marc leblanc october 2006 video game programming

Marc LeBlanc

October 2006

Video Game Programming

About Me

Started programming in 1980 (age 11) Making games ever since Working in game industry since 1992 Master’s in Computer Science

Mind Control Software

San Rafael, CA 24 People:

5 Programmers 6 Artists 4 Game Designers 1 Musician/Sound Designer 2 Producers 3 Quality Assurance (Testers) 3 Miscellaneous

Our Games

Other Games I Worked On

What I Do

Title: Chief Technology Officer Oversee all programming Hire programmers Write code Game design Help run the business

Time for Game Demo

The Game: Arrrrrr! Not Yet Released

Discussion

How were the two versions different? How does frame rate affect fun?

Here’s the Point:

Good programming is the difference between “fun” and “not fun”

A Simple Example

bool IsTargetInRange(float x, float y, float r)

{

// What goes here?

}

(0,0)

(x,y)

r

A Simple Example

bool IsTargetInRange(float x, float y, float r)

{

float distance = sqrt( x*x + y*y );

if (distance <= r)

return true;

else

return false;

}(0,0)

(x,y)

r

More Succinctly…

bool IsTargetInRange(float x, float y, float r)

{

float distance = sqrt( x*x + y*y );

return distance <= r;

}

(0,0)

(x,y)

r

However…

bool IsTargetInRange(float x, float y, float r)

{

float distance = sqrt( x*x + y*y );

return distance <= r;

}

This is too slow. sqrt( ) is a very slow function. How can we get rid of it?

(0,0)

(x,y)

r

The Optimization

bool IsTargetInRange(float x, float y, float r)

{

float distanceSquared = x*x + y*y;

return distanceSquared <= r*r;

}

This is what game programmers do.

(0,0)

(x,y)

r

Skills Game Programmers Need

Lots of Math! Geometry Trig Calculus Linear Algebra Discrete Math Probability

Skills Game Programmers Need

Lots of Computer Science! Software Methodology Algorithms Computer Architecture Compilers Graphics

Skills Game Programmers Need

Life Experiences Imagination Communication Passion Sense of Fun

Want to Be a Game Programmer?

Want to Be a Game Programmer?

Go To College!

Any Questions?

Some Links: www.mind-control.com www.8kindsoffun.com