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
Vanderbilt University
Introduction to Programming with MATLAB
Skills you'll gain: Matlab, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, UI Components, Software Design, Debugging, Mathematical Software, Development Environment, Computer Science, File Management, Algorithms, Data Import/Export, Data Structures, Engineering Calculations, Plot (Graphics), Data Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
LearnQuest
Introduction to Java
Skills you'll gain: Eclipse (Software), Java, Java Programming, Integrated Development Environments, Development Environment, Software Installation, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Program Development, Object Oriented Programming (OOP)
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
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), Eclipse (Software), Data Structures, Data Cleansing, Debugging, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Visualization Software, Software Testing, Integrated Development Environments, Program Development, 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 Trial
IBM
Introduction to R Programming for Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Data Manipulation, Web Scraping, R Programming, Data Analysis, Data Science, Data Structures, Data Import/Export, Exploratory Data Analysis, Programming Principles, Jupyter, Integrated Development Environments
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
565 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Data Analysis with R Programming
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Ggplot2, R Programming, Data Analysis, Tidyverse (R Package), Statistical Programming, Data Visualization Software, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, Package and Software Management, Data Structures
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 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, Java, Integrated Development Environments, Development Environment, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Virtual Machines
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
507 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Google
Google IT Automation with Python
Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Version Control, Cloud Services, Debugging, Puppet (Configuration Management Tool), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Bash (Scripting Language), Configuration Management, Professional Networking, CI/CD, Cloud Computing, Technical Communication, Docker (Software), Unit Testing, Containerization, Web Services, Interviewing Skills, Python Programming, Programming Principles
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
48K reviews
Advanced · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Plotly, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Generative AI, SQL, Interactive Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Cleansing, Big Data, Jupyter, Matplotlib, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), Data Manipulation, Excel Formulas, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
92K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
California Institute of the Arts
Introduction to Game Design
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Storytelling, Design, Design Elements And Principles, Creativity, Peer Review
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
SAS
SAS Programmer
Skills you'll gain: Data Manipulation, SAS (Software), Data Access, Data Import/Export, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Consolidation, Data Transformation, Requirements Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Validation, Statistical Programming, Statistical Analysis, Data Processing, SQL, Data Presentation, Data Cleansing, Descriptive Statistics, Debugging
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.5K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of London
Object Oriented Programming
Skills you'll gain: Pseudocode, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Integrated Development Environments, Development Environment, Programming Principles, Debugging, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Program Development, Algorithms, Test Data, Data Validation, User Interface (UI), Unit Testing, Data Import/Export, Data Management, Command-Line Interface, Statistical Programming
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
218 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Scripting Languages, Scripting, Computational Thinking, Development Environment
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
231K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months