Game Programming: Learn C++ to Get One of the Coolest Computer Programming Jobs Around

Computer programming jobs are on the rise, especially in companies that develop computer and video games. If game programming is what you want to do, then learning the C++ programming language is a must. It is one of the most widely used computer programs for creating games.

Game Programming: The Career of the Future

Sales of computer and video games have more than doubled since 1996, and in the U.S. alone are now worth $7 billion a year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities in the software development sector are predicted to be very good: the number of new jobs created by 2014 is expected to be nearly five times higher than all the other listed industries combined.

It's a good time to be breaking into computer game programming, but to have your pick of the jobs available, you need to have the right skills. The International Game Developers Association asked some of its members what newcomers to the industry ought to focus on, and many of them mentioned C++. Ben Board, an experienced game programmer who runs a programming team, recommends "learning a good structured language like C++ to as high a standard as you can" and practicing your skills by devising your own computer games until you can use it at an expert level.

Learning C++

C++ is an "object-oriented" programming language and is generally regarded as one of the most powerful languages in use around the world today. It is especially useful for creating large-scale applications and is favored by game programmers.

There are lots of different ways you can learn C++. Earning a degree in Computer Science is one, but if you don't have the time or money to do that you can take a part-time class at a local college, study through distance learning, or teach yourself, using a book and/or many of the other study aids available through the Internet.

Whichever method you choose, if you are serious about getting one of the coolest computer programming jobs around, practice your C++ skills until you are ready to design your own games!

Sources
The Entertainment Software Association
U.S. Dept Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
International Game Developers Association
University of North Texas