developer is . Good luck.

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