Hello every one, Im 16 years of age, and ive decided to start making game from scratch, and on my own computer. ive also decided to learn C++. this morning i picked up a copy of C++ for dummies. I just thought i''d intreduce my self, i''ll most likely be here alot. Thank you for listening to the rambleings of a idiot. P.S. one quetion, how long befor i can start to make a farly long nearly open ended RPG, with good Graphics?

quote: Original post by Mindless Thrall
how long befor i can start to make a farly long nearly open ended RPG, with good Graphics?

A long time. In the real world, large teams of professional programmers (and artists, writers, and designers) take months or years to do this sort of thing. Even with lesser expectations, you''d be looking at months of development time. To answer your question, it takes months or years to learn C++ well (surely you can write simple games with sub-par programming skills - we probably all have - but in my experience they turn out as horrible, ugly messes, and to complete a large project ...).

Good luck, and you''re better off not being so forward-thinking... It''ll be a few years at best, and it will require the help of many other talented, dedicated people.

PS I''ve only heard bad reviews of C++ for dummies, I learned C++ in school, but I''ve heard more positive feedback about Sams Teach Yourself in 20-something days

[Edited by - atcdevil on October 12, 2006 10:00:16 AM]

Hey, welcome to GameDev! Hmm, don''t get too discouraged - once you learn the basics of programming and get some experience under your belt, you''ll find that it is mostly a matter of hard work and determination to make a game. (and it''s fun too!)

Good luck.

Firebird Entertainment

Books that I have read or am reading include:
Teach Yourself C in 21 days
Teach Yourself c++ in 21 days
Tips and Tricks of the Game Programming Gurus
(Original Dos ver and the newer Win ver)
Black Art of Game Programming
Black Book of Computer Graphics

These are just of few of the books I own. Some of them are even "outdated" now that newer technology is out there. It may not be very useful to know how to write your own software render now, but I still think it is a good idea to learn the "basics" as much as possible. You will find that it is boring as heck to learn C/C++. It is only in the specific application of the language to create you game that it becomes tolerable.

If you want to succeed you must have patience and peristance.

How long to program you own RPG? If you spend a hour ever night learn how to code for a few months. Then a another few months learning how to apply what you have learned in creating a "game engine" piece by piece, I think its reasonable you could start building you first RPG within 6mths. In the meantime you should be making pong clones, or bricks, pacman, asteroids, etc... . These little programs will really get you going in the right direction.
gluck

Thank you every one, these forums are extreamly helpful,
Bad stuff about C++ for dummies, Cra* i cant return it, oh well, it''ll work, for now.

Could some one tell me what exacly does fastgraph (i think its called) do? graphics library? i would thank you to shed some light on this subject =)

http://www.gametutorials.com/ I found these tutorials to be decent if you need some more stuff in the right direction.

Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21 days is good, that helped me a lot when i started with C++.

Aye listen to Gorf Gametutorials.com is the best place for tutorials, trust me

Jeff D