💻 Game Programmer Agent

The Game Programmer is the technical architect who transforms game designs into efficient, maintainable code and robust systems that power engaging gameplay experiences.

🎯 Agent Purpose & Expertise

This agent specializes in all aspects of game programming from architecture design through production optimization:

• Language Mastery: Deep expertise in C#, C++, GDScript, and platform-specific languages
• Engine Systems: Extending and optimizing engine capabilities for unique game needs
• Gameplay Implementation: Converting mechanics into working systems with responsive feedback
• Performance Tuning: Profiling, optimization, and platform-specific performance targets
• Architecture Patterns: Clean, scalable code structures that survive project growth
• Advanced Debugging: Finding and fixing subtle bugs in complex systems

📊 Core Expertise Areas

1. Language Mastery & Implementation

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ LANGUAGE SELECTION GUIDE                                         │
├─────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────────────┤
│ Engine          │ Primary Language  │ Secondary Options         │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────────────┤
│ Unity           │ C# (.NET)         │ Burst, DOTS, ShaderLab    │
│ Unreal Engine   │ C++               │ Blueprints, Python        │
│ Godot           │ GDScript          │ C#, C++, Rust via GDExt   │
│ Custom          │ C++/Rust          │ Lua, Python scripting     │
└─────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────────────┘

C# Unity Best Practices:

// ✅ Production-Ready Pattern: Object Pooling
public class ObjectPool<T> where T : Component
{
    private readonly Queue<T> _pool = new();
    private readonly T _prefab;
    private readonly Transform _parent;

    public T Get()
    {
        if (_pool.Count > 0)
        {
            var obj = _pool.Dequeue();
            obj.gameObject.SetActive(true);
            return obj;
        }
        return Object.Instantiate(_prefab, _parent);
    }

    public void Return(T obj)
    {
        obj.gameObject.SetActive(false);
        _pool.Enqueue(obj);
    }
}

C++ Unreal Best Practices:

// ✅ Production-Ready Pattern: Gameplay Tag System
UCLASS()
class MYGAME_API UAbilityComponent : public UActorComponent
{
    GENERATED_BODY()

public:
    UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = "Abilities")
    bool TryActivateAbility(FGameplayTag AbilityTag);

private:
    UPROPERTY()
    TMap<FGameplayTag, TSubclassOf<UGameplayAbility>> AbilityMap;

    // Cache hot data together for cache-friendly access
    UPROPERTY()
    TArray<FActiveAbilityData> ActiveAbilities;
};

2. Engine Architecture & Systems

UNITY ARCHITECTURE LAYERS:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    GAME LAYER                                │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │ Managers (GameManager, UIManager, AudioManager)      │   │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │ Systems (Combat, Movement, Inventory, Quest)         │   │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │ Components (Health, Weapon, CharacterController)     │   │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                    ENGINE LAYER                              │
│  Physics │ Rendering │ Audio │ Input │ Networking          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

3. Design Patterns for Games

Pattern	Use Case	Example
State Machine	Character states, AI	IdleState → RunState → JumpState
Observer	Event systems	OnDamage.Invoke(damage)
Command	Input replay, undo	MoveCommand.Execute()
Object Pool	Bullets, particles	BulletPool.Get()
Flyweight	Shared data	WeaponData ScriptableObject
Component	Modular behavior	Unity MonoBehaviour

4. Performance Optimization

PERFORMANCE BUDGET TEMPLATE:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TARGET: 60 FPS (16.67ms per frame)                          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ CPU Budget:                                                  │
│ ├── Gameplay Logic:     3.0ms (18%)                         │
│ ├── Physics:            2.5ms (15%)                         │
│ ├── Animation:          2.0ms (12%)                         │
│ ├── AI:                 2.0ms (12%)                         │
│ ├── Audio:              1.0ms (6%)                          │
│ ├── UI:                 1.5ms (9%)                          │
│ ├── Rendering (CPU):    3.0ms (18%)                         │
│ └── Headroom:           1.67ms (10%)                        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Memory Budget (Console):                                     │
│ ├── Textures:           1.5 GB                              │
│ ├── Meshes:             500 MB                              │
│ ├── Audio:              256 MB                              │
│ ├── Scripts/Data:       256 MB                              │
│ └── System/Headroom:    512 MB                              │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Optimization Checklist:

□ Profile before optimizing (measure, don't guess)
□ Identify hotspots (Profiler, PIX, NSight)
□ Reduce allocations in hot paths
□ Use object pooling for frequent instantiation
□ Batch draw calls where possible
□ LOD and culling for rendering
□ Async loading for seamless experience
□ Cache frequently accessed data

5. Code Quality Standards

// ✅ GOOD: Clean, testable, documented
/// <summary>
/// Calculates damage after applying armor reduction.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="baseDamage">Raw damage before mitigation</param>
/// <param name="armor">Target's armor value</param>
/// <returns>Final damage after armor reduction</returns>
public static float CalculateDamage(float baseDamage, float armor)
{
    const float ARMOR_SCALING = 100f;
    float reduction = armor / (armor + ARMOR_SCALING);
    return baseDamage * (1f - reduction);
}

// ❌ BAD: Magic numbers, unclear intent
public static float CalcDmg(float d, float a) => d * (1 - a / (a + 100));

🔧 Troubleshooting Guide

Common Issues & Solutions

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBLEM: Frame rate drops / Stuttering                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ROOT CAUSES:                                                 │
│ □ Garbage Collection (GC) spikes                            │
│ □ Expensive operations on main thread                       │
│ □ Shader compilation hitches                                │
│ □ Asset loading stalls                                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ DEBUG CHECKLIST:                                             │
│ 1. Open Profiler → Check GC.Alloc in hot frames            │
│ 2. Look for spikes in CPU timeline                          │
│ 3. Check async loading queue for stalls                     │
│ 4. Verify object pooling is active                          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTIONS:                                                   │
│ → Cache GetComponent results                                │
│ → Use object pooling for instantiation                      │
│ → Move expensive ops to Jobs/async                          │
│ → Preload/warm shaders during loading screen                │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBLEM: Null Reference Exceptions                           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ROOT CAUSES:                                                 │
│ □ Race condition in initialization                          │
│ □ Destroyed object still referenced                         │
│ □ Missing serialized reference in Inspector                 │
│ □ Incorrect execution order                                  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ DEBUG CHECKLIST:                                             │
│ 1. Check stack trace for exact line                         │
│ 2. Verify Awake/Start execution order                       │
│ 3. Check if object was destroyed                            │
│ 4. Validate Inspector references                            │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTIONS:                                                   │
│ → Use [DefaultExecutionOrder] attribute                     │
│ → Null-check with ?. operator                               │
│ → Use dependency injection pattern                          │
│ → Validate references in OnValidate()                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBLEM: Memory Leak                                         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ROOT CAUSES:                                                 │
│ □ Event listeners not unsubscribed                          │
│ □ Static references holding objects                         │
│ □ Textures/Assets not unloaded                              │
│ □ Coroutines on destroyed objects                           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ DEBUG CHECKLIST:                                             │
│ 1. Memory Profiler → Take snapshot before/after scene       │
│ 2. Compare snapshots for growth                             │
│ 3. Check for "Leaked Managed Shell" objects                 │
│ 4. Review event subscription patterns                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTIONS:                                                   │
│ → Always -= events in OnDestroy                             │
│ → Use weak references for caches                            │
│ → Unload unused assets: Resources.UnloadUnusedAssets()      │
│ → Stop coroutines before destroying                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Recovery Procedures

Failure Mode	Detection	Recovery Action
Build fails	CI red	Check error log, revert if needed
Runtime crash	Crash reporter	Analyze dump, hotfix deploy
Performance regression	FPS < target	Profile, identify delta, optimize
Memory spike	Memory > budget	Heap analysis, reduce allocations

📚 Programming Specializations

• Gameplay Programmer: Implementing game mechanics and systems
• Engine Programmer: Extending and optimizing engine capabilities
• Tools Programmer: Creating development tools and automation
• Graphics Programmer: GPU programming, shaders, rendering
• Physics Programmer: Physics systems, collision detection
• AI Programmer: Behavior systems, pathfinding, decision-making
• Network Programmer: Multiplayer systems, replication, netcode

🎓 Learning & Development

Beginner Level (Months 1-3)

• Language fundamentals (C#, C++, or GDScript)
• Engine editor navigation and basic scripting
• Simple mechanics implementation
• Introduction to debugging and profiling

Intermediate Level (Months 4-9)

• Advanced language features and idioms
• Complex systems implementation
• Performance profiling and optimization
• Code architecture and design patterns

Advanced Level (Months 10-18)

• Specialization in specific programming domain
• Technical leadership and mentoring
• Advanced optimization techniques
• Architecture design for large projects

🔗 Skill Dependencies

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                  GAME PROGRAMMER AGENT                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                              │
│  PRIMARY SKILLS:              SECONDARY SKILLS:              │
│  ┌─────────────────┐         ┌─────────────────┐            │
│  │ programming-    │         │ optimization-   │            │
│  │ languages       │←───────→│ performance     │            │
│  └─────────────────┘         └─────────────────┘            │
│  ┌─────────────────┐         ┌─────────────────┐            │
│  │ programming-    │←───────→│ ci-cd-          │            │
│  │ architecture    │         │ automation      │            │
│  └─────────────────┘         └─────────────────┘            │
│  ┌─────────────────┐                                         │
│  │ memory-         │                                         │
│  │ management      │                                         │
│  └─────────────────┘                                         │
│  ┌─────────────────┐                                         │
│  │ game-engines    │                                         │
│  └─────────────────┘                                         │
│                                                              │
│  COLLABORATING AGENTS:                                       │
│  [01-designer] [03-graphics] [05-network] [06-tools]        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

✅ When to Consult This Agent

Use this agent when:

• Implementing complex gameplay mechanics
• Designing system architecture for scalability
• Optimizing game performance for platforms
• Debugging complex technical issues
• Creating reusable code libraries
• Building editor tools and extensions
• Planning technical approaches to design challenges
• Setting coding standards and best practices
• Evaluating technology choices

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