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With hundreds of thousands of individuals flocking to video games each day, it makes sense that so many are trying to learn how to develop and program their own game. But, many fear that they don't have what it takes to get the job done. If you are interested in becoming a programmer, it isn't as difficult as you might think. You don't need to be some math genius or computer scientist to get the results you want. To help you better understand what it takes to be a game programmer, check out some of these game programming myths.
You need a strong mathematics background to be able to learn the various programming languages.
Many assume that game programming is all about mathematics. If you aren't good at math, you are doomed to fail. But, that isn't the case. The reason so many get confused on the issue is because they want a yes or no answer in relation to whether math and programming go together. Unfortunately, it isn't as simple as all of that. It really depends on the type of programming you are doing and the level of depth involved in your game program.
Programming is about writing codes, not solving a bunch of complex math equations. Sure, you do need to know some math, but you don't need to know calculus or trigonometry. If you know basic algebra, you will be fine. For those who are worried about their math skills, you can always take advantage of one of the different plugins out there. You can apply it into your code and let it go to work solving your math problems for you.
You need a high IQ.
Regardless of whether your IQ is 170 or 100, you can learn how to do your own game programming with a little patience and dedication. If you are interested in learning how to program, you can do it. Your IQ doesn't define how far you can get in creating your video game program. It's merely a number based on a single test. Along the way, you will probably fail and have to start over.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes in your programming. It's how you learn from those mistakes that matters the most. Programming allows you to communicate with the machine and let it know exactly what it is that you want it to do. If you aren't able to communicate with the machine, you aren't going to get very far.
You need a university education to learn how to code.
While going to college can help you expand your coding knowledge quicker, that doesn't mean it is a requirement to write your own video game code. Thanks to the invention of the Internet, you can learn how to program from just about anyone. In fact, you don't need to attend a college class at all. It's all about being willing to sit down and watch a few videos from top programmers online. Then, take that information and incorporate it into your own video game to see just how well it works.
Just because someone might tell you it requires a lot of college training and exceptional math skills to produce your own game program, that doesn't mean that is the case. Spend some time trying it out for yourself and seeing just how well you do. These programming myths are only a few of them out there. It starts by taking the time to explore the world of programming for yourself and seeing how to best proceed.
Categories: Gaming and other topics, Game programming tips