Where is the best place to learn how to program a game? I''m learning C right now and am going to move up C++, but where do I go from there? So far all I''m learning is text based stuff. Is there a good (and really easy) to learn? I prefer the dummies series but I''m open to knew styles. Any suggestions or opinons will be taken into consideration.

I picked up a copy of Andre LaMothe''s "Game Programming In 21 Days", it was a really great book, but I had to read through it several times to understand it (Stupid 12 year old at the time). If you understand pointers and structures you should be able to get through it. LaMothe has a bunch of books out, like "Tricks of the Game Programming Guru''s" and "Windows Game Programming for Dummies", and some new windows game programming book. Haven''t looked any but the 21 days one, and his 3D dos book. This is how I learned, there are probably other ways too! Cheers!

How funny! My first "game book" was 21 Days as well. Of course, the code is a little outdated (isn''t it all DOS?). But the concepts are pretty good if you''re just starting out.

Thanks! I was looking at the windows game programming for dummies book. It looks like a keeper. Thanks!

My other "favorites":
Windows 95 Game Sdk Strategy Guide (OOP). Nice, tight code.
Inside Direct3D. The ONLY Immediate mode 3D book out there.

Some to avoid:
1. Real-Time Strategy Game Programming Using... No actual game programming in this book.
2. Inside DirectX. Just a reprint of the MS docs.
3. Teach Yourself DX in 24 Hours. Ha ha ha! Aint gonna happen.

Yeah, I tend to avoid the time elasped books. I found a learn C in 5 hours on the net and I didn''t understand the fisrt sentence! Well, thanks again.

I got MSVC++ 6 as a gift, and that came with a book, and a full tutorial on learning C++. Then i got ''Learn DirectX 7 in 24 hours''. All of those things together were a great start to begin simple games. I experimented ALOT and then got ''MSVC++ 6: The Complete Reference'', and that answered a lot of questions I had about programming in general. Also these forums have been of help.

email: chickawow@netzero.net

annex software: http://annexsoftware.cjb.net

As I understand it, LaMothe''s new windows game programming book is quite oriented to first time game programmers and it works in windows instead of DOS if you don''t like programming for it. I personally find DOS the easiest to program in if you''re a beginner, none of the DirectX initialization stuff, surfaces, etc. In DOS you just get the address of vid mem and start drawing pixels! Cheers!

Thanks guys! Now I have a ton of ideas to start with. After I learn C and then learn C++ I''ll be ready to go with making games! Yay. Excitement.