Data Structures

[Cod]

Does an all-around understanding of data structures play a vital role in the game development process? I know they play an important role in numerous companies outside of the game industry, but I'd like to know about data structure usage in the game industry. I'm getting to the end of my bachelor's program in Computer Science and I need to chose an elective for next semester. I've taken a basic class on data structures and analysis, so I have a novice understanding of them; however, I was talking to my advisor and he informed that the school offers an Advanced Data Structures and Analysis class that would fill my need for an upper-level CS elective.

Here is the class description fromt he catalog:
A study of data structures (including lists and trees) in terms of their descriptions, properties, and storage allocations. Algorithms are used to manipulate structures. Applications are drawn from the areas of information retrieval, symbolic manipulation, and operating systems.

Any advice on whether or not I should take this elective would be greatly appreciated.

[Adrir]

In my personal experience, I've used data structures quite extensively. It's one of those "good to know" areas.

[Gshonk]

Knowing how data structures work is very important in game development. I don't mean knowing how to make your own, which is useful but you don't do it very often, but knowing how they store and process data and when to use what.

I would suggest you take the class.

[Claxon]

I second Gshonk's reply, knowing how they work means that you can be sure to choose the most efficient structure for your game. Since games tend to have so many complex components, even a small lack of efficiency can lead to quite a sizeable bottleneck in processing.

[DTR]

Imperative in all programming.


Algorithms + data structures = Computer program.

[shakeel]

That is what I also agree