Apprenticeship training course

Game programmer (level 7)

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Information about Game programmer (level 7)

Program reliable and efficient software.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • How to approach the development of interactive, real-time applications for gaming platforms, including an awareness of industry-standard programming languages, application programming interfaces (APIs), tools, engines and frameworks.
  • The syntax and structure of an industry-standard programming language (above and beyond visual programming languages) used for the development of games (for example C++, C#).
  • The fundamental graphical and mathematical principles that underpin the operation of real-time graphics in two and three-dimensions.
  • The characteristics of modern hardware platforms and how they support the efficient function of interactive, real-time graphical applications.
  • Approaches to balancing quality and performance requirements to achieve, monitor and maintain acceptable frame rates and memory footprints for a real-time interactive application.
  • How to use tools to identify and optimise performance bottlenecks in real-time applications.
  • The role of debugging tools, crash reports, automated testing and continuous integration workflows in creating robust software.
  • The role of staged deployment, monitoring and analytics in releasing, tracking and refining games.
  • Common principles of good software design applied in the games industry including contrasting approaches and priorities (e.g. object-oriented vs. data-oriented)
  • How a complete asset pipeline for a game operates, including the technical requirements, processing stages and tools involved in bringing assets into the game.
  • How to use version control and project management tools to plan and coordinate the delivery of development tasks.
  • Common development methodologies and how they are applied in game development.
  • The broad range of roles involved in the game development process, and the different strengths and perspectives that multi-disciplinary teams bring to the creative process.
  • Where to find information on the latest technological innovations for the games industry.
  • The role of rapid prototyping and agile approaches in innovation.
  • The organisation’s standards with respect to coding, documentation and issue tracking, and how they relate to wider practice in the software industries.
  • Publisher’s technical requirements for target platforms, where to obtain them and the tools and systems available to support developers to meet those requirements.
  • The business stakeholders in a project and how multi-disciplinary development teams can generate value within the context of different business models.
  • Relevant data protection laws including GDPR.
  • Security approaches to prevent products being compromised, and everyday good practice in security including password policies, phishing and use of VPNs.
  • The relative merits of different game engines, third-party frameworks and tools, and when to use them to speed up the development process.
  • How to balance the requirements and availability of team resources (for example staff time, software licencing) with respect to the engineering and maintenance of a game’s asset pipeline.
  • The range of different disciplines involved in the development process and their typical skillsets and expectations in terms of technologies, tools and asset formats.
  • How to approach the development of interactive, real-time applications for gaming platforms, including an awareness of industry-standard programming languages, application programming interfaces (APIs), tools, engines and frameworks.
  • The syntax and structure of an industry-standard programming language (above and beyond visual programming languages) used for the development of games (for example C++, C#).
  • The fundamental graphical and mathematical principles that underpin the operation of real-time graphics in two and three-dimensions.
  • The characteristics of modern hardware platforms and how they support the efficient function of interactive, real-time graphical applications.
  • Approaches to balancing quality and performance requirements to achieve, monitor and maintain acceptable frame rates and memory footprints for a real-time interactive application.
  • How to use tools to identify and optimise performance bottlenecks in real-time applications.
  • The role of debugging tools, crash reports, automated testing and continuous integration workflows in creating robust software.
  • The role of staged deployment, monitoring and analytics in releasing, tracking and refining games.
  • Common principles of good software design applied in the games industry including contrasting approaches and priorities (e.g. object-oriented vs. data-oriented)
  • How a complete asset pipeline for a game operates, including the technical requirements, processing stages and tools involved in bringing assets into the game.
  • How to use version control and project management tools to plan and coordinate the delivery of development tasks.
  • Common development methodologies and how they are applied in game development.
  • The broad range of roles involved in the game development process, and the different strengths and perspectives that multi-disciplinary teams bring to the creative process.
  • Where to find information on the latest technological innovations for the games industry.
  • The role of rapid prototyping and agile approaches in innovation.
  • The organisation’s standards with respect to coding, documentation and issue tracking, and how they relate to wider practice in the software industries.
  • Publisher’s technical requirements for target platforms, where to obtain them and the tools and systems available to support developers to meet those requirements.
  • The business stakeholders in a project and how multi-disciplinary development teams can generate value within the context of different business models.
  • Relevant data protection laws including GDPR.
  • Security approaches to prevent products being compromised, and everyday good practice in security including password policies, phishing and use of VPNs.
  • The specialist operation of a specific hardware architecture or gaming platform and how to engineer efficient solutions which target its specific capabilities.
  • How to balance the requirements and availability of team resources (staff time, software licencing) with respect to providing the maximum benefit to their users.
  • How to use externally facing support portals and project tracking tools in order to effectively track and document technologies for sharing with a wide user-base.

  Skills

  • Program interactive, real-time applications for gaming platforms using an industry-standard programming language, incorporating APIs, tools, engines or frameworks appropriate to employer requirements.
  • Implement and adapt contemporary real-time algorithms in two and three-dimensional games.
  • Use profiling tools and techniques to achieve, monitor and maintain an acceptable real-time framerate for an interactive game.
  • Track memory usage and identify opportunities for reducing requirements.
  • Write code informed by the characteristics of modern hardware platforms (e.g. shader programming, multi-threading).
  • Use debugging tools and automated testing systems to develop robust code bases.
  • Use continuous integration workflow within the deployment lifecycle as part of a multi-disciplinary software team.
  • Write robust, well-tested, maintainable code which is easy to adapt to changing requirements.
  • Use an industry-standard version control system.
  • Use an industry-standard project management system from the perspective of a developer.
  • Adapt or extend existing tool chains to support new features and/or optimise workflows.
  • Apply industry-standard development methodologies within day-to-day working practice.
  • Manage complex relationships with diverse stakeholders and communicate information effectively to different audiences.
  • Provide technical leadership and direction with respect to the workflow of other team members.
  • Research, document and articulate the opportunities and threats presented by new industry technologies.
  • Follow studio coding best-practices and participate in keeping them relevant and up to date.
  • Give and receive feedback in code reviews in an objective and professional manner.
  • Write software which contributes to the player experience while balancing the extensibility and performance requirements for an evolving game design.
  • Develop games and/or prototypes using an industry-standard or in-house game engine.
  • Make justified choices about the implementation of different features and tools and their effect on the overall workload of the team.
  • Work as part of interdisciplinary teams.
  • Create innovative game mechanics for which solutions are unknown.
  • Program interactive, real-time applications for gaming platforms using an industry-standard programming language, incorporating APIs, tools, engines or frameworks appropriate to employer requirements.
  • Implement and adapt contemporary real-time algorithms in two and three-dimensional games.
  • Use profiling tools and techniques to achieve, monitor and maintain an acceptable real-time framerate for an interactive game.
  • Track memory usage and identify opportunities for reducing requirements.
  • Write code informed by the characteristics of modern hardware platforms (e.g. shader programming, multi-threading).
  • Use debugging tools and automated testing systems to develop robust code bases.
  • Use continuous integration workflow within the deployment lifecycle as part of a multi-disciplinary software team.
  • Write robust, well-tested, maintainable code which is easy to adapt to changing requirements.
  • Use an industry-standard version control system.
  • Use an industry-standard project management system from the perspective of a developer.
  • Adapt or extend existing tool chains to support new features and/or optimise workflows.
  • Apply industry-standard development methodologies within day-to-day working practice.
  • Manage complex relationships with diverse stakeholders and communicate information effectively to different audiences.
  • Provide technical leadership and direction with respect to the workflow of other team members.
  • Research, document and articulate the opportunities and threats presented by new industry technologies.
  • Follow studio coding best-practices and participate in keeping them relevant and up to date.
  • Give and receive feedback in code reviews in an objective and professional manner.
  • Write software which contributes to the player experience while balancing the extensibility and performance requirements for an evolving game design.
  • Develop reusable technologies targeting specific hardware architectures or gaming platforms.
  • Make justified decisions about the implementation of different features and their effect on quality and workload for their technology’s user base.
  • Work as part of a user-focused product team, incorporating multi-disciplinary input from outside of the team, for example from game software programmers, artists, game designers and audio engineers.
  • Communicate and evangelise technology solutions to promote engagement and uptake among the user-base.
  • Profile and optimise code created by their technology users.

  Behaviours

  • Reliable, objective and capable of independent working.
  • Initiative and personal responsibility to overcome challenges and take ownership for project solutions.
  • Respect for other disciplines and an understanding of the role of diverse experiences and backgrounds in a successful creative process.
  • Commitment to continuous professional development; maintaining their knowledge and skills in relation to technology developments, and sharing best practice in their organisation around all aspects of game development.
  • Maintains awareness of trends and innovations in the subject area, utilizing a range of academic literature, online sources, community interaction and conference attendance.
  • Acts with integrity with respect to ethical, legal and regulatory ensuring the protection of personal data, safety and security.
  • A strong work ethic and commitment in order to meet the standards required.
  • Reliable, objective and capable of independent working.
  • Initiative and personal responsibility to overcome challenges and take ownership for project solutions.
  • Respect for other disciplines and an understanding of the role of diverse experiences and backgrounds in a successful creative process.
  • Commitment to continuous professional development; maintaining their knowledge and skills in relation to technology developments, and sharing best practice in their organisation around all aspects of game development.
  • Maintains awareness of trends and innovations in the subject area, utilizing a range of academic literature, online sources, community interaction and conference attendance.
  • Acts with integrity with respect to ethical, legal and regulatory ensuring the protection of personal data, safety and security.
  • A strong work ethic and commitment in order to meet the standards required.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Digital
• Qualification level: 7; Equal to master’s degree
• Course duration: 24 months
• Maximum funding: £19,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Developer relations engineer
  • Game programmer
  • Game server programmer
  • Gameplay engineer
  • Gameplay programmer
  • Mobile game developer
  • Rendering / graphics engineer
  • Software development engineer

View more information about Game programmer (level 7) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.