Yello! I''m of course a newbie, and as the subject requests, I''m looking for any kind of free software that will help with graphics on my win98 machine. I currently can only make suck-ass text games in Ms-Dos mode, and any help in locating some (free) downloads would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you happen to be a FF freak, like myself, any ideas for plot, characters, battle systems, summons, or anything else for my games would also be accepted.

Look into DirectX, OpenGL, and as I understand it, the OpenGL library. You also might want to try the program RPG Maker 2000 (or something like that) Personally, I don''t like it because it is like "cheating" IMO (ie: not "real" programming) but a lot of people seem to like it, so it''s worth a try

Peon

freeware similiar to adobe photoshop

http://www.serif.com/photoplus5/index.asp?SP=T01

If you want to make 2D graphics, also consider GIMP at www.gimp.org

Hmmm, sounds like you want to make a RPG to me.
In that case use a free 3D engine if your primary goal is a game, and not the 3D programming itself. It''s easier to make a 2D engine, so you could try to make that yourself. Ofcourse, in both cases you need to make the "gameplay engine" yourself.

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freeware similiar to adobe photoshop

http://www.serif.com/photoplus5/index.asp?SP=T01
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Sorry ? what was that ?
have you ever opened Adobe photoshop, there is absolutely no free package out there that stands against it... believe me..

btw you rather go for the 30 day trial version of paintshoppro, or... buy it..

And Photo Plus is full of spyware. Don''t use it.

One rather powerfull graphic-editor is ''Pixia''. Its pretty diffrent from PSP and Photoshop in the interface but once you get used to it, it can do alot.

I don''t know the direct link to it, but here a good start:
:-D

quote: Original post by Peon
Personally, I don''t like it because it is like "cheating" IMO (ie: not "real" programming) but a lot of people seem to like it, so it''s worth a try

Personally, I feel that if it does what you want it to do and gives you the performance you need, it''s not cheating. Unless you''re developing professionally, game development is something we do for fun. If you''re just doing it for fun, there isn''t a right way or a wrong way as long as it works for you and doesn''t cause harm to someone''s system.

I could come up with a billion ideas for an FF game, cause I''m a freak when it comes to them, but it would have to be a joint game for me to share the ideas, which will someday happen when I figure this "game programming" concept out...