Do the different languages of different countries influence the way developers make their video games? This question is similar to how software development could be different in different countries. Video games, after all, are created largely in the same way office or productivity software are created. If there are differences in the way software is developed from one country to another, these differentiating attributes are applicable to video game development as well.
Programming Languages
To start answering the main question here, it helps to get acquainted with programming languages used in creating video games. The following are some of the most popular programs video game developers use.
C++
Regarded by many as the best programming language for video games, C++ is the pioneer for modern game development. Numerous high-end games especially those created for the PlayStation and Xbox rely on this programming language.
C#
This multi-paradigm and general-use programming language designed by Microsoft is preferred by many developers who want to venture into video game programming. It supports Unity3D, which is considered one of the top game engines at present.
Objective C
When it comes to iOS games, Objective C is the undisputed top programming language with its combination of Smalltalk and C syntaxes and the ability to do object-oriented programming, which is essential for rapid rendering.
Java
Video game developers like to use Java as it employs the same OOP principle used by C++ while providing a wide range of systems to work with. Thus many Java development companies collaborate successfully with game developers, as Java is excellent for game development services.
JavaScript
This programming language is not intended for the development of video games similar to DOTA, GTA, or Fortnite, but it is one of the most commonly used programming languages that enables quick integration with web applications.
HTML5
It is not only used for website development, but HTML5 is one of the popular programming languages used for gaming as well. It is used for web-based and mobile games.
UnrealScript
This is the native scripting language created for the Unreal gaming engine. It is dubbed as one of the revolutionary game programming languages supporting multiple platforms including Windows, SteamOS, Android, PlayStation VR, Mac OS, and Linux. UnrealScript is behind some of the most popular and successful games at present such as Devil May Cry, Fortnite, and Arkham City.
Papyrus
A relatively new video game programming language, Papyrus features a scripting system that makes use of advanced programming techniques. It is the programming language behind Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim.
Lua
Designed to be lightweight and multiplatform, Lua is notable for its simple language structure and syntax.
Others
There are also video games created with Python, an open source programming language; PHP, a general-purpose language originally intended for the creation of websites and webpages; and Ruby, a simplicity and productivity centric programming language that supports a variety of programming paradigms.
The Dominance of English in Programming Languages
If you are someone who just knows about programming languages through the few instances you heard or read about them online, you would probably think that they are all based on the English language. You may have read some bits of actual program codes and found several discernable English words in them.
In the following C++ code snippet from Happy Codings, for example, all words are based on the English language.
A map: insert pair, find, end
#include <iostream>
A map: insert pair, find, end
#include <iostream>
#include <map>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
map<char, int> mapObject;
int i;
for(i = 0; i <10; i++) {
mapObject.insert(pair<char, int>(‘A’+i, i));
}
char ch;
cout << “Enter key: “;
cin >> ch;
map<char, int>::iterator p;
p = mapObject.find(ch);
if(p != mapObject.end())
cout << p->second;
else
cout << “Key not in map.\n”;
return 0;
}
“Char” here means character. “Int” means integer. “Cout” infers a C++ object output. On the other hand, “cin” is the opposite of “cout” as it refers to an input. If you examine most program codes, you will see that most of the terms are based on the English language. Even Pascal, which was created by Swiss computer scientist Niklaus Wirth, is based on the English language.
The programs above are all based on the English language, even though the creators came from different countries.
- C++ was created by Danish Bjarne Stroustrup
- C# was developed by Danish Anders Hejlsberg
- Lua is a creation of Brazilian Portuguese developers at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
- Python was created by Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum
- PHP was designed by Danish-Canadian programmer Rasmus Lerdorf
- Ruby was developed by Japanese computer scientist Yukihiro Matsumoto
English has an overwhelming presence even in programming languages developed by non-English speakers. Based on the History of Programming Languages (HOPL) online database of languages, out of more than 8,500 programming languages around the world, around 2,400 were created by English speaking computer scientists or programmers particularly from the following countries:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
This means that close to 30% of programming languages were developed in English-speaking countries.
While more than 70% of programming languages have non-English origins, English still dominates the world of programming languages. One of the reasons for this is the fact that the pioneering programming languages were created in English-speaking countries. As such, new programmers and computer scientists (in different countries) learned their craft based on programming languages that are English-based. They had to spend time and effort to get acquainted with English to more effectively learn how to program. Another fundamental reason for the English dominance is the number of users of English-based programming languages. There may be more programming languages with non-English origins, but the English-based ones have considerably more users.
English is deeply ingrained in the evolution of programming languages and software development through the years. That’s why even non-English computer scientists who sought the creation of their own programming languages are using English terms partly for convenience and partly to make it easy for others to adopt the programming language they created, thereby facilitating growth and collaborative development.
Making Video Games for Different Platforms
So what’s the significance of discussing the most popular video game programming languages, the video game development, and the prominence of the English language in them? This is to establish the fact that most video game creators practically use the same systems when they develop their games. Over the years, developers have established a list of the best languages and engines to utilize in making video games for different platforms. They are generally in agreement that there are only a handful of programming languages that matter, especially for the global market. There isn’t that much diversity in the programming languages and tools used.
Video Game Development – Are there differences?
So is video game development different for different countries? At least as far as popular video games are concerned, the programming languages, protocols, and standards employed are largely comparable or limited to a few options.
Basically, similar development steps or phases are observed. These include the following:
Prototyping
This is the stage where gameplay ideas and features are formulated and evaluated for their viability. The ideas are rapidly generated so they are not expected to work without flaws. It’s like brainstorming but with palpable outputs.
Game design
In the game design stage, the ideas presented during prototyping are established or finalized. The programmers, game artists, game designers, producers, and programming leads provide their inputs here. A game design document is produced in this stage. This document, however, is not final and may change as programming limitations are encountered and new possible features are discovered.
Production
This is where the bulk of the tasks are focused, from the actual coding of the game to the preparation of the game graphics and audio. Having a dedicated development team is the best way to go here.
Testing
After completing the production of the game, quality assurance testing has to be undertaken. At this stage, errors are identified and examined. This may call for professional game testers to thoroughly scrutinize all aspects of the completed game. For major games, at this point, a company may spend for an alpha release.
Polishing
The testing phase may not capture all bugs so a polishing stage is necessary. Also, some last-minute aesthetic or design changes may be implemented in this stage. For some games, the developer may undertake a beta testing period as part of the polishing phase.
Localization
This optional phase is for games that are to be introduced to foreign markets. Localization may be done by an in-house team, or a third-party language solutions provider that offers video game localization services.
Maintenance
Occasional updates and upgrades are needed for video games after they are released to fix bugs reported by players or to address issues that may arise due to operating system updates.
These are core phases in video game development so they are expected to be part of the whole process regardless of where a video game is made or what particular programming language is used. Except for localization, which may only be essential when expanding video game to foreign markets, all game developers worldwide have to go through prototyping, game design, production, testing, and so on.
In Summary
Creating a video game is not that dissimilar in different parts of the world especially as most developers rely on just a short list of programming languages, almost all of which are based on the English language. Those that use totally non-English programming languages tend to be small players that produce games for certain devices. Still, they have to go through the standard procedures of coming up with a prototype, designing, production, etc. The use of different programming languages cannot be considered a difference in video game development since the underlying technical principles for these different programming languages are actually identical.
Break Language Barriers – Help Your Video Game Succeed with Localization
If there’s something not all video games undergo, it’s localization. Game creators only localize when trying to penetrate new gaming market. In the globalized modern world, though, not localizing a video game is a wasted opportunity. That’s why it only makes sense to remove the language-based hurdles that prevent your video game from achieving greater success.
Make your video game more appealing to prospective players who speak languages not similar to what you made your video game with. We at Day Translations, Inc. have the competence and experience to make sure that your video game or software is in its best-localized form possible. Email us at Contact us or dial our telephone number 1-800-969-6853 to communicate with our customer service team. Our lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.