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

University of London
Object Oriented Programming
Skills you'll gain: Pseudocode, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Computer Programming, Development Environment, Programming Principles, Debugging, Data Structures, Algorithms, Interactive Design, Program Development, Data Modeling, Test Data, User Interface (UI), Command-Line Interface, Statistical Programming, Development Testing, Transaction Processing, File Management
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
213 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Johns Hopkins University
R Programming
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Statistical Programming, Data Analysis, Debugging, Simulations, Program Development, Software Installation, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Performance Tuning, Data Import/Export
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
22K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Programming with Python and Java
Skills you'll gain: Matplotlib, Object Oriented Design, Java, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Analysis, Unit Testing, Pandas (Python Package), Java Programming, Eclipse (Software), Data Structures, Data Science, Data Cleansing, Debugging, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Visualization Software, Integrated Development Environments, Programming Principles, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Computational Thinking
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
University of Alberta
Problem Solving, Python Programming, and Video Games
Skills you'll gain: Computational Thinking, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Program Development, Software Quality Assurance, Python Programming, Algorithms, Software Design, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Debugging, Problem Management, Computer Science, Test Planning
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
230 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Duke University
Programming Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Algorithms, Pseudocode, Computational Thinking, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Development Testing, Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California, Santa Cruz
C, Go, and C++: A Comprehensive Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Go (Programming Language), Debugging, C (Programming Language), Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Software Design Patterns, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Unit Testing, Algorithms, Command-Line Interface, Program Development, Software Design, Graph Theory, Computer Science, Software Testing, File Systems, Computational Thinking
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
9.4K reviews
Intermediate · 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, Java Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Development Testing, User Interface (UI), Debugging, Software Testing, Cryptography, Computer Programming, Performance Tuning, Encryption, Algorithms, Graphical Tools, Software Engineering, Program Development, Programming Principles
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
15K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
University of Washington
Programming Languages, Part A
Skills you'll gain: Software Installation, Programming Principles, Other Programming Languages, Functional Design, Computer Programming, Ruby (Programming Language), Theoretical Computer Science, Software Design
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
1.9K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Santa Cruz
C and Go: Classical and Modern Programming
Skills you'll gain: Go (Programming Language), Debugging, C (Programming Language), Data Structures, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Unit Testing, Algorithms, Command-Line Interface, Program Development, Computer Science, Software Testing, File Systems, Computational Thinking, Integration Testing, Software Technical Review, System Programming, File Management
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
7.1K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Dartmouth College
C Programming: Modular Programming and Memory Management - 3
Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), System Programming, Hardware Architecture, Computer Architecture, Embedded Software, Operating Systems, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Program Development, Debugging
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
58 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Rice University
An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1)
Skills you'll gain: Event-Driven Programming, Application Development, Interactive Design, Graphical Tools, User Interface (UI), Programming Principles, Computer Graphics, Python Programming, Program Development, Computer Programming, Simulations, Development Environment, Debugging, Arithmetic
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Dartmouth College
C Programming with Linux
Skills you'll gain: Command-Line Interface, C (Programming Language), Linux Commands, Embedded Systems, Programming Principles, Computer Engineering, Embedded Software, Linux, File Systems, Engineering Software, Build Tools, Data Structures, Unix, Program Development, Algorithms, Operating Systems, System Programming, Computer Programming, Software Installation, Software Documentation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
387 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months