What is game development?

Game development encompasses all the steps needed to conceptualize and craft a video game, including its music, graphics, and mechanics. Although some games are developed by a solo individual, most projects require the talents of multiple people. In fact, when it comes to the most complex projects, multiple studios and thousands of people may collaborate to produce a single game.

What kind of people are best suited for roles in game development?

Game developers tend to be very creative individuals who are passionate about gaming and storytelling. Not all video games succeed. So, game developers should be willing to accept criticism and ambitious enough to keep trying until they find a winning concept. Game developers also need to be analytical as well as curious enough to stay on top of the latest tech developments.

What jobs can I get in game development?

You can find a variety of jobs in the game development field, including game designer, music composer, programmer, animator, and game tester. Game designers conceptualize games. They may have a role in everything from writing the storyline to designing the stages and mechanics. Whether a game's score features simplistic eight-bit tunes or dramatic orchestral music, composers or audio engineers are needed on game development teams. Jobs are also available for programmers. These individuals tackle the technical aspects of game development, creating complex code that allows players to interact with the elements on the screen. Animators and artists have the task of creating a game's visuals, ranging from character designs to background scenery. Game testers spend plenty of time playing games. However, rather than playing for sheer enjoyment, they spend their time searching for glitches and testing the difficulty and functionality of each stage.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn game development?

Online courses can introduce you to core principles of game design, including how to tell stories through gameplay and how to generate and build on unique game ideas. You can also find courses on Coursera that focus on building specific skills, such as programming, designing characters, and creating pixel art. Other courses focus on the business side of the field, helping you learn how to pitch your creations to audiences or even start your own company.

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Game Development

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892 results for "game development"

Michigan State University
Game Design and Development with Unity 2020
Skills you'll gain: Software Engineering, Game Theory, Mathematics, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Software Engineering Tools, Computer Graphics, Computer Programming, Research and Design, Business Psychology, Entrepreneurship, Programming Principles, Business Development, Creativity, Sales, Accounting, Application Development, Communication, Computer Graphic Techniques, Computer Programming Tools, Design and Product, Graphic Design, Graphics Software, Leadership and Management, Management Accounting, Organizational Development, Product Design, Software Testing, Storytelling, User Experience Design, Other Programming Languages
4.7
(452 reviews)
Beginner · Specialization · 3-6 Months
University of Colorado System
C# Programming for Unity Game Development
Skills you'll gain: Computer Programming, Other Programming Languages, C Programming Language Family, Software Engineering, Software Engineering Tools, Computer Graphics, Data Management, Databases, Entrepreneurship, Interactive Design, Leadership and Management, Problem Solving, Research and Design, SQL, Software Testing, Statistical Programming, Applied Mathematics, FinTech, Finance, Linear Algebra, Mathematics, Programming Principles, Visual Design
4.6
(2.4k reviews)
Beginner · Specialization · 3-6 Months
University of Colorado System
C++ Programming for Unreal Game Development
Skills you'll gain: Computer Programming, C Programming Language Family, C++ Programming, Computer Graphics, Human Computer Interaction, Virtual Reality, Computer Graphic Techniques, Software Engineering, Software Engineering Tools, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Management, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Mathematics, Problem Solving, Programming Principles, Research and Design, User Experience, Project Management, Strategy and Operations
4.6
(121 reviews)
Intermediate · Specialization · 3-6 Months
Meta
Meta Front-End Developer
Skills you'll gain: Web Development, Front-End Web Development, React (web framework), Javascript, Computer Programming, HTML and CSS, Software Engineering, Software Engineering Tools, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Research and Design, User Experience Design, Data Management, Theoretical Computer Science, Algorithms, Business Psychology, Cloud Computing, Data Structures, Semantic Web, Strategy and Operations, Web Design, Interactive Design, Software Testing, Application Development, Big Data, Calculus, Computer Programming Tools, Entrepreneurship, Market Research, Mathematics, Operations Research, Programming Principles, Project Management, Software Framework, Algebra, Communication, Computational Thinking, Computer Architecture, Computer Networking, Computer Science, Linux, Network Architecture, Network Model, Network Security, Python Programming, Security Engineering, Statistical Programming, Web Development Tools
4.7
(7.7k reviews)
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3-6 Months
Michigan State University
Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter
Skills you'll gain: Game Theory, Mathematics, Software Engineering, Computer Graphics, Human Computer Interaction, Software Engineering Tools, User Experience, Accounting, Business Psychology, Computer Programming, Entrepreneurship, Graphics Software, Leadership and Management, Management Accounting, Organizational Development, Programming Principles, Software Testing
4.8
(42 reviews)
Intermediate · Course · 1-4 Weeks

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular game development courses

Game Design and Development with Unity 2020: Michigan State University
C# Programming for Unity Game Development: University of Colorado System
C++ Programming for Unreal Game Development: University of Colorado System
Introduction to Game Design: California Institute of the Arts
Game Design: Art and Concepts: California Institute of the Arts
Introduction to Basic Game Development using Scratch: Coursera Project Network
Basic Game Development with Levels using Scratch: Coursera Project Network
Meta Front-End Developer: Meta
Making Your First Virtual Reality Game: University of London
Data Structures and Design Patterns for Game Developers: University of Colorado System

Skills you can learn in Software Development

Programming Language (34)

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Software Testing (21)

Web (19)

Google Cloud Platform (18)

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Data Structure (16)

Problem Solving (14)

Object-oriented Programming (13)

Kubernetes (10)

List & Label (10)

Frequently Asked Questions about Game Development

You can find a variety of jobs in the game development field, including game designer, music composer, programmer, animator, and game tester. Game designers conceptualize games. They may have a role in everything from writing the storyline to designing the stages and mechanics. Whether a game's score features simplistic eight-bit tunes or dramatic orchestral music, composers or audio engineers are needed on game development teams. Jobs are also available for programmers. These individuals tackle the technical aspects of game development, creating complex code that allows players to interact with the elements on the screen. Animators and artists have the task of creating a game's visuals, ranging from character designs to background scenery. Game testers spend plenty of time playing games. However, rather than playing for sheer enjoyment, they spend their time searching for glitches and testing the difficulty and functionality of each stage.‎
Online courses can introduce you to core principles of game design, including how to tell stories through gameplay and how to generate and build on unique game ideas. You can also find courses on Coursera that focus on building specific skills, such as programming, designing characters, and creating pixel art. Other courses focus on the business side of the field, helping you learn how to pitch your creations to audiences or even start your own company.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

Filter by

892 results for "game development"

Game Design and Development with Unity 2020

C# Programming for Unity Game Development

C++ Programming for Unreal Game Development

Introduction to Game Design

Game Design: Art and Concepts

Introduction to Basic Game Development using Scratch

Basic Game Development with Levels using Scratch

Meta Front-End Developer

Making Your First Virtual Reality Game

Data Structures and Design Patterns for Game Developers

Game Design and Development 4: 3D Platformer

Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter

Searches related to game development

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular game development courses

Skills you can learn in Software Development

Frequently Asked Questions about Game Development

What is game development?‎

What kind of people are best suited for roles in game development?‎

What jobs can I get in game development?‎

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn game development?‎

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Filter by

892 results for "game development"

Searches related to game development

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular game development courses

Skills you can learn in Software Development

Frequently Asked Questions about Game Development

What is game development?‎

What kind of people are best suited for roles in game development?‎

What jobs can I get in game development?‎

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn game development?‎

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Learn Something New

Popular Data Science Topics

Popular Computer Science & IT Topics

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