Video game programming

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Video game industry
Development Producer Developer Designer Artist Programmer Design Level design Programming Engine AI Graphics Music Testing
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Distribution and monetization Buy-to-play AAA game Expansion pack Episodic video game Early access Crowdfunding Downloadable content Games as a service Cloud gaming Free-to-play Microtransactions In-game currency Loot box gacha Season pass Battle pass Advertising in video games in-game Advergame
Related Game studies Game journalism
Lists List of video game developers Indie List of video game publishers List of video game industry people List of video game websites List of video game magazines
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Game programming, a subset of game development, is the software development of video games. Game programming requires substantial skill in software engineering and computer programming in a given language, as well as specialization in one or more of the following areas: simulation, computer graphics, artificial intelligence, physics, audio programming, and input. For multiplayer games, knowledge of network programming is required (the resultant code, in addition to its performance characteristics, is commonly referred to as the game's netcode by players and programmers alike). In some genres, e.g. fighting games, advanced network programming is often demanded, as the netcode and its properties (e.g. latency) are considered by players and critics to be some of the most important metrics of the game's quality. For massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs), even further knowledge of database programming and advanced networking programming are required. Though often engaged in by professional game programmers, there is a thriving scene of independent developers who lack a relationship with a publishing company.