Talk given at GamesWest 2013 about skills required to work as a programmer at a major games studio.

1. Programming
!
!
For
!

2. Andrew Fray

3. Andrew Fray
2004

4. Andrew Fray
2004

5. Andrew Fray
2004

6. Video Games
Programmer

7. Video Games
Indie
Mainstream
Programmer
Programmer
Programmer

8. Video Games
Indie
Mainstream
Programmer
Programmer
Programmer
Small
teams

9. Video Games
Indie
Mainstream
Programmer
Programmer
Programmer
Creative
freedom Small
teams

10. Revenue
share
Video Games
Indie
Mainstream
Programmer
Programmer
Programmer
Creative
freedom Small
teams

11. Revenue
share
Video Games
Indie
Mainstream
Programmer
Programmer
Programmer
Creative
freedom Small
teams
Specialisms

12. Revenue
share
Regular salary
Video Games
Indie
Mainstream
Programmer
Programmer
Programmer
Creative
freedom Small
teams
Specialisms

13. Revenue
share
Regular salary
Video Games
Indie
Mainstream
Programmer
Programmer
Programmer
Creative
freedom Small
teams
Specialisms
Profile

14. http://www.flickr.com/photos/12027145@N00/3349431436

15. http://www.flickr.com/photos/12027145@N00/3349431436
GETTING THE JOB

16. 133t 5k1llz

17. 133t 5k1llz
C++

18. 133t 5k1llz
C++
Memory
management

19. 133t 5k1llz
C++
Algorithmic
complexity
Memory
management

20. 133t 5k1llz
C++
Modular
programming
Algorithmic
complexity
Memory
management

21. 133t 5k1llz
C++
OOP
Modular
programming
Algorithmic
complexity
Memory
management

22. 133t 5k1llz
C++
OOP
Modular
programming
Algorithmic
complexity
Vector &
matrix maths
Memory
management

23. 133t 5k1llz
C++
OOP
Modular
programming
Vector &
matrix maths
Multithreading
Algorithmic
complexity
Memory
management

24. 133t 5k1llz
C++
OOP
Modular
programming
Vector &
matrix maths
Source control
Multithreading
Algorithmic
complexity
Memory
management

25. 133t 5k1llz
C++
Bitwise
operations
OOP
Modular
programming
Vector &
matrix maths
Source control
Multithreading
Algorithmic
complexity
Memory
management

26. 134rn 5k1llz

27. 134rn 5k1llz
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

28. 134rn 5k1llz
Scott Meyers,
Herb Sutter
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

29. 134rn 5k1llz
Coursera
Scott Meyers,
Herb Sutter
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

30. 134rn 5k1llz
Coursera
Write a blog
Scott Meyers,
Herb Sutter
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

31. 134rn 5k1llz
Game
Programming
Gems
Coursera
Write a blog
Scott Meyers,
Herb Sutter
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

32. 134rn 5k1llz
Game
Programming
Gems
Scott Meyers,
Herb Sutter
Coursera
altdevblogaday
Write a blog
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

33. 134rn 5k1llz
Game
Programming
Gems
Coursera
Scott Meyers,
Herb Sutter
Ludum Dare,
GGJ, classic
altdevblogaday
games
Write a blog
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

34. 134rn 5k1llz
Game
Programming
Gems
Github
Coursera
Scott Meyers,
Herb Sutter
Ludum Dare,
GGJ, classic
altdevblogaday
games
Write a blog
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

35. 134rn 5k1llz
Game
Programming
Gems
Github
Coursera
Scott Meyers,
Herb Sutter
Ludum Dare,
GGJ, classic
altdevblogaday
games
gamedev.stackexchange.com
Write a blog
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

36. 134rn 5k1llz
Game
Programming
Gems
Github
Coursera
Scott Meyers,
Herb Sutter
Ludum Dare,
GGJ, classic
altdevblogaday
games
gamedev.stackexchange.com
University
Write a blog
Visual Studio
Express 2013 for
Windows Desktop

37. University

38. University
•
Only a dedicated programming
degree is helpful

39. University
•
Only a dedicated programming
degree is helpful

40. http://www.flickr.com/photos/28687188@N05/9182179611

41. http://www.flickr.com/photos/28687188@N05/9182179611
LIVING THE JOB

42. Career

43. Career

44. Years
0 0.5 2
Career
3
…
10

45. Years
0 0.5 2
Career
3
£20-25k
…
10

46. Years
0 0.5 2
Career
3
…
£20-25k
Pass probation
10

47. Years
0 0.5 2
Career
3
…
£20-25k
Pass probation
Crunch
10

48. Years
0 0.5 2
Career
3
…
£20-25k
Pass probation
Crunch
10

49. Years
0 0.5 2
Career
3
…
£20-25k
Pass probation
Crunch
Employable
10

50. Years
0 0.5 2
Career
3
…
£20-25k
Pass probation
Crunch
Employable
Move job
10

51. Years
0 0.5 2
Career
3
…
10
£20-25k £35-45k
Pass probation
Crunch
Employable
Move job

53. THANK YOU

54. Skillz Recap
• C++
• OOP
• Memory management
• Algorithmic complexity
• Modular programming
• Vector & matrix maths
• Source control
• Multithreading
• Bitwise operations
Express
• Visual Studio Desktop 2013
for Windows
• Scott Meyers, Herb Sutter
books
• Coursera/MOOCs jams
Dare/game
• LudumProgramming Gems
• Game
• altdevblogaday
• gamedev.stackexchange.com
• Githuba blog
• Write
• University
andrewfray.wordpress.com @tenpn