3 answers
Matthew
Student
Athol, Massachusetts
1
Question
Updated
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Where to start with Game design and coding?
What websites or courses are good for learning basics about Coding? Are there any YouTube videos that cover certain things that i may need to know?
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3 answers
Zachary C
Unity Developer
1
Answer
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Zachary’s Answer
Hey Matthew.
My first piece of advice would be to know how you would like to make games. I would personally suggest either going with Unity3D, or the Unreal Engine.
Unity3D uses C# for scripting, which is a core part of making games.
Unreal Engine uses C++, and their blueprint system.
I personally started taking game development seriously shortly after the pandemic started because Unity made all of their learning resources free.
I would highly recommend taking a look at the following link.
https://learn.unity.com/pathway/junior-programmer
Once you start to get a bit comfortable with a game engine, I highly recommend looking at a site like itch.io to start participating in game jams, which are fun little events where you make a game in a set amount of time, usually with some limitations, or theme.
From there, the obvious next steps are looking into a computer science degree, and building up a portfolio of game jam projects to land your first internship / job.
Hopefully this helps.
My first piece of advice would be to know how you would like to make games. I would personally suggest either going with Unity3D, or the Unreal Engine.
Unity3D uses C# for scripting, which is a core part of making games.
Unreal Engine uses C++, and their blueprint system.
I personally started taking game development seriously shortly after the pandemic started because Unity made all of their learning resources free.
I would highly recommend taking a look at the following link.
https://learn.unity.com/pathway/junior-programmer
Once you start to get a bit comfortable with a game engine, I highly recommend looking at a site like itch.io to start participating in game jams, which are fun little events where you make a game in a set amount of time, usually with some limitations, or theme.
From there, the obvious next steps are looking into a computer science degree, and building up a portfolio of game jam projects to land your first internship / job.
Hopefully this helps.
Mike Lyons
2
Answers
Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Mike’s Answer
My advice with regard to coding and games design:-
You can download Microsoft Visual Studio community (MSVSC) free of charge, You need a Microsoft account.
You could then develop games, to get an idea of all the work involved.
If you choose C++ as a language to write a game in, you could use SFML as the API for graphics music etc, again free.
Search Microsoft Visual Studio community, this is you SDK for many languages, not just C++.
Use https://www.sfml-dev.org/index.php for help connecting SFML to MSVSC. The are lots of programming examples.
Search in YouTube for C++ SFML.
The is a lot of work and studying involved.
The last piece of advice is, if you don’t get some sort of enjoyment from the challenged above, coding may not be for you.
If you do get this all up and running, even a simple game should impress future employers.
The amount of technical knowledge you will have, would more than demonstrate coding is for you.
Good Luck and enjoy!
You can download Microsoft Visual Studio community (MSVSC) free of charge, You need a Microsoft account.
You could then develop games, to get an idea of all the work involved.
If you choose C++ as a language to write a game in, you could use SFML as the API for graphics music etc, again free.
Search Microsoft Visual Studio community, this is you SDK for many languages, not just C++.
Use https://www.sfml-dev.org/index.php for help connecting SFML to MSVSC. The are lots of programming examples.
Search in YouTube for C++ SFML.
The is a lot of work and studying involved.
The last piece of advice is, if you don’t get some sort of enjoyment from the challenged above, coding may not be for you.
If you do get this all up and running, even a simple game should impress future employers.
The amount of technical knowledge you will have, would more than demonstrate coding is for you.
Good Luck and enjoy!
Mickael Rosenberg
Software Engineer
265
Answers
Bellevue, Washington
Updated
Mickael’s Answer
Hi Matthew,
In addition to Zachary’s Answer, I would add to learn algorithmic. Or logic. Start with basics of what is coding before trying to go into games.
Python is a nice language to start with because you can even do it online, without downloading anything. One you get familiar with coding, simple exercize, go for unity or other suggestions from Zachary.
Yu can try to just jump on and try and fail until you succeed. That may work if you're looking for small games. If you are looking into more serious gaming, start with some easy project first, then go for it.
In addition to Zachary’s Answer, I would add to learn algorithmic. Or logic. Start with basics of what is coding before trying to go into games.
Python is a nice language to start with because you can even do it online, without downloading anything. One you get familiar with coding, simple exercize, go for unity or other suggestions from Zachary.
Yu can try to just jump on and try and fail until you succeed. That may work if you're looking for small games. If you are looking into more serious gaming, start with some easy project first, then go for it.