How to become a game programmer

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the consumption of electronic games has increased dramatically. According to data from the Game Brasil Research, 75,8% of people started to play more during isolation, which made the games market grow 140% compared to the previous year. As a result, the demand for the profile of “game programmer“, those who are able to create games, since they are the key to making the idea of ​​games come out of paper and come to life. 

How is the game development market?

The gaming market is increasingly expanding in the world. It is estimated that by the end of 2021, the sector will have an approximate revenue of 12 billion reais in a survey carried out by the Newzoo. If this actually happens, it will represent a 5,1% increase in annual revenue. And the trend is to increase over time! 

For those who are in the process of becoming a programmer or game programmer, this represents good news, since with increasingly sophisticated devices, the trend is that there are more vacancies for this type of professional! In Brazil there are currently about 400 companies that develop games, most concentrated in the Southeast region. The biggest demand is for those people who know how to develop for games mobile devices, since this is the most expressive branch of the games market.

 In addition to games for mobile devices, we have games for PC, console and, finally, virtual reality, which are becoming increasingly popular and democratizing! However, it is not necessary to be in a company to work with game development, because there is plenty of room to work freelancer and also possibility of independent development. 

How much does a game programmer make?

The salary for this type of professional starts, on average, in the range of R$ 3.300, and can reach R$ 7.500 in a short time. For those people who already have experience in the area, salaries can reach up to R$ 21.200! Nonetheless, the national average for this position is R$8.400. In summary, Brazil represents an already very expressive and constantly expanding game market. The person who decides to pursue this career should not face many difficulties to advance and get well-paid jobs! 

How long does it take to become a game programmer? 

Learning time varies from person to person. The most traditional path is through higher education courses, which are already available in some Brazilian institutions. Nonetheless, the counterpoint to this alternative is that the duration of the courses is usually 4 years. In addition, there is no guarantee that the curriculum content will be sufficient for insertion in the games market.

For those who do well studying on their own, there is always the possibility to learn enough in forums and groups on the internet, from the vast amount of material available online. Nonetheless, as there is no monitoring or tutoring, this path can be complicated and take much longer than necessary. 

What do you need to know? 

The game programmer is the most important role within a game development company or group, as it will be the one who will put into practice the ideas of the script and the storyboard. Thus, the person who programmed the game must have a broad knowledge of programming languages, engines, logic and tools to create the necessary foundation for the game. Furthermore, it is necessary a range of interpersonal skills, or soft skills, to be able to relate to a team, since the development of a game is often done by more than one person. 

How to learn to program and enter the job market? 

There are many ways to learn programming. But one of the most talked about formations in the market is the Trybe. The success is so great that, in approximately two years of operation, the school has already had the presence of more than 2000 students, of which 92% are employed! 

As mentioned, the difference startup is their shared success model, which ensures that the student only starts paying for the course at the time they are working. Thus, it is not necessary to have financial resources to be part of the classes, just a willingness to learn, availability of time and willingness!

“But what if, even working, the student is not able to pay the Trybe?”. That's why the startup draws so much attention: the minimum pay to pay for the course must be £ 3.000. If the person is not earning more than that amount, no need to pay!

In July 2021, Trybe entered into a partnership with XP Inc. for a new class, composed of 300 students. For this new class, XP will pay 50% of the course to all approved people, with the intention of hiring those who perform well throughout the training and, later, are approved in an exclusive selection process for this class. Applications close on August 22.

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