What is Gameplay Programmer?
Source: https://store.unity.com/products/unity-pro
Gameplay Programmers essentially delve into the code base of a game, and is responsible in making sure the code base "works", adding features into the game that influences the Gameplay loop.
There's a caveat to that, with the industry referring this role to include multiple professions including coding "Sound", coding "User Interfaces", and those do fall under the programmer's role.
To get started with Gameplay Programming, one might think they would start with a program called "Scratch". It essentially is an online software that allows player to "plug" in logic and allow images inside the game to move, and start playing around with logic such as conditions and loops. However, playing games that require problem solving usually is a much simpler and fun way to get started.
For example, I've played multiple problem solving games in the past such as "Factorio" and "Rimworld". Both games require players to "optimise" resources and prevent stagnation, the end goal is usually construct something that's self sufficient without the player's intervention for too much.
And after solving problems such as "inefficiency", one might start looking into using Game Engines to start making games. Unity would be a good place to start since there are plentiful of resources online for troubleshooting, and eventually they would dabble into the component system of the engine, components such as Audio, Sprite, and Animation are technically separate roles but the industry generalises them.
And if you feel like you're confident enough, try C++! Java! Making games in more languages allows you to be a flexible Games Programmer and would set you up on many positions that the industry is looking for!
