Deciding on what programming language to learn for game development can be a daunting task. Especially if you’re new to game development, where there is no one clear winner like there is for many other fields. Such as Android development or iOS development, where Java and Swift are almost universally agreed upon as the best programming languages, respectively.
Here are the most used programming languages to get started with.
Python:
Like C++ and Java, Python also offers an Object-Oriented approach but with simple syntax and execution. You see, unlike the previously mentioned programming language, Python is very slow. Thus complex games are never developed with Python. Only a particular API or Framework of Python will be used. The major strength of Python in game development is rapid prototyping. This means that with just a single command, we can create our gaming package.
For example, if you want to develop an android game, all you need to do is use builder API. So here is a command called buildozer.init, which, when run, creates an APK file.
This interpreted and high-level programming language was designed to enhance the readability of humans/users through the usage of indentation and whitespace. It can easily break down complex targets.
It offers the OOP technique on a full-fledged basis to all developers. The ability of the Pygame framework, developed by Python, lets developers prototype the games faster.
Some of the popular video games created using Python coding language are Battlefield 2, Disney’s Toon town online, Civilization IV, Freedom Force, etc. Game engines using Python language are Pygame, pyglet, Kivy, Unity, Cocos2d, and Panda 3d.
Lua:
Lua, a light weight-high-level-multi paradigm coding language can be designed to embed into many other applications. This is done for the convenience of original developers and players who wish to alter the game. The language structure and the syntax of Lua are simply leading to its popularity. Game engines like CryEngine, Gideros mobile and Corona SDK employ Lua as their primary programming language when it comes to game design.
Programmers widely use Lua as a scripting language. In 2003 a poll conducted by gamedev.net showed Lua to be the most popular scripting language for game programming. The reason for this is because of its fast execution and short learning curve. You might be wondering how Lua is more rapid than C++? Well, Lua is fast but in its own way. Textual files in Lua are not directly interpreted instead it is compiled into a byte code which then runs on a lower virtual machine. The compilation process is performed during runtime, but it can also be done offline to increase loading performance or reduce memory footprint.
Angry birds, Roblox, World of Warcraft are some of the popular games using the Lua coding language.
Papyrus is one of the new game programming languages. A scripting system that makes use of advanced programming techniques, Papyrus powers games like Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. Creation Engine, the 3d video game engine, by Bethesda uses Papyrus language widely.
UnrealScript is a scripting language native to the Unreal engine. It supports complex features like multiple inheritances and programming which is object-oriented. Major gaming platforms like Microsoft Windows, Playstation VR, Android, and Linux use UnrealScript. Popular games like Devil May Cry, Fortnite, and Arkham City are fueled by UnrealScript.
CSS3 and SQL: CSS3 and SQL fall in the category of web languages like JavaScript and HTML5. CSS3 provides visual display elements to a web page. Back-end database work is managed by SQL. This enables smooth access of their accounts for players and lets them do different things on the server.
C++
C++ (https://isocpp.org/) is not exactly easy to learn, but it’s worth it if one is looking to get into video game development. An object-oriented language – it uses internal structures to better organize code into reusable blocks (classes and objects) – it is easily the most used language for writing games. In fact, game development engines such as Unreal only accept information written in C++. Knowing C++ is definitely useful as doing so gives the developer more direct control over the hardware and graphical processes, which are of course a key element in video game design.
In fact, C++ is supplemented by C (https://www.iso.org/standard/74528.html) in many games. Also, it is quick, with strong compilers and enhancers and comprehensive libraries, which come in handy for structuring and driving complex designs. Lastly, knowing C++ will also help you quickly learn C#. Video games developed using C++ include Witcher 3, Counter-Strike, Doom III Engine, World of Warcraft, King Quest, Football Pro and Invictus, among many others.
About C++
The C++ programming language was originally called “C with classes.” It was created to take modern principles, like object-oriented computer programming, and combine it with the low-level features seen by languages such as C. In so doing, it would allow users to more easily create their programs with readability, while not losing advanced features such as memory management.
Given its general-purpose nature, C++ has, all around, become one of the most widely used programming languages, having applications for software and – as is the topic of this article – games. In fact, many modern engines, such as Unreal Engine, are built on the language, so learning to code C++ is considered key by many professional developers. Of the programming languages, then, this can be considered one of the most commonly used in general.
Pros
- Being so close to C, C++ is amazingly efficient and is one of the fastest programming languages to choose if you have lots of complex tasks to run in your games.
- C++ has perhaps the largest community and tutorial support given its universal usage almost everywhere.
- Its ability to do things like memory management is very handy if you want tighter control on game performance.
- It has a large amount of scalability and can be used for both small and large game projects.
- It is platform-independent, meaning you can port projects around very easily regardless of OS.
Cons
- While there are plenty of game engines to use, finding lighter-weight frameworks for C++ game development can be a challenge. You also can’t easily develop games with JUST C++.
- Of the languages on this list, C++ is probably the most difficult to learn and is the least beginner-friendly.
- Though C++ gives you more control over memory management and the like, this comes at the cost of lacking automatic garbage collection – which means more work on the developer’s end.
- As an older language, some modern features seen in other languages are not present or standardized with C++.
- Since C++ allows developers to do more, this also allows less security – meaning you could get tons of unexpected behavior in your games without intention.
C#
The advantage of C# (http://csharp.net/) lies in the fact that Microsoft’s XNA network is written in this programming language. Essentially a freeware set of tools with a managed runtime environment, Microsoft XNA facilitates video game development and management; XNA is based on the .NET Framework, with versions that run on Windows NT, Windows Phone and the Xbox 360.
Also, in an immensely popular game engine such as Unity (https://unity.com/), C# is the language that you code in. In fact, more than a third of top games are made with Unity, and there are approximately 770 million active users of games created using the Unity engine. Plus, Unity is also used for VR, so a good 53% of all Oculus Rift VR games are developed using Unity. C# is the programming language used here for these applications, and is thus a great choice for any programmer seeking a career in the game development or virtual reality industry.
About C#
C# is a general-purpose programming language created in 2000 by Microsoft with the specific intent of working with their .NET framework. Given the popularity of C++ and Java, it was designed to take the best of both programming languages and combine it into a new, easy-to-read, object-oriented programming language that had great cross-platform capabilities. However, it also strove to keep businesses in mind so that it could be easily used for software development.
As for games, C# also found a home in the industry due to its relative efficiency and scalability. In particular, it became the default programming language for the popular Unity engine, with all modern Unity libraries being built around the language. Given Unity is used for a large percentage of the game industry, this has given it a tight hold in this regard.
Pros
- Comparatively, C# is a very beginner-friendly language with fairly easy to read code.
- Automatic memory management means you don’t have to do a deep dive into those aspects and can focus more on just developing your game.
- As a language developed by Microsoft, it is a top choice for games on Windows PCs. However, it is capable of working on most modern systems.
- C# is a type-safe language, meaning your games will have more security and won’t exhibit tons of unexpected behaviors.
- It is relatively efficient and scalable, meaning it’s well-suited when used to create game projects.
Cons
- With some exceptions, outside of game engines, C# isn’t widely used for games. Thus, an engine is almost required in this case for community support.
- While more efficient than JavaScript, it isn’t as efficient as C++ or Java, meaning game performance can suffer if the game is sufficiently complex.
- As the language was designed to work specifically with Microsoft’s .NET framework, it isn’t as flexible as other programming languages on the list.
- In the business world, while in high-demand for general business applications, it isn’t as demanded for game developers as C++ is.
Conclusion
Are you ready to do something new in the area of software development? The AllPrograms team has selected the best programming languages for you, which will open up your possibilities when choosing your path.