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Hey I have been here before, for help and you guys came through. I have finally finished my first console based program in C++ plus a few more. (just basic I/Os) But now I would like to step up to graphics (2D). Does anyone know a good place to start?
Sorry if this has already been posted before, but 13 pages and tons of topics a page.. well let's just say I'm the average American.
Can anyone point me in the right direction or another thread. It has to be C++ and cannot be a game engine (libraries are accepted of course).
... It has to be C++ and cannot be a game engine (libraries are accepted of course).
Sounds contradicting, but I assume you just want driver abstraction systems like DirectX, OpenGL, or stuff like SDL. Well, those three are great, but for a beginner, you should look into SDL because the commands are pretty simple and easy to use (plus it's cross platform).
Why do you keep recommending C# for games? Check out the poll here, you can have your say there...
Anyway, I'd recommend one of the following: 1) If you haven't already covered a little more: functions, classes, loops, etc, then you may not be ready for graphics 2) If you are ready for graphics, go for SDL. The syntax is so simple, even my mum could do it. (She didn't try, but you get the idea)
Why do you keep recommending C# for games? Check out the poll here, you can have your say there...
Anyway, I'd recommend one of the following: 1) If you haven't already covered a little more: functions, classes, loops, etc, then you may not be ready for graphics 2) If you are ready for graphics, go for SDL. The syntax is so simple, even my mum could do it. (She didn't try, but you get the idea)
Sorry I have a semi hard on for XNA and XNA requires C#.. not to mention I use c# on a fairly daily basis and it seems that everyone who picks up c++ makes the transition to c# with ease...
Why do you keep recommending C# for games? Check out the poll here, you can have your say there...
Anyway, I'd recommend one of the following: 1) If you haven't already covered a little more: functions, classes, loops, etc, then you may not be ready for graphics 2) If you are ready for graphics, go for SDL. The syntax is so simple, even my mum could do it. (She didn't try, but you get the idea)
I've read about but never tried those things... cept for classes (I have done in Python).
So, if I haven't done these where is a good place to practice. Or a good way to practice?
Why do you keep recommending C# for games? Check out the poll here, you can have your say there...
Anyway, I'd recommend one of the following: 1) If you haven't already covered a little more: functions, classes, loops, etc, then you may not be ready for graphics 2) If you are ready for graphics, go for SDL. The syntax is so simple, even my mum could do it. (She didn't try, but you get the idea)
I've read about but never tried those things... cept for classes (I have done in Python).
So, if I haven't done these where is a good place to practice. Or a good way to practice?
*whistle* Well... that's a pretty broad area to practice.. I mean it's serious programming fundamentals. As in taking a few classes in upper level high school or college. In other words you are asking "how do I program".
You can pickup a book on learning your langauge of choice (I find c++ to be well taught through the deitel and deitel books.. damn you smiley-bug!) (or vb.net if you just want concepts and simple to use functionality).
I don't know your age, background, or level of familiarity so I would highly suggest getting some books - specifically THAT book... C++ as a base language is a good thing (pointed out by gabehe).
Here's a link to an older version of the Deitel books.. for c++ pretty much any version is a good version.
C++ is a low level language, so the transition to a high level language such as C# is much easier than going high to low.
Actually C++ is still considered a high level language. Assembly would be considered a low level language.
QUOTE
From Wikipedia:
In computing, a high-level programming language is a programming language with strong abstraction from the details of the computer. In comparison to low-level programming languages, it may use natural language elements, be easier to use, or more portable across platforms. Such languages hide the details of CPU operations such as memory access models and management of scope.
QUOTE(WolfCoder @ 11 Sep, 2008 - 10:02 AM)
I would strongly not recommend C# because it makes your game really hard to port to Linux/Mac. Not everyone likes Vista, you know.
Beat me to it WolfCoder. I was going to say the same thing. C# is the brainchild of Microsoft as is XNA and the .NET framework. Using these technologies will almost guarantee that your program will be Windows specific. You would require significant rework to port it to other platforms.
I would also second WolfCoder's suggestion for using SDL. It has built in functions for handling 2D graphics as well as sound and input. If you write your game engine right, you can make it so it would take very little work to port to other platforms and can upgrade the engine to use 3D graphics with OpenGL (which SDL is designed to work with for 3D) in the future when you get to those stages. A well written game engine can be used over and over again for many games.
4 Sep, 2008 - 12:49 PM
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