If you ever want to make money at it I suggest you learn C++. I interview tons of people who use VisualBasic all the time. Guess what, we dont hire them.

But, if you are just looking at it to make games then I would suggest learning C first, then C++. Basic will just confuse the issues and possibly teach bad habits. C is about as easy to use and read, C++ on the other hand can be very difficult to "read" for the newbie.

History wise, I learned programming starting with direct machine language (talk about impossible) then moved to assembly, then an Amiga basic called AMOS, then Lattice C on the Amiga, then Borland C on the PC. Since then I moved to Visual C++ from microsoft, I don''t use the MFC crap or the wizards. AVOID MFC & THE WIZARDS, they are products of the four horsemen.

If you want to do Unix or Linus programming C is a good choice also. So, bottom line, start with C, then move to C++ once you get comfortable with pointers and such.

Another good reason to use C is that most examples on this website and others uses C (some C++ but not really.)

My two cents,
-AG

I started programming in QBasic back when the new thing was DOS 5.0. (I''m 18, for me that was forever ago.) I then started using Visual Basic 3.0, through 6.0 and I''m currently employeed as a Visual Basic programmer.

I learned C++ with a good book (I suggest the Wrox press books, but that''s my personal opinion). I''ve taken classes in High School and College for C++, but none of them taught more than the first few chapters of any good book.

Learning C++ was much easier because of my past programming experience (even with the "bad programming techniques" that basic teaches) Personally I enjoyed the transition from QBasic to Visual Basic, and again from Visual Basic to C++. QBasic teaches the ground level of programming. VB builds on that to add simple windows concepts, and beggining Object-oriented programming. While VB may not be OOP enough for the OOP police (you know who you are), it teaches you the general idea of an Object Model, how Classes work, etc. C++ is obviously your ulitimate goal to make games. For gaming it strikes the right balance between run speed, dev time, and power.

Another point, as one post put it, is that some people are born with programming in their blood. And some people aren''t. I know a few people that took C++ in college and found out that they CAN program...but they don''t ever want to have to do it again. Just fair warning.

epolevne

I started out with a bit of BASIC on the C64 and it was boring so I stopped programming for a few years(well on the c64 the only options were basic and machine code). Amiga wasn''t much better no free compilers. On the PC I went to QB got bored again and moved to C. When I can be bothered I''ll learn cpp.



http://users.50megs.com/crazyvasey/

This is the OO Police. Please step out of your chair.

I want to see your license for that copy of Visual Basic........my god!

You are arrested for having a copy of Visual Basic on the premises. You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so. Anything you do say may be giving in non-OOPness. Cuff ''em boyz.

j/k VB is cool and it IS alot more OO than QBASIC. Plus it''s sooo easy to get a window up. In C++ it takes like 30+ lines to get a decent window working! I once made a scheduling program in VB6. I thought it was pretty cool . But I still like C++ the best

Hi there, I am like you and am attempting to start learning game programming. In my opinion, you should just go straight for c++ - that is what most guys want in the people they employ.

Then when you are comfy with that, look into Direct X.

I have had some experience with stuff like Basic(though I cannot really call it experience - it was on my CPC 464 and I was about 6 ), Java and Pascal.

But ultimately it is C++ u need to learn.

Oh, by the way - the book I used to learn C++ was "Teach yourself C++ in 21 days" by Jesse Liberty.

It''s a pretty good book - from the raw basics to the more advanced stuff is all covered, and it has a q+a section at the end of each chapter.

You could use some internet tutorials if you prefer, unfortunately I do not know of any.

Later.

Well, I first tried programming in C64 BASIC but that consisted mainly of copying programs in the instruction manual that came with it.

It wasn''t until I reached Grade 10 (two years ago) when I first programmed for real. It was in a language called Turing, an instructional language used in many schools in my area (think Pascal and C mashed together and then run over multiple times with a Mack truck to make it really slow). I learned C in programming class a year later and C++ on my own after that. I''ve dabbled with other languages throughout: Euphoria, VB, QB (ugh).

I recommend learning C/C++ first only because it''s not that hard if you take it slow and don''t mind using DOS for a while. If you wan''t to go straight into Windows programming without it being really difficult, go with VB. Industries are usually looking for C++/VB programmers anyway.

-Seifer

I don''t know how much crap I''m going to get for this, but I''ve JUST started programming. Never done any before. And, before I started, I asked alot of people who make games for an actual living which language to start off with. They said C++, and that learning previous languages was a mistake.
So, I started with C++, and I don''t think it''s hard to learn at all. It''s definately not impossible to start with it, as I''m already very comfortable making simple programs (not games, however) after only a month.


Serikc

I guess it really depends on how smart or how well you learn, but I would say in most cases, learning a language before C++ is advisable, because you should be multi-lingual because it opens up your mind and lets you apply different ideas e.g. apply a QBASIC programming practice to C++ or a C idea to PASCAL and it will help you think more laterally. The other thing is you should learn more "general programming" than language-specific stuff first, because then you will know what each language will entail, and will hence take you less time and difficulty to learn .

I must say, when I started out with C++, knowing what a "variable" was really softened the blow and it allowed me to make similarities between lagnauges, and so helped me to slide into the language more easily. And I could programme simple apps after a week or so.

I guess it all comes down to this: A language is like a toolbox, it contains tools, and in each toolbox(language), some tools are different. Sure, you can bang a nail into a wall with a screwdriver, but you''d be wiser to use a hammer. So you might opt for the toolbox with the hammer in it.

-And in this industry its harder for a tradesman to blame his tools

Remember that C++ is a superset of C which means its like an upgraded version of C. Therefore, learning C++ is effectively teaching you about C. So why not start with C++?

I started with C++ and I did have problems but I figured that i would get it eventually and so I did.

Btw, this is a really long discussion....

Taking before giving is only logical.