A game programmer contributes to the development of source code for video games and other forms of computer entertainment. This category includes a variety of game programming jobs, such as developing game engines, artificial intelligence (AI), sound, and user interface. Additional programmers may be brought in as the game nears completion to help optimize the network code and port the game to new platforms. To help bring a developer’s vision to market, all game programmers collaborate closely with producers, artists, and writers.
The majority of modern video games are not created from the ground up. They make use of pre-existing physics and graphics engines that have been heavily modified to create the game world and gameplay that the developer envisions. Many game programmer jobs entail modifying the source code of these engines to produce the final product that the consumer sees when they play the game. Experienced programmers in this field may work directly for video game developers or for companies that develop the basic engines that the games are based on.
Other responsibilities for game programmers include creating artificial intelligence that governs the behavior of non-player characters (NPCs) in the game world. The game’s AI behavior is crucial in determining how well it is received critics and players. NPCs may act strangely or unrealistically as a result of poor or buggy AI. Good AI will keep the player immersed and provide him with challenging opponents or helpful allies throughout the game.
Composers and programmers usually collaborate on video game sound design to create music, speech, and sound effects. This category of game programmer jobs entails creating sounds and properly synchronizing them with the game’s visual events. Good sound design contributes to the game’s overall mood and provides useful feedback to the player as he explores the environment.
The development of the user interface (UI), which allows the player to interact with the game world, is one of the most important tasks for game programmers. This job usually entails figuring out the best way to set up the game controller or keyboard and mouse. The UI programmer will also assist in determining what kind of on-screen information will appear to aid the player in reacting to game events and managing his character’s health, equipment, and abilities.
Some game programming jobs start after the foundational systems are in place. Networking programmers are needed to help optimize network code and reduce latency, or lag, between different consoles or terminals in multi-player games that run over the Internet. A team of specialized programmers may be brought in to help port the game to another console if the developer or publisher wishes to sell the game on more than one system. These programmers will have to make sure that the source code is changed to make it compatible with other systems.