Need help in selecting appropriate steps to be a PC Game Programmer

[Game Junkie]

Assalam o Alaikum and Eid Mubarak to everyone This is my first thread here so let me introduce myself first.......

#My Name:
-----------------
Haris Sohail


#My Age:
---------------
18 Years


#My Educational Experience:
--------------------------------------------
Just passed Matriculation Examinations with 87.96%. ( MashaAllah )


#City:
---------
Karachi

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

So now let me tell that why I am here...... Well, yesterday my father asked me that what I really want to be in future..... So the first thing that came in my mind was "Make your passion your profession".... So I started searching about making money from GAMING capabilities and finally I have reached this conclusion that I wanna be a successful PC GAME DEVELOPER! While getting myself more into it, I found that I can be a PROGRAMMER ( Game Physics like AI Behavior, Vehicle System, Timecycle system etc). Now that I have plenty of spare time, I want to start learning something that may help afterwards... But I found that there is no scope for PC GAMING IN PAKISTAN So I am planning to complete my studies in Pakistan and then going to California or L.A. for my dream job........ So where should I start? My primary goal is to get a decent job in Rockstar Games ( I am a huge fan ). So there you can understand my question.... I have set a goal and now I am looking for appropriate steps towards it. So any help will be really appreciated. Thanks in advance for any upcoming suggestions and guides...... Allah Hafiz.

My Questions: (Just to be clear)
--------------------------------------------------
Q1. I wanna be a Game progammer, I am planning to study here and then I am willing to go to California or L.A. for my dream job. How should I proceed?

Q2. After answering Q1, is there anything that I can start learning from now through tutorials?

If u guys need any more information please feel free to ask. THANKS AGAIN

 

[EternalBlizzard]

I think there are plenty of guides even here on PG where they talk about the different roles a Game studio needs.
Modeller, animator, Gamplay programmer, AI programmer, Engine programmer etc.

First try to make up your mind whether you wanna go towards the Programming or the Art Side. I'm assuming you have picked the programming one.
You can Either choose Pre-Engg or Compute Science in Inter. Pre-Engg nets you with options to go to other fields as well. However if you are dead set on Computer Science, better take it to start getting familiar
with it as soon as you can. Do note that you want to aim to go for Bachelors in CS after inter. You can enter Game Development from other fields as well, however if you wanna go towards the programming side,
CS is a must.

If you can afford to do Bachelors from abroad like USA or Germany etc, all the better.

As for what you can do now, there are loads of things to do. Start reading online articles on game development and get to know the overall procedure, there are plenty of tools lying around Unity, Rpg maker etc.
Use them to get yourself familiar with how game engines work.

As for programming pick up a language, usually beginners are told to start with Scratch!.
Scratch - Imagine, Program, Share

After you have your fair share with it, try picking C++/C#. There are good books lying around everywhere on the Net. Try to learn the concepts first and don't start coding directly.
Personally I started with C# through "C# Yellow Book by Rob Miles". It's very good. Tries to explain all the necessary concepts related to programming.

If even that seems hard for you try "codecademy" I started off with RUBY tutorial and learned much about programming from there before I entered University.

 

[Game Junkie]

I think there are plenty of guides even here on PG where they talk about the different roles a Game studio needs.
Modeller, animator, Gamplay programmer, AI programmer, Engine programmer etc.

First try to make up your mind whether you wanna go towards the Programming or the Art Side. I'm assuming you have picked the programming one.
You can Either choose Pre-Engg or Compute Science in Inter. Pre-Engg nets you with options to go to other fields as well. However if you are dead set on Computer Science, better take it to start getting familiar
with it as soon as you can. Do note that you want to aim to go for Bachelors in CS after inter. You can enter Game Development from other fields as well, however if you wanna go towards the programming side,
CS is a must.

If you can afford to do Bachelors from abroad like USA or Germany etc, all the better.

As for what you can do now, there are loads of things to do. Start reading online articles on game development and get to know the overall procedure, there are plenty of tools lying around Unity, Rpg maker etc.
Use them to get yourself familiar with how game engines work.

As for programming pick up a language, usually beginners are told to start with Scratch!.
Scratch - Imagine, Program, Share

After you have your fair share with it, try picking C++/C#. There are good books lying around everywhere on the Net. Try to learn the concepts first and don't start coding directly.
Personally I started with C# through "C# Yellow Book by Rob Miles". It's very good. Tries to explain all the necessary concepts related to programming.

If even that seems hard for you try "codecademy" I started off with RUBY tutorial and learned much about programming from there before I entered University.

Thanks sir. Really helped me. Sir are you a Game Programmer?

 

[EternalBlizzard]

Thanks sir. Really helped me. Sir are you a Game Programmer?

Not really, I'm a final year BSCS student. Im into things like rendering and learning things related to Graphics and Engine programming. There aren't any jobs related to this here tho.
I plan to move abroad for masters and settle there eventually.

 

[puppet]

how'd you say you just wanna do game programming? mastered gamification already?

anyways at this level, I'd suggest you try some game engines (unity, unreal , cryengine, gamamker, cocos2d, gamesalad, godot etc there are many others) and do some random "pangay" with them, there is still time for you, complete your inter first, only after CS degree you can get the idea of games and stuff and related technologies , but don't depend on the university , self-learning is the key, but if you can get admission in game tech specific university for you BS in USA or Germany or anywhere, that'd be better

and only after completing three years you can dig out your inner skills, there are many roles in the industry you gotta find out in coming years.

and.....

Q1. I wanna be a Game programmer, I am planning to study here and then I am willing to go to California or L.A. for my dream job. How should I proceed?

-there's nothing like dream job unless you are a professional already, you gonna learn too much in coming years that you dont know already, your interests gonna be changed, likings & dislikings gonna be changed.
to proceed just focus good in your maths and physics of your inter, later work hard in university.
programming, architectures, designs, algorithms, databases, networking, SE techniques, are cores for every technology, there are other too, related and/or based on these you need to focus,
and you will ask yourself in uni "wtf m reading? , where are the courses that can help me making games? where are the games specific things?"
every person with a passion and goal asks these kinda question, you will find the answers but dont lose interest in your courses and dont skip them coz these will be basics and you need them to find out which role of game industry you should focus in, later you can come back to professionals and ask help if still lost at the time.


Q2. After answering Q1, is there anything that I can start learning from now through tutorials?

-better to start with scratch, and as I said try all the engines with some pangay you gonna only like one , but it'll help you alot ( you'll see in future)

 

[Game Junkie]

Thank you very much brothers. Bohot acha response tha yaar. Bilkul bhi expect nai kiya tha but PG is great! Acha men youtube search kar raha tha to bohot se cheezen millin...... Ab sab se pehle konsi start karoon? Languages, Engines etc.... Thanks again brothers

 

[EternalBlizzard]

Thank you very much brothers. Bohot acha response tha yaar. Bilkul bhi expect nai kiya tha but PG is great! Acha men youtube search kar raha tha to bohot se cheezen millin...... Ab sab se pehle konsi start karoon? Languages, Engines etc.... Thanks again brothers

The easiest engine you can start now is probably RPG maker. You don't have to do anything, it comes with built in assets. It's just like painting.
Get used to it a little to understand some techniques game engines use.

As for languages, start using Scratch!, if you feel it's way past your level then try your hand at C#/C/C++. Though I'll make it clear C++/C is quite hard for beginners. Neverthless if you can study it properly you will have good concepts.
You could also start with C# then when you feel you have grasped the basic concepts switch to C++.

And don't forget game programming requires loads of maths especially a lot of Linear Algebra. If you feel like consulting a proper book, a good one is,
"Essential Maths for Games" by Van Verth.

 

[Game Junkie]

Thanks [MENTION=42632]EternalBlizzard[/MENTION] ... What about you [MENTION=104069]puppet[/MENTION] ? Are you a game programmer?

 

[puppet]

Thank you very much brothers. Bohot acha response tha yaar. Bilkul bhi expect nai kiya tha but PG is great! Acha men youtube search kar raha tha to bohot se cheezen millin...... Ab sab se pehle konsi start karoon? Languages, Engines etc.... Thanks again brothers

1st do this - Scratch - Imagine, Program, Share
2nd do this - Buckys C++ Programming Tutorials - 1 - Installing CodeBlocks - YouTube
or this if you are a reader - Amazon.com: Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ (2nd Edition) (0884926202607): Bjarne Stroustrup: Books
but do read books too , even if you are not a reader, books will change your life ( follow me on goodreads too, there I've lists about great books , ofc game development and related )
3rd do this - The Best Game Engines for Beginners

 

[Game Junkie]

Thanks for the help brothers! Wese yehan koi decent game production studio hai kiya?

 

[asemahassan88]

Assalam o Alaikum and Eid Mubarak to everyone This is my first thread here so let me introduce myself first.......

#My Name:
-----------------
Haris Sohail


#My Age:
---------------
18 Years


#My Educational Experience:
--------------------------------------------
Just passed Matriculation Examinations with 87.96%. ( MashaAllah )


#City:
---------
Karachi

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

So now let me tell that why I am here...... Well, yesterday my father asked me that what I really want to be in future..... So the first thing that came in my mind was "Make your passion your profession".... So I started searching about making money from GAMING capabilities and finally I have reached this conclusion that I wanna be a successful PC GAME DEVELOPER! While getting myself more into it, I found that I can be a PROGRAMMER ( Game Physics like AI Behavior, Vehicle System, Timecycle system etc). Now that I have plenty of spare time, I want to start learning something that may help afterwards... But I found that there is no scope for PC GAMING IN PAKISTAN So I am planning to complete my studies in Pakistan and then going to California or L.A. for my dream job........ So where should I start? My primary goal is to get a decent job in Rockstar Games ( I am a huge fan ). So there you can understand my question.... I have set a goal and now I am looking for appropriate steps towards it. So any help will be really appreciated. Thanks in advance for any upcoming suggestions and guides...... Allah Hafiz.

My Questions: (Just to be clear)
--------------------------------------------------
Q1. I wanna be a Game progammer, I am planning to study here and then I am willing to go to California or L.A. for my dream job. How should I proceed?

Q2. After answering Q1, is there anything that I can start learning from now through tutorials?

If u guys need any more information please feel free to ask. THANKS AGAIN

Dear Haris,

My fellow supervisors has already given you enough source to start with Game Programming.
But at this age and educational level, you better start reading more books about gamification, game design, narrative, story building etc
To be a successful game programmer you just dont need programming skills, but understanding of all the other departments involved in the process.
Since, you are very young and motivated I would highly suggest to read books and play alot of games. (the one which you would like to develop)

Understand the whole game development processs. Its a long way to go and you need to have patience in this industry.

There are very good studios in Pakistan as well. Try to be Beta tester or QA in some studios of Karachi it will enhance your skills of analyzing.

I would disagree with my fellows about using Game engines at this age (engines are good for people who already know game theory and have studied core computer science).
Please dont spend your time learning a tool at this age, read books. Understand game theory
If you need game design books, I have some to share.

PAKISTAN industry - by the time you will graduate from University we will be in better state. Stay focused !


Cheers,
Asema

 

[puppet]

Thanks for the help brothers! Wese yehan koi decent game production studio hai kiya?

dont ask too many questions at this level that you dont need right now lol , you will get confused and put yourself into a loop you cant escape

 

[Game Junkie]

Lol [MENTION=104069]puppet[/MENTION]

 

[Game Junkie]

Thanks ma'am [MENTION=137479]asemahassan88[/MENTION]

 

[Game Junkie]

Dear Haris,

My fellow supervisors has already given you enough source to start with Game Programming.
But at this age and educational level, you better start reading more books about gamification, game design, narrative, story building etc
To be a successful game programmer you just dont need programming skills, but understanding of all the other departments involved in the process.
Since, you are very young and motivated I would highly suggest to read books and play alot of games. (the one which you would like to develop)

Understand the whole game development processs. Its a long way to go and you need to have patience in this industry.

There are very good studios in Pakistan as well. Try to be Beta tester or QA in some studios of Karachi it will enhance your skills of analyzing.

I would disagree with my fellows about using Game engines at this age (engines are good for people who already know game theory and have studied core computer science).
Please dont spend your time learning a tool at this age, read books. Understand game theory
If you need game design books, I have some to share.

PAKISTAN industry - by the time you will graduate from University we will be in better state. Stay focused !


Cheers,
Asema

Your reply means a lot to me ma'am. Thanks again. You said that u have some books to share..... please mention them here.... this will also help others looking for guidance... I am a good gamer and I wanna share my Gaming Experience......

I started gaming from the age of 6.

My first pc build was:

Hp
Intel Pentium 4
2gb ram
128mb gpu
80gb hdd

My starting games were gta vice city, gta sanandreas, nfs mw, nfs u2.

I completed all of them by the age of 8 and continued gaming.......

Now I am 18 years old......

My current pc build:

Intel Xeon E3-1245 V3 @ 3.40GHz
IPM87-MP Motherboard
8GB RAM 1600MHz
500GB HDD Seagate 7200RPM
Inno3d GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Twin X2
Corsair CX600 PSU

Games that I have completed:
Whole Call Of Duty Series
Whole Battlefield Series
Whole Medal Of Honor series
Whole Crisis series
Whole Gta series
Whole nfs series
Whole mafia series
Whole assassin's creed series
Whole deus ex series
Both watch dogs
And lots of countless game titles


I love the games which are accompanied with a great and sad story. I will put mafia 2 on 1st number. I have played many games but the best was mafia 2. It's music, it's artworks, its characters.... the game was just great!.......

I also love modding games... trying to make them as realistic as possible..... Better Textures, better physics, better weather system, better AI Behavior, better vehicle response, better shooting capabilities and all the stuff.

 

[asemahassan88]

Your reply means a lot to me ma'am. Thanks again. You said that u have some books to share..... please mention them here.... this will also help others looking for guidance... I am a good gamer and I wanna share my Gaming Experience......

I started gaming from the age of 6.

My first pc build was:

Hp
Intel Pentium 4
2gb ram
128mb gpu
80gb hdd

My starting games were gta vice city, gta sanandreas, nfs mw, nfs u2.

I completed all of them by the age of 8 and continued gaming.......

Now I am 18 years old......

My current pc build:

Intel Xeon E3-1245 V3 @ 3.40GHz
IPM87-MP Motherboard
8GB RAM 1600MHz
500GB HDD Seagate 7200RPM
Inno3d GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Twin X2
Corsair CX600 PSU

Games that I have completed:
Whole Call Of Duty Series
Whole Battlefield Series
Whole Medal Of Honor series
Whole Crisis series
Whole Gta series
Whole nfs series
Whole mafia series
Whole assassin's creed series
Whole deus ex series
Both watch dogs
And lots of countless game titles


I love the games which are accompanied with a great and sad story. I will put mafia 2 on 1st number. I have played many games but the best was mafia 2. It's music, it's artworks, its characters.... the game was just great!.......

I also love modding games... trying to make them as realistic as possible..... Better Textures, better physics, better weather system, better AI Behavior, better vehicle response, better shooting capabilities and all the stuff.

Hi,

Please give me your email ID?

Regards,
Asema

 

[Game Junkie]

Hi,

Please give me your email ID?

Regards,
Asema

Ok.... Check your PM inbox

 

[V3N0M]

Yes read a lot of books & watch conferences like GDC , Unite and Casua Connect .

My case was similar as yours when I was in college , I followed industry very closely before trying anything practical . Focus more on Game Design at this stage rather than pure programming or any game engine .



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