3D Game Programming: Past, Present and Future

Game programming has come a long way since the early days of gaming. The text-based games and primitive graphics of the 1970s and early 1980s used very different programming methods from today's fully-interactive, vividly-realized 3-dimensional games.

Wolfenstein 3D was one of the earliest games to try to simulate a 3D environment through texture mapping on walls and animated sprites, and though it wasn't strictly 3-dimensional by today's standards, it set the stage for the new wave of 3D game programming.

Doom, Quake and Unreal soon followed, introducing game players to polygon-modeled 3D characters and objects and ushering in the modern era of C++ programming. Today's game developers need that core knowledge of C++, at a bare minimum, to break into a programming career. Familiarity with 3D art tools, scripting languages, object-oriented programming and APIs (application programming interfaces) is also useful.

With 3D games taking a front seat at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo, computer science graduates with an interest in 3D game programming can expect a rosy career outlook in the near future. Major manufacturers such as Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo showcased a wide selection of 3D games at the conference, as well as immersive gaming technologies such as Microsoft's camera-based controller—a far cry from the keystroke-based games of yore.

Combine that with the fact that the video game industry is expected to grow at a pace of 5.1 to 6.5 percent between 2011 and 2014, and you can bet on a fairly hot job market for programmers with the right skill set and experience. Independent game development companies are also on the rise, which may translate to more opportunities for entry-level or junior programmers. If you have coveted skills in 3D graphics programming as well as solid C++ knowledge, then you'll be in higher demand, even if you're just starting out.

Don't be surprised, though, if your 3D game programming career leads you into ever more specialized realms of expertise. Gaming grows more complex with every passing year, and development companies will need programmers who can focus on a particular area such as audio, artificial intelligence or multiplayer networking. Further, specific consoles such as the PlayStation or Xbox often demand specialty programming skills. Keeping up with the gaming industry—having a clear idea of where it's going AND where it's been—is a wise idea no matter where you are in your career.

Getting the training you’ll need to be competitive in the job market is important. Get started by learning more about 3D game programming schools and programs. Request information from school admissions officers, and get started today.

_Sources:

• _{www.Gamasutra.com}
• _{www.GameCareerGuide.com}
• _{www.nondot.org}
• _{http://creativetechnology.salford}
• _{http://archives.igda.org}
• _{http://wallstcheatsheet.com}