I want to make a side scroller type game like "Contra" or "Super Mario Bros." But Im not too sure on how to start. What would be the best approach for this type of game. And dont say learn DirectX cause thats not my problam. I want to make it more like contra though where your main thing to do is shoot. What would be the best way to draw the scene and what-not. Thank you. -HoundEYE

Just make a side scrolling tile engine, and maybe a map editor to make level creation easier. Its pretty easy to get it working with DirectX. Lamothe has some pointers on how to get started in his new book. Other than that, im not really sure what your asking. Did you have a specific question on your game?

Mike Barela
mbarela@earthlink.net

Here''s an old, but good book online on how to write a sidescroller:
http://www.makegames.com/sidescroller/

Incidently it''s by Diane Gruber, who is behind the sponsorship of the Gamedev programming contest.