Games Development Jobs

Programmers in the games industry can find themselves involved in a huge variety of different tasks, not all of which are necessarily involved in writing the game itself. Programmers are also responsible for creating tools that the other members of the team use to create the content for the game, such as model exporters for 3D packages and level design tools. Coders can also specialise in certain areas, with some examples being general game coding, engine coding (the layer of software which deals with making the features of the target hardware easily accessible to the game coders) and tool and utility programming.

Here is a list of skills that a developer would be looking for when hiring a games programmer.

Language Knowledge : The main two languages you should be familiar with at this time are C++ (for console and PC games programming) and Java (for mobile phone development). Of the two C++ is definitely the more valuable, as even mobile phone games are beginning to be coded in this language. Learning a scripting language such as Python or LUA is also a good idea.

Ability to Code a Game : Nothing shows off your ability as a programmer more than actually coding a game. If you can show that you have the skills to write a game from start to finish then this will impress a potential employer greatly. Take the time to polish the game to a good standard and ensure you include a title screen clearly showing your name and contact details. Make sure your game is easy to run and include instructions on how to play, as you only have a few minutes to impress the person reviewing your game. It is also wise to include the source code, so make sure it is well laid out and commented, and uses good coding practices. If your game is not in 3D, you might also want to consider sending a small technical demo to demonstrate your 3D knowledge, but make sure it’s more than just a spinning cube!

Problem Solving : A hard skill to demonstrate in a CV, although a good demo will help. Many developers will set you a test either before you come for an interview or during it, so this is where you will be able to demonstrate your problem solving skills. If you know that there will be a test, it is a good idea to prepare for it by brushing up on some of your terminology and basic coding knowledge. Topics such as object oriented methodology (e.g classes, inheritance), abstract data types (linked lists, trees etc.) and general algorithm knowledge (e.g. sorting algorithms) are likely to come up.

Knowledge of Other Coding Tools : When listing the software in which you have experience include anything that could be useful in the creation of a game. A list is all that is required, but include packages such as word processors (e.g. Word), spreadsheets (e.g. Excel), graphics programs (Photoshop, Maya etc.), source control (e.g. Perforce) and project management (e.g. Project). It is also worth listing the coding environments you have used (e.g. Microsoft Developer Studio). Include version numbers too where appropriate, especially on languages and graphics package which change greatly over time.