Dallas Brown
Professor Espinosa
Introduction to SGD
23 October 2013

Career Analysis: Video Game Programmer
Video games have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, but several years ago I became increasingly interested in what goes on behind the scenes to make them work and that is why I am now aspiring to be a video game programmer. My overall goal is actually to become a lead video game designer. To achieve this goal I must first establish myself in the industry as a programmer because design jobs are typically not entry-level and require more experience. Before planning the steps I will need to take to become a video game physics engine programmer I must first analyze the responsibilities of a video game programmer; specifically a physics engine programmer. “A physics engine programmer is responsible for determining the physics that will be utilized in a video game.” Realism games will strive to simulate the most accurate real-world physics that they possibly can, which requires the programmer to have a great deal of knowledge in many different aspects of physics as well as a great deal of calculus. Although, a lot of games will produce their own laws of physics that correlate with game's world they are applying them to, the physics engine programmer will still need to have a wide range of knowledge in physics to actually determine the physical laws in the world and how they interact with each other. It is not uncommon to see only one physics programmer assigned to a project when developing games that require less complex physics (example: role-playing games), but games that require more complex physics (example: war simulation games) will often require groups of physics programmers. The term “physics engine programmer” is very specific in the industry so their responsibilities/title can be closely related and could also fall in between that of a general engine game programmer or a graphics programmer.
As a physics programmer I will most likely be answering to the lead engine programmer as well as working closely with both the general game and graphics engine programmers. Depending on the company, there may be no job title such as “physics engine programmer” in which case I would either be considered a game engine programmer or a graphics engine programmer. None the less, the role I play in the development/business cycle of a game I am developing will most likely be vital because without a physics engine, a game world would quite literally have no laws of physics to abide by or interact with. With that said, almost all 2D games require no real physics engine but instead require simple movement/collision techniques which could be considered to some as a 2D physics engine; an physics engine there does not require any real knowledge in physics. Now that I have established what it is I want to do in the industry, I must plan out the path that I must take in my career to reach the position of a physics/engine programmer.
My first priority in achieving my goal while at Wake Tech should be to register for as many physics/calculus classes as I can to give myself a head start in achieving a greater understanding and broader knowledge base of the 2 topics. I must do this while also completing my SGD Programming Degree at Wake Tech; preferably while getting credit towards my degree. During this time I should network as much as I can while seeking advancement opportunities such as internships to attain experience in the industry which will help build my resume. While in search of advancement opportunities I must focus a lot of my spare time into developing games either on my own or with others to further build my resume in the form of a portfolio to show off and prove me capabilities as a video game developer/programmer. Another goal I should also have is to not stop at a 2-year degree and plan to transfer to a 4-year school to attain my bachelor's degree in either computer science or video game development (if provided). This will not only help me achieve a greater salary but it will also open up many more doors of career opportunities whether it be inside or outside of the industry. It will also help a great deal in achieving my overall goal of becoming a video game designer.
A lot of work must be done on my part to achieve not only my long-term (overall) goals but short-term goals as well. My hope is that if I work hard at it and stick to this plan I will one day be able to read my name in the credits of a video game beside the title “Lead Designer.”

Works Cited
Source 1:
"Video Game Programmer and Developer." Video Game Programmer & Developer Career Description and Job Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.compucert.com/game-programmer-career.html>.

Source 2:
N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://education-portal.com/articles/Video_Game_Programmer_Career_Info_for_Becoming_a_Video_Game_Programmer.html>.