INTRODUCTION TO C++
C ++ is a top-level programming language that was first introduced by Bjarne Stroustrup in the 1980s. It borrows many concepts from the C language and the addition of object-oriented programs and other capabilities. C ++ has proven to be an excellent language for creating industrial software packages and fantastic video games that consolidate numerous interrelated applications. Besides, C ++ is said to be among the fastest languages and approaches low-level programming languages. The many features C++ comes with make it be a hard language to learn and handle.
GAME DEVELOPING PROCESS
Prototyping
The programmers must come up with prototypes of gameplay features and ideas. And this prototyping takes place throughout the pre-creation before the design document is completed. This helps determine the kind of features the design will specify. Besides, programmers are required to produce the prototypes quickly, with minimal time for up-front design. And it usually serves as proof of ideas or to experiment ideas. These ideas and concepts are meant to try things out and not to work perfectly.
Game design
Although the main task of the programmer is not merely to build the game design, they are as well involved with the design, just like game artists. The game architect more often relies on input from both the creator, the editor, and the programming manager for procedures and ideas for the game design. Regularly, people from non-executive positions such as copywriters and artisans as well contribute to development. The programmers closely monitor the game design document. As the game design document can sometimes change due to the modifications and obstacles that are discovered and exploited during the game development process.
Production
Programmers employ a lot of source code to make the game outlined in the game design document. And from time to time, during the production process: the game design document keeps changing to accommodate other features and meet limitations.
While numerous programmers have something to do with the content of a game, a considerable number of game developers rely on the input of the head programmer. This is to help them improve their game programming development. The leader is required to note all the aspects of the game and point out the obstacles. The head programmer is needed to share crucial information from the programmers as to which features to be included. With the new, visually rich content, the software developer must always communicate with the art team. Of course, this largely depends on the work of the developer. For instance, a 3D graphics software developer will have to work for hand in hand with the game’s 3D designers talking about techniques and design elements.
While an AI developer less often communicates with other staff developers, software engineers can volunteer or be commissioned to create features and utilities to assist artists and level creators in their efforts. A significant number of these may occur for a reason and due to the time required, as well as for the reason that they are intended for internal use only. Numerous gaming features are created in RAD languages to progress faster and can be ignored after the game development is over.
Testing
Professional game examiners are then called to come to a test the game for formal quality assurance. This testing process starts as the game progress into the development stage. High-cost titles can be examined with the primary playable alpha, while casual and low-cost games will only be tested once a layoff candidate is prepared. Programmers commit to correct errors and mistakes that are discovered by the quality control groups.
Closer to completion
In the last errands, the game is “polished,” for example, programmers solve regular problems, from less to severe, which may occur in the previous test periods. Game engineers might do a beta test, but the importance of such changes from developer to developer. In general, a beta version consists mostly of the features of the game, but there may also be some errors or content deficiencies. Some games receive an open beta phase, for instance, to quantify the resistance of the game’s servers.
By the time the game is considered to be complete, it is quoted to have gone gold and will be sent to the publisher. Relying on the conditions, the publisher can again opt to start his quality certification or start clicking the game from the gold master.
Maintenance
When the shipment of the game has been made, the maintenance phase of the game starts. Programmers are required to wait for some time to detect and receive as many error reports as possible. If the developer ascertains that they have collected sufficient feedback, the developers will now start to find a solution. It may take weeks or months to complete troubleshooting. However, it is recommended to correct most errors and bugs in the game. And most times, a solution may contain additional highlights or content or even change interactivity.
Duration
A lot of the current games take between one and four years to be completed fully. The duration of development relies on several elements. However, it is necessary to write game programs at all stages of development, excluding the initial phase of the game design.
GAME DEVELOPING TOOLS
Programming languages
Game development projects are usually created from the source code to the real program known as the executable file by a compiler. Despite the source code being generated with virtually any text editor, numerous experienced game programmers employ a fully coordinated development condition. And the IDE, a person utilizes, relies on the objective platform. Aside from using IDE, a lot of game development organizations make custom features for internal use. Part of this contains models and resource transformers (programs that, for example, transform art into personalized game settings). A few personalized devices can even arrive with the game, like a level editor.
Game development organizations are lately willing to spend a lot of cash to ensure that the programmers are adequately equipped with ideal equipment, two to four development systems, and numerous screens installed in their working area. When the underlying game design has been determined, the game language needs to be selected. The decision is based on numerous elements like the language known by the programming team, the objective platforms, the requirements for the speed of execution, and the language of the game engines used, APIs or libraries.
For PCs, the chosen language might be a little more beyond a matter of liking. SDL and Allegro, are the most commonly used languages, and the execution gap between the informal codes written in dialects currently ordered is minimal. The most frequently used dialects are procedure/object-oriented, and compilers update them. For instance C, C ++ and Java. But designers can consider particular features of the domain, like Connection to the scaffolding and flexibility in the search for online games. Numerous games use more than one language. For instance, Unity, a conventional game engine, has several parts written in C, C ++, and C #.
When it comes to consoles, the target support platform is the main factor considered unlike the past, where consoles were composed exclusively in assembly because of the minimal resources. But as innovation progresses, so do the alternatives to develop console games. Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony have different SDKs for their Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 consoles.
Significant level scripting dialects are increasingly used as extensions inserted from the primitive in an accumulated programming language to accommodate both the first designer and each person who wishes to modify the game. Lua is a very commonly used because the API is written in ANSI C, and the language is supposed to be inserted in different applications. Numerous designers have consistently created personalized languages for their video games, like QuakeC by id Software and UnrealScript from Epic Games.
APIs and libraries
A vital option when writing programs for games is the use of APIs and libraries. Lately, there are several libraries accessible that deal with the critical functions of game programming. A few libraries can deal with the representation of sounds, information, and illustrations. Some may even participate in specific AI tasks, such as pathfinding. There are also complete game engines, which take care of the vast majority of game programming tasks and only require coding of the basic idea of the game. The selected APIs and libraries depend mainly on the objective phase. For instance, libraries to develop PlayStation 2 may not work for Microsoft Windows and vice versa. In any case, there are game systems accessible that permit or simplify cross-stage development. Therefore, software developers can build a game in one language and run the game on many stages, for example, Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP, and Microsoft Windows.
GAME STRUCTURE
The main element of any video game, as always stated by a programmer, is the game loop. The video game loop facilitates the game to function smoothly despite the input of the user. The most popular programming projects respond to customer input and do nothing without it. For instance, a word processor deletes words and content as client types. If the client does not write anything, the word processor becomes functionless. A few functions can take a long time, but they are all activated by a client requesting the program to start the initialization process. Games must keep operating despite the customer input. The game loop permits it. An unusually disaggregated game loop in pseudocode will appear as follows:
While (the client does not exist)
Check for customer input.
Run AI
Move enemies
Fix collisions
Draw illustrations
Play sounds
End while
The loop must be defined and adjusted as the game development proceeds, but a lot of the games are refined on this simple strategy. Games loops contrast with the scenario for which they were created. For instance, sets composed for DOS and numerous consoles can overwhelm and damage accessible resources without restrictions. But the games for a modern computer operating system. For example, Microsoft Windows may work within the requirements of the procedure schedule. Many significant games use many threads, so, for instance, the calculation of the character’s AI can be decoupled from the era of smooth movement within the game. This has the impediment of increasing the overhead, but in hyper-stringing or multi-core processors and multiprocessor stages, the game can be performed more quickly and efficiently. With the attention of the PC-to-CPU business with more centers that can run more chains, this is turning out to be increasingly crucial. Consoles such as Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 now possess one or more core for each processor and run one or more threads for each core.
Conclusion
You can learn more about modern video game programming on Packt Hub or at GameAnalytics and click this link for a complete step by step tutorial on how to build games using C++ programming language, and it’s widely known libraries.
