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

Status: Free Trial
University of California San Diego
Object Oriented Programming in Java
Skills you'll gain: Event-Driven Programming, Interactive Data Visualization, Java, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), User Interface (UI), Computer Programming, Algorithms, Software Engineering, Data Structures, Software Documentation, Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.8K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Data Science Fundamentals with Python and SQL
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, SQL, Descriptive Statistics, Jupyter, Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Probability Distribution, Pandas (Python Package), Data Visualization Software, Statistics, Data Visualization, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Databases, Stored Procedure, Web Scraping, Relational Databases, Automation, Data Science, GitHub, Python Programming
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
71K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Theoretical Computer Science, Algorithms, Data Structures, Computational Thinking, Computer Programming, Computational Logic, Computer Science, Advanced Mathematics, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Program Development, Analysis, Design Strategies, Data Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
221 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Stanford University
Greedy Algorithms, Minimum Spanning Trees, and Dynamic Programming
Skills you'll gain: Algorithms, Bioinformatics, Graph Theory, Computational Thinking, Data Structures, Theoretical Computer Science
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
DeepLearning.AI
Deep Learning
Skills you'll gain: Computer Vision, Deep Learning, Image Analysis, Natural Language Processing, Artificial Neural Networks, Tensorflow, Supervised Learning, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Artificial Intelligence, Applied Machine Learning, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Machine Learning, Debugging, Performance Tuning, Keras (Neural Network Library), Python Programming, Machine Learning Algorithms, Analysis, Data Processing
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
146K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of California San Diego
Biology Meets Programming: Bioinformatics for Beginners
Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Programming Principles, Molecular Biology, Python Programming, Computational Thinking, Biology, Algorithms, Data Structures
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
1.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Data Engineering Foundations
Skills you'll gain: SQL, Web Scraping, Database Design, MySQL, Data Transformation, Data Store, Extract, Transform, Load, IBM DB2, Relational Databases, Data Architecture, Jupyter, Data Pipelines, Big Data, Data Warehousing, Data Governance, Databases, Stored Procedure, Data Manipulation, Automation, Python Programming
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
56K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Board Infinity
Fundamentals of Java Programming
Skills you'll gain: Eclipse (Software), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java Programming, Object Oriented Design, Software Development Tools, Java, Integrated Development Environments, Development Environment, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Virtual Machines
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
507 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Introduction to Basic Game Development using Scratch
Skills you'll gain: Event-Driven Programming, Debugging, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Video Game Development, Computer Programming Tools, Game Design, Computer Programming, Program Development, Animation and Game Design, Interactive Design, Integrated Development Environments, Computer Science
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Google
Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Google Sheets, Spreadsheet Software, Analytical Skills, Data Sharing, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, SQL, Data Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
115K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
AI Foundations for Everyone
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), OpenAI, Workflow Management, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Governance, Automation, Application Deployment, Business Transformation, IBM Cloud, Applied Machine Learning, Program Development, Computer Vision
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
27K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Multiple educators
Data Science Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Pseudocode, Jupyter, Algorithms, Data Literacy, Data Mining, Pandas (Python Package), Correlation Analysis, Web Scraping, NumPy, Probability & Statistics, Predictive Modeling, Big Data, Automation, Data Visualization Software, Data Collection, Data Science, GitHub, Machine Learning Algorithms, Unsupervised Learning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
113K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months