How to Move from Web Development to Game Development

If you’re a web developer with a love for gaming, you may be interested in moving into game development. While similar in nature, game development can, at times, be more complex. The constant interactive nature of gaming adds a new element to the equation, and web developers will need to be prepared to change their mindset.

Before you take the dive and make the switch, it’s important to understand the transition process and what to expect.

Choose a Language

Depending on the type of game development you want to do, you may have to learn a new language.

If you have experience developing mobile applications, you may be able to dive right into mobile game development. Mobile games are typically developed using:

• Xcode (written in Swift), or
• Android Studio (written in Kotlin and Java languages)

Having knowledge of one or both of these platforms will allow you to develop rich, animated games, including puzzles, quizzes and simulations.

If you’re more interested in console or PC game development, you’ll want to use Unity Engine – which is written in C#. Unity supports both 2D and 3D game development.

Along with the ability to store assets and templates, Unity also has a growing community of enthusiastic developers.

C++, which is also the language of Unreal Engine, is another popular language in game development.

If you have a firm understanding of C++, you can easily pick up C# and Java. The versatility of being able to program in all three of these languages will make you a valuable asset.

Demonstrate Your Skills

If you’re in the field of web development, you probably have a portfolio that shows off your skill. But your resume and portfolio are both geared towards web development – not game development.

If you want to be taken seriously, you need to demonstrate your skills. The simplest way to do this is to work on your own projects first. Your project doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to perform flawlessly if you want to catch the eye of a major or indie game studio.

Many people who transition from web dev to game dev create several projects and release a few game titles before getting hired at a studio. Some decide to remain independent developers.

Be Prepared for Testing Challenges

If you’re coming from a web development background, you’re probably used to having unit tests for anything of importance. Automatic testing frameworks make it easy to find problems early in the process.

Although game development is moving in this direction, you’ll still find that automatic testing is far and few between. Consider using games testing services to help you find flaws or improve performance.

There’s a reason why game developers outsource this process, or just don’t really use unit tests to begin with: creating tests for games is difficult.

Photo: Eoin Holland – www.eoinholland.com

With web development, you have control over what the user can and can’t do. With gaming, players can do so many different things. In many cases, they’ll do things you’d never expect or even think of.

Players also have countless interactions in games. They engage in combat, break items, pick up objects or throw objects in whatever direction they please.

These are just a few of the factors that make game testing a major challenge. Developing your own unit tests can be a long and arduous process. Outsourcing may save you some headaches and wasted time.

Start Small

You may have ambitions of developing a huge game to impress potential employers or players, but it’s better to start by building a small system. Start by developing a small game and use existing patterns when they make sense. Use your engine to your advantage and get a real feel for the development process.

Most importantly, learn to love the process. Learning new languages, platforms and processes can be challenging, but it can also be a rewarding experience if you can learn to embrace failure.

Transitioning from web development to game development can be a long and challenging process for some. Many who have made the switch say it took them a year or more to successfully transition to their new career. But if you have a passion for gaming and a drive for learning, the results will be worth the effort.