How do you measure and improve your game programming skills and what goals do you set?

1 Choose your language and tools

The first step to improve your game programming skills is to choose the language and tools that suit your needs and preferences. There are many options available, such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Lua, Unreal Engine, Unity, Godot, and more. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, such as performance, portability, ease of use, documentation, community, and compatibility. You should research and compare the features and requirements of each option, and try some tutorials and demos to get a feel for them. You should also consider your target platforms, genres, and audiences, as well as your own strengths and weaknesses.

2 Set SMART goals

The second step to improve your game programming skills is to set SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These criteria help you define and focus on your objectives, and track your progress and results. For example, a SMART goal could be: "I want to create a 2D platformer game for Android using Unity in 3 months". This goal is specific (what you want to do), measurable (how you will know you have done it), achievable (within your skills and resources), relevant (to your interests and career), and time-bound (when you want to do it).

3 Learn from the best

The third step to improve your game programming skills is to learn from the best . There are many sources of knowledge and inspiration for game programmers, such as books, courses, blogs, podcasts, videos, forums, and social media. You can find tutorials, tips, tricks, best practices, case studies, post-mortems, reviews, and critiques from experts and peers. You can also join online or offline communities and networks, such as game jams, hackathons, meetups, and conferences, where you can exchange ideas, feedback, and support with other game programmers.

5 Get feedback and improve

The fifth step to improve your game programming skills is to get feedback and improve. You should not work in isolation, but seek constructive criticism and advice from others. You can ask for feedback from your friends, family, mentors, colleagues, or online communities. You should also playtest your games with your target audience, and collect data and analytics on their behavior and satisfaction. You should listen to the feedback, and use it to identify and fix the issues, and improve the aspects that need improvement.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?