What are the best languages to learn for game design/development?

Question

I have been going to school for game design, and discovered that programming is needed even for a designer. I don't need to have the same depth of knowledge as a game developer (programmer) but basic programming foundations are needed, and the more programming you know, the easier it is to land a job as a game designer. My degree only has one programming foundations class, and I want to learn more than my degree will teach me to make myself more hireable. Suggestions on languages and learning resources?

Answer 1

C++ is a language with a relatively high entry barrier (meaning it’s quite difficult to learn), but the reward is greater because it allows more direct control over the hardware and graphical processes (something very important in video game design).

Java runs on everything, from printers and microwaves to complex video game systems. It is a very dynamic language with lots of applications, making it seem like a good choice to learn.

HTML5 and CSS3 are the languages used in the web to give a page structure and visual display elements, respectively.

HTML5 is a powerful language, and can be used in place of JavaScript in some cases.

JavaScript is used to make things happen on a page, such as to make things move across the page.

SQL is used for back-end database work, so that the player can access their account and do other things on the server.

Answer 2

C#, C++ and Python are the most common languages used in the game industry, but it comes down to what game engine a particular company uses. So, in order to beef up your portfolio and prove that you can learn their specific way of coding games, you need to just start programming games with any language.

Python has the pygame third party library that makes it easy to do this. Just go to http://inventwithpython.com. There, there are two handy books available for free. One is "Invent Computer Games with Python" and the other is "Invent Computer Games with Python and Pygame". Once you get the basics down, you can enhance and edit the tutorials to make your own games. I do suggest completing the python section of SoloLearn first, just to get a feel for the language, as this will make it easier to customize your own games.

You can also download the basic version of Unity 5 and program games using C#. There are plenty of tutorials offered by Unity for free. For a fee, however, you can also earn their certification, which is a great way to prove your skills.

Microsoft Virtual Academy also has a free class on how to use C++ to create games. I have personally never done that one, just because I already paid for a class on Udemy that went a little more in-depth into the process. However, I have done some of their other classes, and they were great.

However, if you know Java or Javascript (+html, css), you can also use those languages to code games to add to your portfolio. Remember, it isn't about which languages you know, but the games you've built with what you do know.

Answer 3

so for game design I have seen that JavaScript, C++, and C# always come up as necessary languages, but I don't really know the best way to go about learning them. this app is handy, but it is really just a primer of basics. the way the app is designed, at least for HTML and JavaScript, I have completed the courses successfully, but still have very little working knowledge. i understand basic concepts and some syntax, but it isn't covered very thoroughly here. do you know of any good learning resources for programming language learning/practice aside from SoloLearn? It sounds like SQL might be handy for game design as well for games that have online capabilities such as Destiny or World of Warcraft.

Answer 4

If you like python give Godot a try. It has a scripting language based on python. It's similar to Unity.