What is game programming?

Game programming is writing the code that makes video games work. It's a part of the broader field of video game development, and it is, more specifically, the development of video game software. Game programming is based heavily on mathematics and programming logic, and it often includes specific programming languages, such as C Sharp. It also includes digital art, planning game concepts, and sound design to create gaming experiences that keep users playing and sharing games.

What opportunities will learning game programming make available to me?

Some opportunities that learning game programming can make available to you are working on a team with other programming professionals and artists to develop video game designs. This type of work is both highly analytical and extremely creative, so you could gain the chance to use both imagination and logic as part of your work if you go into the field of video game development. You may also find the experience of learning about game programming interesting and exciting.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn game programming?

Taking online courses on Coursera can help you learn game programming by covering the range of information from basic, beginner level programming through intermediate-level skills, such as using Python to create a game, and advanced courses such as more complex game development on PyGame. Select the courses on Coursera that complement your programming skill level, and then move through the courses at your own pace while developing a portfolio of your hands-on work.

How do I know if learning game programming is right for me?

To know if learning game programming is right for you, consider whether you enjoy exploring and discovering new ways to solve recurring problems and if you have strong mathematical skills or are willing to work on learning advanced math. It helps to be passionate about technology and driven to understand why things work the way they do. You also ideally need to be self-motivated, a person who takes initiative, and comfortable with linear thinking because game programming requires solving a lot of logic problems. Even though a team is typically involved in the creation of a game, game programmers spend most of their time alone and deep in thought, so it may also help if you're a person who is comfortable with a lot of quiet time for deep thinking.

What are the benefits of taking an online Game Programming course?

Online Game Programming courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Game Programming skills. Choose from a wide range of Game Programming courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Game Programming courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Game Programming, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Game Programming Courses - Learn Game Programming Online

Explore the Game Programming Course Catalog

Duke University
Introductory C Programming
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Maintainability, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Software Testing, Program Development, C (Programming Language), Pseudocode, Computational Thinking, Software Engineering, Simulations, System Programming, Data Structures, Software Development, Computer Programming, Command-Line Interface, Operating Systems, Development Environment, User Interface (UI), Data Import/Export
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
The University of Edinburgh
Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: Software Engineering, Video Game Development, Software Testing, Software Development, Programming Principles, Software Design, Game Design, Computer Programming, Animation and Game Design, Debugging, Computational Thinking, Algorithms
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Python for Everybody
Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Data Processing, Relational Databases, JSON, Database Design, SQL, Network Protocols, Databases, Web Services, Restful API, Data Modeling, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Data Collection, Data Visualization Software, Data Manipulation, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Data Import/Export, Software Installation
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
277K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Multiple educators
Object Oriented Programming in Java
Skills you'll gain: Unit Testing, Data Structures, Event-Driven Programming, Interactive Data Visualization, Java, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Development Testing, User Interface (UI), Debugging, Java Programming, Software Testing, Computer Programming, Software Engineering, Algorithms, Performance Tuning, Encryption, Programming Principles, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Software Design
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
15K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Data Science: Foundations using R
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Exploratory Data Analysis, Version Control, Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Science, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Plot (Graphics), Statistical Programming, Ggplot2, Big Data, Git (Version Control System), Data Integration, Knitr, Data Analysis, Data Sharing, Statistical Reporting
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
48K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Michigan State University
Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Unity Engine, Video Game Development, Peer Review, Cross Platform Development, User Interface (UI), C# (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Animations, Creativity
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
497 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Engineering
Skills you'll gain: NoSQL, Data Warehousing, Apache Hadoop, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Web Scraping, Linux Commands, Database Design, SQL, IBM Cognos Analytics, MySQL, Apache Spark, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Data Store, Jupyter, Generative AI, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
58K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
IBM
Python for Data Science, AI & Development
Skills you'll gain: Jupyter, Automation, Web Scraping, Python Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Import/Export, Scripting, Data Structures, Data Processing, Data Collection, Application Programming Interface (API), Pandas (Python Package), Programming Principles, NumPy, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Computer Programming
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
41K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
California Institute of the Arts
Introduction to Game Design
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Storytelling, Design, Design Elements And Principles, Creativity, Peer Review
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Duke University
Programming Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Algorithms, Pseudocode, Computational Thinking, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Software Testing, Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Meta
Programming in Python
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Unit Testing, Test Driven Development (TDD), Programming Principles, Software Testing, Data Structures, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Development Environment, Integrated Development Environments, Debugging
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Pennsylvania
Gamification
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Solution Design, Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Drive Engagement, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Employee Engagement, Organizational Development, Behavioral Economics, Emerging Technologies, Risk Analysis, Customer Engagement, Psychology
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months