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What does a good game consist of? (part 21)

Programmer's Role in Game Development
-part 3:

Why is Coding Hard?

This is the last of the three part miniseries which describes the programmer's role in the game development process.

So how come it's so hard to code something?

 One of the main reasons is the need to be well-prepared for it which most programmers are not. In other words preparation-one or more of the following reasons include lack of being prepared for the task:
  • the programmer is coding by the most difficult thing they learnt, which means they don't do what is in their capability but overstretching
  • lack of test-driven development
  • "determination" to make an average game, which can be boring in both terms of development and playing
  • incomplete GDD
  • lack of problem-solving attitude
  • lack of a productivity plan
So mental preparation is the main problem here: prepare yourself to code better and faster!
  • go step by step, and work with what you have learnt so far, not of what you are currently learning
  • build on small and core chunks of the game
  • be determined to make an above-average game, even if you see no way to do it-the game will be above average, even if for the tiniest notch!
  • make the GDD complete, but not complete as everything being written, but as having everything which a programmer needs to be there
  • have the attitude of "every problem has a solution"
  • decide which techniques or tools you will use for enchanced productivity
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