Since you are reading this I will assume that you have an interest in game programming or are at least curious about it. What is game programming and how does that differ from other types of programming? This is one of the most common questions I see when it comes to game development and rightly so. The techniques for programming games are as different from application programming as water colors are to acrylic paints. We will look at this from two points of view; the non-programmer who is just starting out and the experienced programmer who is looking at game development for the first time.
If you are completely new to programming you will find the information in this article helpful on the beginning of your journey. Before we can look at where to begin, I think it is prudent to look at “if” we should begin. Please don’t take this as negative because it is not intended to be that way. Like any other skill, programming is learned through practice and honed through and excessive amount of practice. Many novice programmers don’t understand how much work is truly involved in not only learning the syntax of a programming language but also in manipulating it to create a game.
What kinds of people make successful programmers? It would be easy to say the typical horn-rimmed glasses wearing, plaid shirt with pocket protector, with an IQ of 250 make the best programmers but that would not be accurate. The average programmer, looks just like you or me. They come from all walks of life and have many different motivational factors. One aspect of a game programmer that is universal to all of them is their passion for games. If you don’t enjoy playing games, you are not going to enjoy making them. If that is the case, please save yourself the time it would require to finish this article and if you’re still interested in being a programmer, look at application programming.
If you are interested in game development but you don't have any knowledge of programming yet, I would suggest that you get a book on C++ and be prepared to spend a sizable amount of time in the book learning the core language. It really is daunting to look at a programming language from the ground up but honestly, when you take it in smaller sections it isn't that bad.
In addition to a good book you will also need a compiler to create your programs in. There are several compilers with user friendly interfaces available for free on the internet. At the top of the list is the Microsoft Visual Studio C++ Express package. This is my personal favorite and the one I currently use for all of my projects. The package is available for free download and is the industry standard for compilers. If you are doing any Windows programming this program will work flawlessly for you. If you are going to be programming for UNIX, Linux, or MacOS the Microsoft compiler will not be available to use. On the lighter side, most of the NIX OS's come with their own compilers.
One of the biggest mistakes made by novice programmers and one that leads to frustration and eventual abandonment of programming altogether is trying to jump into graphics programming prior to actually learning the language. Not until you understand the core language should you bother with graphics because in order to use graphics on today’s modern systems you are going to need to learn an API (Application Programming Interface), which can be as difficult as learning a language.
If you are already an experienced programmer and are looking to get your hands in game development, this section is for you. First, there are some truths about games that might not seem fair but it is what it is. You could have the most perfect code in the world, the best memory management, but that isn’t going to be something that is evident or even important to the users of your games. Programming is a science but there is a reason they say, “The art of game programming” Just like a novelist must create a compelling story to keep the reader immersed in his world, the game programmer must pay attention to the attributes of a game that keep the user intrigued. Graphics and sound are as important as the code itself when it comes to game programming. For some programmers this is a point of contention but how many times have you heard someone say, “Man, that inline function was so cool!” As a person who is already familiar with the syntax of the language you can focus on learning a graphics API such as DirectX, OpenGL, or SDL. There are quite a few more but these are the ones I recommend.
In summary, if you are a person who enjoys many hours doing research on your own, love a challenge, don’t mind sleepless nights, and are not troubled by the prospect of not seeing sunlight for days on end, game programming may be what you are looking for.
Steven Bradley
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Bradley
Sunday, November 1, 2009
How To Become A Video Game Tester – What You Need To Know
How To Become A Video Game Tester is a commonly asked question onlin, probably because it seems to be such an attractive job! Just imagine being able to get up and the only work you had to do is get paid for playing video games.
That said and it sounds wonderful in theory but what do you need to know to learn How To Become A Video Game Tester? Today I am going to tell you a bit about how video game testing begun and explain why it is not as simple as just playing games for money!
When video games first started in the 80's there really was not much need for video game testers as a lot of the testing could be done by the programmers who were designing the games. This was mainly due to the size of the games that were being designed. As time went on and the video games became more complex there became more and more bugs in the games that the programmers themselves simply did not have time to spot or test for.
This was when the video game tester was born! The reason being was if a game was released that was too buggy and it got bad reviews then this would lead the video game company to lose a lot of money!
So what does a video game tester actually do?
Well in short what a video game tester does is during the building of a paticular video game, when it is nearly complete say 80% it is up to the video game tester to play the game and test for any errors or glitchs that may be in the gameplay, normally they are called bugs.
To learn How To Become A Video Game Tester you will need ti have good attention to detail and excellent communication skills as you will have to relay the info about the video game directly to the company or you might have to write it to them.
The pay for a video game tester can be quite high but does depend on your experience, also if you are wanting to know How To Become A Video Game Tester it is advisable to get a video game tester job part time at first and build up some experience to get the higher paid jobs!
So what can you do to learn How To Become A Video Game Tester?
The first thing you should do is seek out a video game developer as this can be an excellent starting point and they are the most likely to be able to land you a job. Although if you are not lucky enough to know a video game developer then I suggest you search the net for websites of game development companies and either search for video game tester jobs on the website or give them a call!
There are loads of video game development websites out there so if you ring enough you should strike gold. Another way you can learn How To Become A Video Game Tester is to search the net for sites that have done all the hard work for you and contain databases of video game tester jobs!
I hope this has helped you learn How To Become A Video Game Tester and helps you find your dream job!
Michael Fieldings is a qualified computer programmer and has ten years experience in IT. He writes articles and product recommendation on anything that can better your IT World!
For more info on How To Become A Video Game Tester and to learn how you can get your dream job in as little as 1 week Click the link below How To Become A Video Game Tester
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Fieldings
That said and it sounds wonderful in theory but what do you need to know to learn How To Become A Video Game Tester? Today I am going to tell you a bit about how video game testing begun and explain why it is not as simple as just playing games for money!
When video games first started in the 80's there really was not much need for video game testers as a lot of the testing could be done by the programmers who were designing the games. This was mainly due to the size of the games that were being designed. As time went on and the video games became more complex there became more and more bugs in the games that the programmers themselves simply did not have time to spot or test for.
This was when the video game tester was born! The reason being was if a game was released that was too buggy and it got bad reviews then this would lead the video game company to lose a lot of money!
So what does a video game tester actually do?
Well in short what a video game tester does is during the building of a paticular video game, when it is nearly complete say 80% it is up to the video game tester to play the game and test for any errors or glitchs that may be in the gameplay, normally they are called bugs.
To learn How To Become A Video Game Tester you will need ti have good attention to detail and excellent communication skills as you will have to relay the info about the video game directly to the company or you might have to write it to them.
The pay for a video game tester can be quite high but does depend on your experience, also if you are wanting to know How To Become A Video Game Tester it is advisable to get a video game tester job part time at first and build up some experience to get the higher paid jobs!
So what can you do to learn How To Become A Video Game Tester?
The first thing you should do is seek out a video game developer as this can be an excellent starting point and they are the most likely to be able to land you a job. Although if you are not lucky enough to know a video game developer then I suggest you search the net for websites of game development companies and either search for video game tester jobs on the website or give them a call!
There are loads of video game development websites out there so if you ring enough you should strike gold. Another way you can learn How To Become A Video Game Tester is to search the net for sites that have done all the hard work for you and contain databases of video game tester jobs!
I hope this has helped you learn How To Become A Video Game Tester and helps you find your dream job!
Michael Fieldings is a qualified computer programmer and has ten years experience in IT. He writes articles and product recommendation on anything that can better your IT World!
For more info on How To Become A Video Game Tester and to learn how you can get your dream job in as little as 1 week Click the link below How To Become A Video Game Tester
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Fieldings
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Adventure Chronicles Game Review
Adventure Chronicles Game Review By Ruff Bismonte
For all great casual game sequels, there's only one way to go after the initial release, and that is to improve. Adventure Chronicles is the second hidden object game following its predecessor, Escape the Museum. And this time around, it definitely improved to take part in the competitive find-and-seek casual gaming space.
The story of Adventure Chronicles follows right after Dr. Susan Anderson and her daughter's escape from the crumbled museum. After all the interviews and getting back to her much-loved work, she received a journal coming from a mystery man named John. The journal contain hints pointing to the location of several long lost treasures coming from the Great Civil War, Blackbeard the pirate, and an Egyptian Pharaoh among others. And being thrilled by the adventure, Susan sets off to travel the whole world trying to add these historic items to the museum.
For each level of the game, there are three tasks that you should fulfill in order to move on to the next step of your journey as complete as possible. First, the journal contains several riddles pointing to a key item you'll need to find the treasure. A riddle is found on each scene and you must solve all of them to complete the stage and end up with the treasure.
Second, you play a traditional hidden object game by finding listed objects at the right side of the screen. Some objects are locked, but can be easily found by interacting tools or inventory items to the scene. Normal items can become inventory items too, and to use them properly, take note of several clues and hints Susan will tell you as you click on possible hidden item locations.
Your third objective in Adventure Chronicles is an optional task but it can be frustrating if you don't get to fulfill it. Each scene houses a hidden GeoCache treasure, and you'll be given a riddle to find them. A scene can be completed without it, and you cannot use hints to locate it, but finding them completes the in-game museum, accessible through the game menu.
Adventure Chronicles is one of the many games featured and reviewed at Casualicious. Please visit our site to read more about Adventure Chronicles and get to play hundreds of other games worth your time and enjoyment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruff_Bismonte
For all great casual game sequels, there's only one way to go after the initial release, and that is to improve. Adventure Chronicles is the second hidden object game following its predecessor, Escape the Museum. And this time around, it definitely improved to take part in the competitive find-and-seek casual gaming space.
The story of Adventure Chronicles follows right after Dr. Susan Anderson and her daughter's escape from the crumbled museum. After all the interviews and getting back to her much-loved work, she received a journal coming from a mystery man named John. The journal contain hints pointing to the location of several long lost treasures coming from the Great Civil War, Blackbeard the pirate, and an Egyptian Pharaoh among others. And being thrilled by the adventure, Susan sets off to travel the whole world trying to add these historic items to the museum.
For each level of the game, there are three tasks that you should fulfill in order to move on to the next step of your journey as complete as possible. First, the journal contains several riddles pointing to a key item you'll need to find the treasure. A riddle is found on each scene and you must solve all of them to complete the stage and end up with the treasure.
Second, you play a traditional hidden object game by finding listed objects at the right side of the screen. Some objects are locked, but can be easily found by interacting tools or inventory items to the scene. Normal items can become inventory items too, and to use them properly, take note of several clues and hints Susan will tell you as you click on possible hidden item locations.
Your third objective in Adventure Chronicles is an optional task but it can be frustrating if you don't get to fulfill it. Each scene houses a hidden GeoCache treasure, and you'll be given a riddle to find them. A scene can be completed without it, and you cannot use hints to locate it, but finding them completes the in-game museum, accessible through the game menu.
Adventure Chronicles is one of the many games featured and reviewed at Casualicious. Please visit our site to read more about Adventure Chronicles and get to play hundreds of other games worth your time and enjoyment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruff_Bismonte
Natalie Brooks 2 Game Review
Natalie Brooks 2 Game Review By Ruff Bismonte
Natalie Brooks: The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom is the second game following the adventures of the teen adventurer, Natalie Brooks. Unlike Nancy Drew though, you still get to play with a familiar hidden object interface that definitely looks a lot like the original game. But still, sequels can only improve, and for this game, that statement significantly applies.
Natalie Brooks is not born an amazing adventurer; she obviously got to where she is now because of some outside influence. This time around, the influence is her grandpa, a famous archaeologist in his own right. The story begins after her grandpa got kidnapped by an unknown person hoping to cash in on an ancient treasure. It's now up to Natalie to find the criminal's ransom demand and bring her grandpa home within the set time limit.
Natalie Brooks: The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom is a hidden object game, but unlike other games of this type, almost all of the hidden items are needed to develop on the game's storyline. In some cases that you'll be given random items you'll need to find, Natalie will beforehand state that she has to clean the area, thus ending up with a reason for you to find listed items. But most of the time, the game is driven by goals you'll need to accomplish and puzzles you'll need to solve relevant to the progress of Natalie's story.
The scenes are not timed and you're provided with a replenishing hint button to help you unstuck yourself against hard-to-find items. All you have to do during the whole game is to enjoy the storyline and read closely the character dialogues. Your quest will commence after you're given tasks on what to do next. Look for highlighted objects and possible inventory items, zoom in on specific parts of the scene, and try to solve the mini-puzzles that pop-up whenever they are required to continue your quest.
Natalie Brooks 2 is one of the many games featured and reviewed at Casualicious. Please visit our site to read more about Natalie Brooks 2 and get to play hundreds of other games worth your time and enjoyment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruff_Bismonte
Natalie Brooks: The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom is the second game following the adventures of the teen adventurer, Natalie Brooks. Unlike Nancy Drew though, you still get to play with a familiar hidden object interface that definitely looks a lot like the original game. But still, sequels can only improve, and for this game, that statement significantly applies.
Natalie Brooks is not born an amazing adventurer; she obviously got to where she is now because of some outside influence. This time around, the influence is her grandpa, a famous archaeologist in his own right. The story begins after her grandpa got kidnapped by an unknown person hoping to cash in on an ancient treasure. It's now up to Natalie to find the criminal's ransom demand and bring her grandpa home within the set time limit.
Natalie Brooks: The Treasure of the Lost Kingdom is a hidden object game, but unlike other games of this type, almost all of the hidden items are needed to develop on the game's storyline. In some cases that you'll be given random items you'll need to find, Natalie will beforehand state that she has to clean the area, thus ending up with a reason for you to find listed items. But most of the time, the game is driven by goals you'll need to accomplish and puzzles you'll need to solve relevant to the progress of Natalie's story.
The scenes are not timed and you're provided with a replenishing hint button to help you unstuck yourself against hard-to-find items. All you have to do during the whole game is to enjoy the storyline and read closely the character dialogues. Your quest will commence after you're given tasks on what to do next. Look for highlighted objects and possible inventory items, zoom in on specific parts of the scene, and try to solve the mini-puzzles that pop-up whenever they are required to continue your quest.
Natalie Brooks 2 is one of the many games featured and reviewed at Casualicious. Please visit our site to read more about Natalie Brooks 2 and get to play hundreds of other games worth your time and enjoyment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruff_Bismonte
Monday, January 12, 2009
Video Gaming is Great For Relieving Stress
Video Gaming is Great For Relieving Stress By Ryan Bozeman
Many people turn to many different things to help relieve their stress. Whether it be a workout, a nice meal or a long walk at the park, everyone has something that they do to relieve stress. I have always found that playing video games has helped me relieve stress. At first I wasn't quite sure why, but I have come to find that there are actually many different reasons why video gaming helps me relax.
It's Great Alone Time
Nothing helps someone relax more than getting some good old fashioned time to themselves. This is probably one of the biggest reasons why video gaming has been shown to relieve stress. There aren't many issues that some good time alone can not cure.
It takes your mind off of stressful situations
Gaming is great way to get away from work, bills, and the daily stress of life. While you are in front of the screen there is only one thing that you need to concentrate on, and that is the game in front of you. Video gaming is a great way to take things off of your mind, and really let your brain relax for the first time every day.
It lets you take out your anger
Nothing is more fun when you're angry than blowing zombie heads off and making a run for the safe spot, taking over the world or taking on an alien civilization. The bottom line is that shooting aliens and zombies is much less destructive than smashing your coffee table or taking a swing at your next door neighbor because he has his family parked in front of your house again.
It's Fun!
Let's not forget the main reason most gamers choose to game. It's fun! What can be more fun than being able to run around in any world that you can imagine? Video games allow you to escape from reality, and be whatever you want after work and before you go to bed. That is the main reason that most people play video games in the first place. It is important to keep in mind that video games are not an escape from the real world, but rather a nice hour long vacation to a place you've never been.
This author is a huge fan of Clan Templates
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Bozeman
Many people turn to many different things to help relieve their stress. Whether it be a workout, a nice meal or a long walk at the park, everyone has something that they do to relieve stress. I have always found that playing video games has helped me relieve stress. At first I wasn't quite sure why, but I have come to find that there are actually many different reasons why video gaming helps me relax.
It's Great Alone Time
Nothing helps someone relax more than getting some good old fashioned time to themselves. This is probably one of the biggest reasons why video gaming has been shown to relieve stress. There aren't many issues that some good time alone can not cure.
It takes your mind off of stressful situations
Gaming is great way to get away from work, bills, and the daily stress of life. While you are in front of the screen there is only one thing that you need to concentrate on, and that is the game in front of you. Video gaming is a great way to take things off of your mind, and really let your brain relax for the first time every day.
It lets you take out your anger
Nothing is more fun when you're angry than blowing zombie heads off and making a run for the safe spot, taking over the world or taking on an alien civilization. The bottom line is that shooting aliens and zombies is much less destructive than smashing your coffee table or taking a swing at your next door neighbor because he has his family parked in front of your house again.
It's Fun!
Let's not forget the main reason most gamers choose to game. It's fun! What can be more fun than being able to run around in any world that you can imagine? Video games allow you to escape from reality, and be whatever you want after work and before you go to bed. That is the main reason that most people play video games in the first place. It is important to keep in mind that video games are not an escape from the real world, but rather a nice hour long vacation to a place you've never been.
This author is a huge fan of Clan Templates
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Bozeman
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