Every year, it seems that a newer, better, and stronger graphics card is introduced to the market, which pushes the gaming industry into a frenzy. We know that most games now require updated and newer devices to run, but what about making games? How is game development different from playing games, and do you even need a graphics card for it?
The long answer is yes, you do need a graphics card for game development. Graphics cards, also known as GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), help your device render and display graphics. Graphics cards are responsible for handling all the visual elements in a game, from the textures of the characters to the environment and any special effects (SFX).
Having a good graphics card is crucial in game development because you cannot know what’s wrong with your game without testing it. You will need a graphics card that can run the game to create, edit, and test graphics-intensive games without your computer crashing, lagging, or running into performance issues. Without a decent graphics card, you’ll find it difficult to see your game world in all its glory, which can impact the quality of your game and make it harder to develop.
So, the short answer is that yes, you need a GPU. You cannot create a game if your device cannot run it for testing.
How high-end does your setup need to be for game development?
Okay, so now you know you need a GPU to make games but you’re probably wondering how high-end your GPU and setup needs to be. The answer to this question largely depends on the type of games you want to develop and the tools you plan to use. For example, if you’re developing 2D games using a lightweight game engine like Construct, you might not need a high-end setup. On the other hand, if you’re working on 3D games using a complex game engine like Unity or Unreal, you’ll need a powerful setup that can handle the demands of the software.
In general, you’ll need a computer with a fast processor, plenty of RAM, and a high-quality graphics card to develop games. You might also need additional hardware like a monitor with a high refresh rate.
You don’t have to get everything all at once!
Game development has been compared to rocket science by rocket scientist and game developer John Carmack, who said, ‘The work that I do in video games is actually far more complicated than the aerospace work’ As a game developer, you’ll face many obstacles, but the reward is always worth it when you see your game vision come to life. The level of setup you need depends on the type of games you want to develop and the tools you plan to use. By keeping these factors in mind and investing in the right hardware, you can create some incredible games.
The right equipment to start developing games is probably the first of many challenges you will face on this journey. It’s important to do adequate research, budget well, and most importantly, understand that Rome was not built in a day when building your setup for game development. It’s okay to take longer to get your dream setup; prioritize what you need first and add to it as you go.
Good luck future developer!
