Math for Game Developers: Calculus

Published October 10, 2014 by Jorge "BSVino" Rodriguez, posted by Gaiiden
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Math for Game Developers is exactly what it sounds like - a weekly instructional YouTube series wherein I show you how to use math to make your games. Every Thursday we'll learn how to implement one game design, starting from the underlying mathematical concept and ending with its C++ implementation. The videos will teach you everything you need to know, all you need is a basic understanding of algebra and trigonometry. If you want to follow along with the code sections, it will help to know a bit of programming already, but it's not necessary. You can download the source code that I'm using from GitHub, from the description of each video. If you have questions about the topics covered or requests for future topics, I would love to hear them! Leave a comment, or ask me on my Twitter, @VinoBS

This series is ongoing - check back every Thursday for new content!
The video below contains the playlist for all the videos in this series, which can be accessed via the playlist icon at the top of the embedded video frame. The first video in the series is loaded automatically
Calculus [playlist=PLW3Zl3wyJwWMC516An98BF8Pn6nfXaEWe]

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1 Likes 8 Comments

Comments

Glass_Knife

Well, you don't sound like Sal Kahn, so it is just weird. :-)

I like the explanations with math and then showing the game code. I'm not sure the "Calculus" title is the best description of the content. And since that's the only problem I have with it: Approved! Approved! Approved!

At the very least maybe some mention of how this all applies to calculus up front. Didn't really get there until the end of the second video, when I'm thinking "OK, please show me a infinity small delta time step in the code... Wait, it's over? GAAAHHH!!!!"

September 23, 2014 07:01 PM
BSVino

Sorry. Calculus is tough to motivate until you get a little more into it. Next video will have a solid (and pretty neat) application. We'll get there, have patience :) In the mean time if you have any questions I'm happy to answer them.

September 24, 2014 12:50 AM
JonathanLyons

Nice idea, I always wondered if people would be more motivated if they learned calculus through coding because they get direct feedback

September 24, 2014 09:21 PM
Truerror

Nice idea, I always wondered if people would be more motivated if they learned calculus through coding because they get direct feedback

They would. At least most of them would. I wasn't really interested in physics before getting into game development. But now that I've experienced myself how those principles could be used, I'm more motivated to study it.

September 27, 2014 08:06 AM
JonathanLyons

Nice idea, I always wondered if people would be more motivated if they learned calculus through coding because they get direct feedback

They would. At least most of them would. I wasn't really interested in physics before getting into game development. But now that I've experienced myself how those principles could be used, I'm more motivated to study it.

Interesting, it would be great if they used game development to teach kids about these subjects in schools.

September 28, 2014 09:42 AM
IndieFleur

Great article! Hoping you will keep updating it every week :)

October 01, 2014 07:19 AM
Fernando Basso

When the video gets to the practical part, it seems there had already been another tutorial because there is some code already written? Is that the case? If so, where is it?

October 15, 2014 01:08 PM
Hawkadium

Thanks for these videos. These are going to help a lot of people.

October 16, 2014 12:31 AM
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The popular series continues with applications for calculus as related to game development

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