I received an email from the game industry, they sent me a email first asking me to "ask them anything" about the industry...and of course I gave them my question...

here is my email:

Greetings

I am really honored to recieve this email from you!!

I love peogramming, I know the basics now of C++ and Java, and I created a Pong game with C++ from the help of a tutorial video on YouTube.

weeks ago, I read an article about
Gameplay peogrammer and graphics programmer, And I decided to go with gameplay programmer.

But I have a problem, I can't go beyong basics in programming. I do not have ideas of what to code next, I still don't have the ability to create my own code (program) by myself. I have to follow tutorials, when I try to code by myself I dont do that good.

So my question is, what is the programming best practice??

I hope you answer and thank you.

and their reply:

Hi there, I'm glad that you wrote me. Programming can be difficult to learn at first, it takes a lot of practice. So don't get frustrated, keep following tutorials and keep writing small programs, and you will improve over time.

Here are a few articles that you might find helpful:

http://www.gameindustrycareerguide.com/how-to-become-a-video-game-programmer/

http://www.gameindustrycareerguide.com/computer-science-degree-for-video-game-career/

http://www.gameindustrycareerguide.com/what-should-i-put-into-my-video-game-programming-portfolio/

http://www.gameindustrycareerguide.com/the-very-best-game-programming-books/

I wish you the best of luck with your future career!

Jason

FINALLY, I got the ultimate resources from the industry itself telling me what to do for the future, so I don't need to ask anyone what to learn...because it always end with the same answer "learn Python"...

and these books:

http://www.gameindustrycareerguide.com/the-very-best-game-programming-books/

teach you C++ and Game Programming at the same time, even if you have no idea about C++.

plus they have categories (beginner, intermediate and advanced books)

So go on there and start learning!

Extra resource:

http://askagamedev.tumblr.com/

this tumbler resource is very helpful for you, you can ask a game developer anything related to game development!

His quote: I make games for a living and can answer your questions.

HAPPY GAME CODING!!

teach you C++ and Game Programming at the same time, even if you have no idea about C++. plus they have categories (beginner, intermediate and advanced books)

So can the C++ help, just ask any self thought programmer. The thing is you could provide people with a step by step guide for making a game in C++ and it doesn't mean they will be able to follow it.

Also the best way to learn programming is to do it, reading books and hoping to understand what it all means is pointless; languages and libraries adapt making some of the things you read out dated.

Trail and error is the developers best friend.

His quote: I make games for a living and can answer your questions.

Half of us on this site can say the same, it doesn't mean our advice will work for every person.

FINALLY, I got the ultimate resources from the industry itself telling me what to do for the future, so I don't need to ask anyone what to learn...because it always end with the same answer "learn Python"...

Think of it like this, if some one asked you how to fly a commercial plane, wouldn't you recommend they start with a small training plain first; especially if you know they will need to crash a few times before they are ready?

Python is recommended because it's safe and easier to learn than C++. Also a lot of wannabe game developers don't like coding so it's better to start with a language that can make full programs with only a few line of codes.

If you don't want to learn Python then just start with C++ or your language of choice, I started with C# and now know a huge amount of languages as the principal of programming remains the same, any language can teach you the basics.

Well...If they don't like coding, let them focus on something else, aka animation, design, music, storytelling, etc.

And about C++, in the end, the industry's main language is C++, nothing else. (it's already known), yes yes..I know minecraft is made with Java or something, but still the main is C++

Me personally, I like to learn the hard way, that's why I right away start with C++ and Java.

What I've seen and heard from a lot of Computer Science major in big universities is they start with Java, C++, or any other "hard" modern languages, even if the student has no background in programming. If he/she wants to learn, he/she will learn.

So people recommending languages while they are "Still learning" isn't a good way to take advices....right?

and no matter what road you take, either start with Python, Swift, Java, Javascript, whatever satisfy you...your final destination is C++ (If you want to be a pro game programmer.)

In the end...All modern programming language walk on the same road: Object-Oriented programming, which means (Same logic), the only difference is typing the code.

Speaking of "Pro", one can't call himself professional if he only knows one language, try and know at least 3

and most programmers recommend C++, Java, and Python. (So I would learn python either way).

I usually go to a site called www.gamedev.net for resources, help, etc. You should look into i

I like that, LOL.

Also keep in mind that we've all been there (I mean at the start where you get a bazilion different opinions). So just pick something a start learning. it seems like a big deal now, but your 1st language isn't that important, when gain a bit of experience you will learn new languages pretty fast, and you will be able to understand different APIs(for the same thing) super fast.

Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

Just do not learn in isolation. Ask questions when you need to.

if you like python go Python, if you like Swift go with Swift ect..
In my case my 1st language was Javascript, after 3 months I've switched to C++. Now at work 95% of the code I write is in C++, but I also write code in Python, C#, Php, and other small languages. I write both code for D3D, GL and other APIs.

Well...If they don't like coding, let them focus on something else, aka animation, design, music, storytelling, etc.

If everyone ran from what they didn't like no games will ever get made.

Even if you love programming and enjoy puzzle solving, when you do programming for a living there is going to be a point where you will come to hate it; if only briefly.

What will you do at this point, abandon your dreams just because you don't like programming?

What about the Indie developers who dream of making there own games, yet they hate programming and can't afford to hire a programmer, should they give up?

And about C++, in the end, the industry's main language is C++, nothing else. (it's already known), yes yes..I know minecraft is made with Java or something, but still the main is C++

Yes, it maybe a industry standard however if you believe it's the only language used by the industry you are wrong, it isn't even uncommon for software to use third party plugins made to understand a different language.

C++ is the industry standard because of it's flexibility and availability. If C++ was perfect then there would have been no other languages would exist.

Me personally, I like to learn the hard way, that's why I right away start with C++ and Java.

Good for you, the more you are willing to suffer the further you will get.

Just don't do those annoying "Learn C++ the hard way." courses, they are difficult not because they do every thing in detail, instead they are difficult because it's a poorly designed course.

What I've seen and heard from a lot of Computer Science major in big universities is they start with Java, C++, or any other "hard" modern languages, even if the student has no background in programming. If he/she wants to learn, he/she will learn.

Yes that is because they care about results, they couldn't care less if the students actually learned any thing. A University is happy to cull the weakest students, it has very little to do with the quality of the language used.

So people recommending languages while they are "Still learning" isn't a good way to take advices....right?

Same as asking any one. A lot of luck and skill is involved, why a person is successful often happens to be because they knew the right people and had the relevant skills; it doesn't mean their advice is worth more than a students.

Don't ask advice and ignore it, good advice can be found anywhere.

and no matter what road you take, either start with Python, Swift, Java, Javascript, whatever satisfy you...your final destination is C++ (If you want to be a pro game programmer.)

False, no language leads to a other because there is no language so perfect that it can do any thing quick and easy.

Besides if there was one language to rule them all wouldn't it be C, it's the parent language of C++, Python, D, Go, Rust, Java, JavaScript, Limbo, LPC, C# and many others.

Speaking of "Pro", one can't call himself professional if he only knows one language, try and know at least 3

I know eight and believe me I am no "Pro". My coding skills is so bad that by the time I hire a programmer to help with my game, they use my code as reference and start from scratch.

It isn't how many languages you can use but how well you can use them.