What is the difference between Game Design and Game Programming?

Question

I'm a high school senior and lokoing at colleges with majors in game design and game programming. I knoe they work hand in hand in the production, but what's the difference?

I have a passion for both making the the characters, and bringing them to life through programming since I have extensive knoweldge of both C++ and Java. so which is better to major in and to minor in?

Answer 1

Game Designers tend to be the head leaders of a project and will oversee all aspects of the project, such as the story, characters, level design, engine design, audio, etc. Thus you can consider a game programmer to be someone that the game designer would oversee. Game designers usually have to know a bit about each part of making a game, so they must be able to understand the basics of level editing, coding and everything in between. They aren't experts in each field, but have to have a basic understanding of each aspect in order to coordinate all of them together the make sure the game comes along well. Seeing as how you already have a good understanding of programming, it may be best for you to continue and get more expertise in the area since you already have a understanding of it.

Answer 2

Game programming is writing the code (boring) that the cpu will later translate into images, obsticles, movement, structure....etc etc etc. As Game Design is actually designing the structures, characters and other fine tuning.

Think of it this way, compare the whole game making process to modeling something out of clay. Programming is like making the clay and putting a large clump on a table. Design would be like fine tuning everything, layer by layer until the finished product looks right.

Though programming is really where the money is at, design is really where all the fun is. Besides programming takes hours and hours of really boring classes, but if you like building something out of nothing, this could be a good career for you. However if your more art based, id go with design. Just a little opinion, lol

Answer 3

Game Design is the process of thinking through and planning an idea for a game and Game Programming is actually coding it. My link lists the jobs in a game company (and links to the whole article which tells you about them).

Answer 4

My guess would be that one is the "logical" and one is the "physical". The game designer designs the game and how it functions. This would take creative thinking. The game programmer needs the actual technical skills to sit and write the code that makes the game do what the game designer says it should.

Answer 5

to put is simply the game designer creates games or otherwise makes the concept of it. like for example the designer comes up with the plot for the book and programmers enter in all the details. the two have really different positions. designers are like directors, and programmers sit at the computer typing in all sorts of numbers and stuff to format or put the game on CD.

Answer 6

My guess is that design is just that - either the designer gets an idea or comes up with his own and "designs" the game in the sense of how the story goes.

A programmer writes the code that makes the story happen on your screen.

Answer 7

Game design you are designing the game. You are the one who makes the blueprint for the house.
A game programmer is the builder you build the house (metaphorically). I hope that helps