Development is undertaken by a game developer, which may range from a single person to a large business. Mainstream games are normally funded by a publisher and take several years to develop. Indie games can take less time and can be produced cheaply by individuals and small developers. The indie ...
354
votes
14answers
158k views
Why do game developers prefer Windows?
Is it that DirectX is easier or better than OpenGL, even if OpenGL is cross-platform? Why do we not see real powerful games for Linux like there are for Windows?
44
votes
9answers
2k views
When does “proper” programming no longer matter?
I've been building an android game in my spare time. It's using the libgdx library so quite a bit of the heavy lifting is done for me.
While developing, I carelessly selected datatypes for some ...
38
votes
12answers
17k views
Why isn't Java more widely used for game development?
I'm not a game developer or anything, but I know that Java is not very widely used for game development. Java should be fast enough for most games, so where's the catch? I can think of some reasons:
...
35
votes
8answers
2k views
How should I build the data structure for a dynamic, unlimited-size “maze”?
I'm not actually sure that "maze" is the correct term. Basically users start in a single Room that has 4 doors (N, S, E, and W). They can go in any direction, and each subsequent room is contains ...
20
votes
27answers
3k views
What language should an 11-year old start with to learn game programming? [closed]
I have a 11-year old son who wants to do game programming. I've started him on C++ (C++11) and he's learned iostreams, looping, functions, logic and flow control. I'm using the standard library and ...
20
votes
19answers
2k views
A free game-development language?
So, I'm trying to teach my much younger cousin a little bit about programming. My initial thought was something like Scratch or Alice, but there were a few downsides to that.
Everyone seems to be ...
16
votes
13answers
2k views
Understanding how Code works is the way to actually 'Learn' programming, right?
I have a friend who is struggling with learning how to program (he wants to make games; as do I). Several books, tutorials, etc.
His mentality is he has to memorize the code itself, as in the exact ...
13
votes
9answers
2k views
Not getting paid for hours you've worked? [closed]
So I was reading from a previous thread about App vs Game Development:
If it was for you to chose Game Development vs Application Development, which will you chose?
Which brought me to this site: EA: ...
13
votes
15answers
27k views
Game programming : C# or C++? [closed]
I've decided what I really want is to do game programming. So the question is, as a 18 years old who wants to learn self taught programming, what is the most suited programming language between C# and ...
13
votes
5answers
777 views
Developing a feature which sole purpose to be taken out?
What is the name of the pattern in which individual contributors (programmers/designers) developed an artifact for the sole purpose is to serve as a diversion so that management can remove that ...
13
votes
3answers
657 views
Generic rule parser for RPG board game rules - how to do it?
I want to build a generic rule parser for pen and paper style RPG systems. A rule can involve usually 1 to N entities 1 to N roles of a dice and calculating values based on multiple attributes of an ...
12
votes
5answers
3k views
Is Java a good choice for cross-platform games?
I'm looking to create a game in Java and would like it to work on Windows, Linux, and Mac. I'm pretty sure C# is a bad choice for this, and I don't have enough experience in C or C++. I want to stay ...
11
votes
6answers
1k views
What technologies are used for Game development now days? [closed]
Whenever I ask a question about game development in an online forum I always get suggestions like learning line drawing algorithms, bit level image manipulation and video decompression etc.
However ...
11
votes
4answers
899 views
Create a behavior/Component based system for games
Background
I do game development as a hobby, and am looking for a better way to design them. Currently, I am using a standard OOP approach (I have been doing enterprise development for 8 years so it ...
10
votes
11answers
2k views
Best approach for writing a chess engine?
I'm a chess enthusiast and a programmer. I recently decided to start making a chess engine using my chess and programming knowledge. So here's my question:
What language (I'm familiar with Java, C++ ...
8
votes
8answers
2k views
Will getting a degree in mathematics help in game development?
I'm two months away from getting my degree in systems engineering, which is to say, I learned how to code and code well using managed languages.
The only reason I got into this career was because I ...
8
votes
4answers
329 views
What would be the best way to store movements on a game to allow a rollback?
I'm developing a board game that has a game class that controls the game flow, and players attached to the game class. The board is just a visual class, but the control of the movements is all by the ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
How long and what type of complexity would have been involved in Chris Sawyer writing most of rollercoaster tycoon in assembler?
From this question, I have another question about...
How long and what type of complexity would have been involved in Chris Sawyer writing most of rollercoaster tycoon in assembler?
In order to ...
8
votes
6answers
3k views
Recommendation for a platform to teach game development to kids [closed]
My 11 years old son decided he want to create a Web game. He does not know much about programming and I never did any game development so I'm not the best teacher of the topic. On one hand I really ...
8
votes
2answers
161 views
Should extension scripts be run in a sandbox?
In particular, this is about game extensions written in lua (luajit-2.0). I was contemplating whether I should restrict what these scripts can do, and arrived at the conclusion that I probably ...
7
votes
6answers
616 views
Show “hobby” project during the interview?
I am developing this Android game (Technology wise 3D with OpenGLES2 and shaders, some nice AI with http://www.steeringbehaviors.de/ ) during my free time.
The goal is to launched in the "Android ...
7
votes
8answers
779 views
I've been hired on as a entry-level game developer at a company and have little/no experience in API programming, what should I expect? [duplicate]
So, I've been hired on as an entry level game developer with little/no experience working with any API other than Win32. This will be an overall learning experience for me as a person and I have gone ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Functional Programming approach for a simplified game using Scala and LWJGL
I, a Java imperative programmer, would like to understand how to generate a simple version of Space Invaders based on Functional Programming design principles (in particular Referential Transparency). ...
7
votes
1answer
517 views
What hardware/software tools were used to build commercial quality 8-bits games?
I mean, I still have a MSX2 with a Z80 processor and if you look at any Konami's game made for that computer in its time (roughly between '84 and '90) is amazing the high quality code of those games. ...
7
votes
1answer
424 views
Game-dev-oriented Code Kata? [closed]
(I ask here because gamedev.stackexchange.net isn't as exposed to programmers as this site)
Code Kata are good programming exercises ( see Code Kata ).
I think the provided exercices are good for ...
6
votes
3answers
252 views
Few big libraries or many small libraries?
Over the course of some months I've created a little framework for game development that I currently include in all of my projects.
The framework depends on SFML, LUA, JSONcpp, and other libraries. ...
6
votes
5answers
504 views
MVC Can the model know ANYTHING about the view?
I'm working on a game, and without getting into any details I am using MVC "patterns", "rules" or whatever you want to call it to make the game.
The view includes everything needed to draw things on ...
6
votes
6answers
782 views
Is the Product Owner also a developer on your team?
I'm confused about the PO's responsibility here. I was a developer on a Game Feature Team, but also a PO. The daily work of the developer is almost full time, so I have to work over time to take care ...
6
votes
1answer
233 views
What's the proper way to organize ViewControllers and XIB?
I am developing a very simple iPhone game with this view hierarchy:
Main Menu View
â””> New Game View
| â””> Player vs Computer Game View
| | â””> Pause View
| | â””> End ...
5
votes
6answers
1k views
How do I get a job as a game developer?
I'm an entry-level programmer just out of college. As I've found out, I don't really enjoy working on "boring" applications like networking, firewalls, and such.
My dream job would be something like ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
I made an HTML5/Javascript game. Do I have to license it?
So I created an HTML5/Javascript online game. I host it on my website for anyone to play for free. I am still currently working on it. Do I need to license my game? And if so, what license do you ...
5
votes
4answers
614 views
Is it possible to create a 2d game for both linux and windows with next to no changes?
I'm starting a project with friends which would preferably reach both audiences of windows and linux. The only problem is that none of us have any experience of linux porting or linux coding any way. ...
5
votes
5answers
521 views
Spoiled by Python convenience- and productivity-wise, spoiled by C++ speed-wise. Now unhappy with both [closed]
I'm currenetly struggling with choosing how to proceed as a programmer. I mainly programmed games and would like to continue. And for about 5 years or so I just used C++ and OpenGL, so I spent a lot ...
5
votes
2answers
785 views
Is video game programming usually physics related?
I know this is obviously not true for some games, minesweeper, card games, etc. But what about any game involving simulating the real world environment. Obviously these games have some form of a ...
5
votes
2answers
482 views
What does (Lua) game scripting mean?
I've read that Lua is often used for embedded scripting and in particular game for scripting. I find it hard to picture how it is used exactly.
Can you describe why and for which features and for ...
5
votes
1answer
450 views
Solutions for implementing a full-duplex game server?
I am designing a game server which would be used for Android terminals. I've been searching for products or frameworks to use for two-way socket communication but haven't found anything worth ...
5
votes
1answer
517 views
How can I manage my ViewControllers in my game?
I'm building a very simple iOS game that doesn't require any fancy OpenGL; I'd like to stick with Core Graphics & Core Animation. I'd like to make this a fullscreen game, and my question is of ...
4
votes
3answers
222 views
Open Source Licenses
I'm independently developing a physics-based game using HTML5 canvas and JavaScript; I've used no external code at all (including physics or game engines), and my code is about 5000 lines in length. ...
4
votes
1answer
290 views
Using Quadratic Bezier Curves to generate a cave that stays within certain bounds
I'm working on a project that generates a series of quadratic bezier curves and connects them together, maintaining slope from the end of one segment to the beginning of the next to make the ...
3
votes
4answers
562 views
What skills in game development are common in other software development areas?
I am a game dev who was working in the game-industry and then ... got laid off. Ever since then, life has been stressful! During this time, I have met so many other devs who have also been laid off ...
3
votes
3answers
263 views
Getting to the big leagues & managing time as a novice game developer?
I'm a 23-year-old novice game developer who just got his first job in the industry a year ago. Unlike most programmers I know, I started programming pretty late, during my second year in college, and ...
3
votes
1answer
195 views
Suggestions on switching from lamp based web design-development to game design-development
I have around 2.5 years of experience as a web developer cum designer working mainly on the LAMP platform. Now, I want to try out game development (of the likes of First Person Shooter games like Call ...
3
votes
3answers
289 views
Any legal issue in developing app similar to others?
There is a game I want to develop for mobile devices e.g. cellphone/tablet. I have been looking for this game and couldn't find it so I decide to just do it on my own. But I'm worried that there will ...
3
votes
4answers
272 views
Jumping from 16-bit console to protected-mode game programming.
I am a just a little script kiddy, but I want to make the jump from just doing standrard console games in C++ to full graphic video games. I am just wondering if there are any good Directx 11 ...
3
votes
3answers
241 views
Should I start developing code before planning out the interface?
I'm starting a gaming project on the side of my normal school/work projects and I'm wondering if I should start planning out the user interface before starting an actual project in code.
I see some ...
3
votes
1answer
766 views
How do game programmers design their classes to reuse in AI, network and play and pass mode?
For a two player game where, your opponent could be on the network, CPU itself or near you where you would play turn by turn on the same machine.
How do people design classes for re-use ?
I am in a ...
3
votes
2answers
469 views
Real-Time Multi-User Gaming Platform
I'm considering developing a real-time multi-user game, and I want to gather some information about possibilities before I do some real development. I've thought about how best to ask the question, ...
3
votes
5answers
123 views
How many different configurations are used for software tests?
This article shows that for Android apps, software developers use between 30 and 50 different devices for compatibility tests.
I tried to find information about tests of applications on "classic" ...
3
votes
3answers
225 views
Are tree structures inherently bad for mark-and-sweep garbage collector performance?
I'm implementing a bounding volume hierarchy in F#. Since it would be for a game, I want the garbage collector to be as quick and infrequent as possible.
It seems though that I may have to pull some ...
3
votes
1answer
618 views
is c or c++ necessary for game programming? [closed]
Do you need to learn c or c++ for game programming? I am very good with java. Is it true that most game engines are in c or c++.should i learn c or c++ or start making games in java.Can you suggest ...
