Everyone is arguing about what to start with. MSVC, VB? Can anyone actually tell me: Which language is best for making games and is it easy for a begginer. Who makes the best version of this for making games and ease of use. How much it will cost and where i can get it. What graphics tool is included (if any) and where i can buy fastgraph and how much it will cost. Finally... Which books do you recommend for the language you recommend. Thankyou anyone who answers this will help a lot of people who are asking the same question: HOW DO I MAKE GAMES.

Oh man, I think ur skipping a couple steps, like spending a lot of time making crappy programs, and getting familiar with your programming language. I prefer C, or C++, as the majority does, youl have to decide for yourself. Then program crappy thing for a year, then start thinking about games,(sorry if that didnt help, but I think thats how most people start).

If you''ve never programmed before, I''de start with the BASIC derived languages: QBasic and Visual Basic simply because when you first start out you don''t want to worry about the problems C++ brings (unfreindly errors, pointers, evil mfc, direct X, pointers to pointers). The only problem with visual basic is that it is veeery slow compared to C++, so it isn''t very well suited to making games.

Four easy steps:

1. Read "Sams Teach Yourself Beginning Programming in 24 Hours"
2. Read "Sams Teach Yourslef C++ in 24 Hours" (or "21 Days"... both are good)
3. Buy Microsoft Visual C++ (the standard edition is only around $50 after the rebate)
4. Read "Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus" (also from Sams publishing, if I''m not mistaken)

actually, skip step 3... TOTWGPG comes with a copy of the evaluation version of VC++, and if you''re aiming to learn (for now) then you don''t have to worry about spending that extra money... once you''ve learned enough and are sure that you want to keep programming, then you can buy a better version of the compiler (I suggest Enterprise... it''s not as expensive as the Professional edition, but still includes all the stuff that you would want, and then some, and the optimization routines are better than the standard edition)

But do try to learn a (simpler) language before jumping into C++, or you might get frustrated (this varies from person to person, but IMO the more languages you know, the better, as long as you can find a use for them)

"Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be."
        --William Hazlitt

Yah you got some contradictions in that "Which language is best for game programming and what''s the easiest to start with" Well the best or at least standard is Microsoft Visual C ++, with some small optimized assembly routines (sometimes). The easiest to start with is definately VB. But depending on your age and previous computer knowledge you may want to go right into C++!

Once you got some experience, then you''ll figure out for yourself what you like and don''t like. Don''t ask everyone else, cause everyone has a slightly different opinion. Personally I use Assembler and DirectX. Although I think I''ll go to C++ but just use a lot of assembler for most anything that pertains to speed.

Good luck!
See ya,
Ben

Thanks guys.
Your the only people who have been making any sense around here!