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Video Game Developer with C Salary in 2024

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Total:
11
Median Salary Expectations:
$5,592
Proposals:
1

How statistics are calculated

We count how many offers each candidate received and for what salary. For example, if a Video Game developer with C with a salary of $4,500 received 10 offers, then we would count him 10 times. If there were no offers, then he would not get into the statistics either.

The graph column is the total number of offers. This is not the number of vacancies, but an indicator of the level of demand. The more offers there are, the more companies try to hire such a specialist. 5k+ includes candidates with salaries >= $5,000 and < $5,500.

Median Salary Expectation – the weighted average of the market offer in the selected specialization, that is, the most frequent job offers for the selected specialization received by candidates. We do not count accepted or rejected offers.

Video Game

What is a Game Developer?

Game developer is the process of creations of the video game. There are a lot of different people involved that work together to come up with the games people play on their screen. The Game Developer is in a way a software developer and applies tech abilities to the creation of video games.

In fact, if there is one word to describe the reality of who is working on such a game, and all that Game Developers do while working, it would be ‘many’. For instance, some Game Developers work to conceptualise what the game should be. Others create such assets as graphics and sound. Some write code that gets executed – ‘runs’ – the game. Others focus on improving the user experience in some small but valuable way for a person who plays. Still others are testing the game with real people (known as ‘QA’ or ‘quality assurance’). And so on.

What does a Game Developer actually do?

A Game Developer does not only program (although much of their work is coding!). In fact, they can be an active participant in many different phases of game development and design as well as production and have a hand in the process of literally creating the entire game. Depending on the size of an organisation, an individual Game Developer could be involved in any or all of the following steps.

Design

Here, the Game Developer or Designer rolls up their sleeves and comes up with the rudimentary concept, characters and narrative premise for a new game and outlines its general shape: a puzzle to solve, a set of obstacles to overcome, enemies to kill, and so forth.

The mood (or ‘feel’) of the game, its targeted audience, and market strategy are doublessed out at this stage, so the intent for what it’s meant to do is clear, and progresses well as development strides ahead.

In the Introduction to Game Development class, you become familiar with how to form the structure and goals of the game. How to define what rules or constraints the game has. And how to choose the right platform. You learn how a Game Developer might design a player’s goals and objectives based on the player’s motivations, emotions and challenges.

Programming

Having an idea and how it will look is one thing, but actually getting a computer to understand that code and wire the concept into a tangible experience is a whole different ballgame. There are multiple programming languages and logic requirements, as well as performance tweaks and technical requirements that come into play when someone decides to game design. In Introduction to Game Development, you will receive a crash course in the most used programming languages in the industry as well as the most utilised game engines or gaming-specific code bases that are used in today’s game development.

Asset creation

An asset, in games development, then, is any of the art that goes into making the game look and sound the way it does. For instance, the different appearances of the characters, the class of the level visuals and sets, the sounds that get made, and the music that gets played. (You’ll learn more about how character assets and environmental assets are made and used in Introduction to Game Development.)

These are the modern-day assets of a game, big and realistic, sometimes so life-like it will blow your damn mind. You will find a team mostly comprised of Game Developers, 3D Artists, Environment Artists, Audio Engineers, Composers, Character Artists and many more working very hard to refine games into these few factors that will make them unforgettable.

Game Developer requirements

Some of the job descriptions for Game Developer seekers mention that you have to graduate in Computer Science to apply — this is not always the case. Many Game Developers are hired if they have a lot of experience in gaming, one or more rock-solid portfolios, and a great resume.

4 essential skills you need to become a Game Developer

Next to creativity, imagination and passion for gaming, what other skills do you need to be a Game Developer?

  • The ability to code. The programming languages at the heart of game development include C, C++, C#, but also Python, JavaScript, TypeScript and HTML5.
  • Familiarity with one or more gaming engine(s). So, a gaming engine is the canvas you paint your (video) game on. It’s also variously referred to as ‘game framework’ or ‘game architecture’. You might have heard or read about Unity and Unreal, along with other, less obvious ones.
  • Math, physics and problem-solving. A good background in math and physics will help you turn creative ideas into games. For example, if you are working on a game, you may well need maths to develop algorithms for some of the code in the game. Many employers do interviews to evaluate experience beyond mere coding. They want to see your problem-solving skills, too.
  • Good communication/documentation skills. Although, to be clear, I’m not talking about docs as Frazier discusses but simply generating proper use of adverbs. Any pitch (as a freelancer) or bottom-up idea from within your chosen firm will live or die from the combination of good communication and documentation.

Where is C used?


Kernel Kernels Everywhere



  • Bow down to the mighty C, for it's the Lord of the Kernel realms. Talk about Linux or Windows; it’s all "C" underneath the geeky hood!



To Infinity and Beyond with Embedded Systems



  • If your toaster is getting too smart or your fridge is sending you chill vibes, chances are C is whispering binary lullabies to their microcontroller brains.



The Gaming Saga of C



  • Once upon a time, 'C'astlevania and the 'C'rysis kingdom were forged in the fires of C, giving us epic quests without needing magic spells, just pointers!



With Great Power Comes Great Responsi...Compilers!



  • Every superhero needs a sidekick and for programming languages like C++, even Batman would envy their Robin - a trusty C-based compiler.

C Alternatives


C++


C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It extends the C programming model with object-oriented features.



C++ example to print "Hello, World!":
#include
int main() {
std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl;
return 0;
}


  • Supports object-oriented programming.

  • Faster execution with low-level manipulation.

  • Rich function libraries.

  • Complex syntax compared to higher-level languages.

  • Potential for memory management bugs.

  • Steeper learning curve for beginners.



Python


Python is an interpreted, high-level, dynamic, and multipurpose programming language with an easy-to-read syntax, widely used for scripting and rapid application development.



Python example to print "Hello, World!":
print("Hello, World!")


  • Readable and easy to learn syntax.

  • Large standard library and active community.

  • Great for rapid prototyping and scripting.

  • Slower execution speed.

  • Not ideal for low-level programming.

  • Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) can hinder multi-threaded applications.



Rust


Rust is a systems programming language focused on safety, especially safe concurrency, supporting functional and imperative-procedural paradigms. It's aimed at achieving memory safety without a garbage collector.



Rust example to print "Hello, World!":
fn main() {
println!("Hello, World!");
}


  • Memory safety without garbage collection.

  • Concurrency without data races.

  • Modern tooling and package management.

  • Steep learning curve, especially for ownership concepts.

  • Longer compile times.

  • Lesser amount of third-party libraries compared to older languages.

Quick Facts about C


The Birth of a Legacy: C Programming


Imagine a world without the C programming language – as barren as a coffee shop at 3 AM. This coding juggernaut was concocted by Dennis Ritchie in the groovy 1970s (1972, to be exact), amidst the abounding bell-bottoms and disco balls. Initially developed for the UNIX operating system, C rapidly became the "cool kid" of programming languages – versatile, efficient, and with a syntax so monumental it might as well have been carved into the Code of Hammurabi.



C's Family Tree Has Deep Roots


If programming languages had a family reunion, C would be the revered great-grandparent with stories for days. It's the primordial soup from which many modern languages have emerged, mutating into various forms like C++ and Objective-C. Each descendant carries a snippet of its ancestor's DNA, making sure C's legacy is scattered across countless apps and operating systems. It's like a code whisperer that taught all the young'uns everything they know!



Standard Issues: The Trailblazing ANSI C


In 1989, the world of C saw a monumental kind of housekeeping – like someone decided to organize the cosmos. The introduction of ANSI C (also known as C89) by the American National Standards Institute was like issuing a universal cheat sheet for developers. This standardization helped squash the anarchy of inconsistent C flavors, offering a common ground for programs to get chummy with different computers. It was like everyone suddenly agreed on the right way to fold a fitted sheet!




// Sample ANSI C code to illustrate
#include

int main() {
printf("Hello, ANSI C World!\n");
return 0;
}

What is the difference between Junior, Middle, Senior and Expert C developer?







































Seniority NameYears of ExperienceAverage Salary (USD/year)QualityResponsibilities & Activities
Junior0-250,000 - 70,000Learning

  • Fixing simple bugs

  • Writing basic code under supervision

  • Learning codebase and best practices


Middle2-570,000 - 100,000Contributing

  • Implementing features

  • Refactoring code

  • Contributing to technical discussions


Senior5-10+100,000 - 130,000Guiding

  • Leading project development

  • Mentoring junior developers

  • Designing software architecture


Expert/Team Lead10+130,000 - 160,000+Overseeing

  • Setting technical direction

  • Managing team and resources

  • Ensuring project alignment with business goals



Top 10 C Related Tech




  1. GNU Compiler Collection (GCC)



    Imagine a Swiss Army knife but for pounding out C code – that's GCC. This open-source smorgasbord compiles your scribbles into running software with a command as simple as gcc hello_world.c. It supports a plethora of platforms and is the go-to for Linux C aficionados to transform caffeine into code.




  2. Clang



    Clang’s the cool kid on the block with the slickest toolset for compiling C. Its error messages are so friendly; you’ll want to introduce them to your parents. Part of the LLVM family, Clang offers speed and modularity, which means compiling is less "ugh" and more "ooh".




  3. Valgrind



    Ever left the faucet running? Valgrind’s kind of like a plumber for your C programs, finding leaks you never knew existed. It keeps your memory tight and shipshape, tracking down those pesky memory bugs that make developers lie awake at night.




  4. GDB



    The GNU Debugger (GDB) is like a time machine for your code, allowing you to step through history to figure out “what the heck just happened?” It’s a lifeline when your programs decide to go rogue and crash parties… and by parties, I mean your computer.




  5. Make



    Make is your recipe book for code. Write down your ingredients and instructions in a Makefile, give it a shake with the make command, and it cooks up your program. It's basically the C chef, orchestrating the build process like a maestro.




  6. C Standard Library



    Baked into the fabric of C like the chocolate chips in cookies, the C Standard Library is your treasure trove of pre-cooked code snippets. Why reinvent the wheel when you can sprintf(), malloc(), and free() to your heart's content?




  7. CMake



    Think of Make's bigger sibling with an affinity for cross-platform support, and you've got CMake. Whether you’re on Windows, Mac, or Linux, CMake will build your projects like a universal constructor, freeing you from the chains of platform-specific build systems.




  8. Git



    The almighty time-travel ledger for your code. Every "oopsie" and "eureka" moment is chronicled within Git's sacred halls. Harness the power of Git and you too can collaborate with legions of fellow coders in the realms of GitHub and GitLab.




  9. Visual Studio Code



    Visual Studio Code, not to be confused with its beefier counterpart Visual Studio, is the sleek, customizable text editor that thinks it’s an IDE. Perfect for dabbling in C while still having a debugger, git integration, and a smorgasbord of extensions at your fingertips.




  10. Linux



    Ah, Linux, the playground of C programmers. It's the OS equivalent of a Lego set; you can build and tinker to your heart’s content. With its open-source glory and terminal charms, you’ll have all the tools you need to carve out your C masterpieces.



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