Game Development: Gateway To Software Engineering

At gamedev:hq we use game development as a gateway to software engineering. Learning to code by building video games is fun, exciting, and engaging. The reality is that the logic and problem-solving skills applied to video games seamlessly transition to the enterprise world.

The Value of the Games Industry

The games industry is valued at over $200 billion. While opportunities to work in gaming are plentiful, it’s just the tip of the iceberg for what’s possible. Today, the same technology that drives the games industry forward powers everything from film to automotive, architecture, engineering, construction, simulation, medical, sales & marketing, service & training, education and so much more.

XR and the Fast-Growing Marketplace

Extended Reality (XR), which consists of Augmented, Mixed, and Virtual Reality, is built with games industry tech. The XR industry is the fastest-growing trillion-dollar marketplace, with gamedev:hq being one of the few places on the planet with a metaverse career track where you learn to build augmented & virtual reality experiences.

Our Focus: Unity & Unreal Engine

Unity:

• Overview: Unity is the world’s most popular game engine, utilizing a programming language called C#, created and maintained by Microsoft.
• Impact: Unity powers 50% of the video games market, 80% of the Metaverse industry (XR), and dominates the mobile gaming landscape, with over 70% of the top 1,000 grossing mobile games made with Unity.

Unreal Engine:

• Overview: Unreal Engine is your ticket to AAA games, known for high-fidelity graphics, console gaming, and virtual film production.
• Impact: Uses a programming language called C++, one of the most powerful programming languages in existence, known for its speed and efficiency. C++ is used in everything from game engines and stock trading software to microcomputers.

The Power of C++ and C#

C++:

• History: Around since the 80s, with billions of lines of code deployed.
• Usage: Found in everyday life—cars, kitchen appliances, the Mars Rover, and even traffic lights.
• Opportunities: Learning C++ opens up countless opportunities across various industries.

C#:

• Impact: Created by Microsoft, C# is integral to Unity and widely used in corporate America and gaming studios.
• Opportunities: Mastery of C# can lead to a diverse range of careers beyond game development.

Our Mission

At gamedev:hq our mission is to train the best software engineers on the planet. We use Unity and Unreal Engine because they offer excellent job growth and we love building video games. However, the real value lies in the programming languages. Learning to code with C# or C++ prepares you for a lifelong career.

Beyond Gaming Industries

While some of our students go on to work for major game studios like Rockstar Games, Blizzard, and EA, the majority work in industries beyond gaming:

• Medical: Building medical simulations in virtual reality.
• Automotive: Creating production configurators for companies like Bentley and Jaguar.
• Defense: Developing defense simulations for the US government at companies like Lockheed Martin and L3 Harris.

Game development is just a gateway to a full-fledged career as a software engineer. You can always build video games on the side, start your own indie game studio, and continue your passion, but aligned with our mission of training the best software engineers, we pride ourselves on delivering the most highly structured engineering and job training curriculum that will prepare you for opportunities far beyond just the games industry.

In the next step, you’ll explore our curriculum overview.