I strongly recommend you start with a simple programming language such as Pascal, so later you could understand C++ better.
I''m not a veteran in C++, but I have been programming in Pascal for the last 3 years and now that i''m learning C++ it''s easier to understand it!
Sure, you can start with C++, but it will be more difficult to understand what is each thing for... (C++ is somehow like Pascal, but with other command lines)

Do whatever suits you best!

I totaly agree with outRider. You can get the DJGPP compiler and the "Allegro" library for free. That way you don''t have to learn directX(windows graphics) or Assembly(dos graphics) to just be able to plot pixels.

I totaly agree with outRider. You can get the DJGPP compiler and the "Allegro" library for free. That way you don''t have to learn directX(windows graphics) or Assembly(dos graphics) to just be able to plot pixels.

First off, you''re not too late to start programming. I started just 3 years ago and I''m already in the industry. (However, I''m not sure if I would have been able to do that working 60-70 hours a week... )

I learned programming in C, and I don''t know pascal to compare it to that, but it wasn''t a bad place to start. Especially since almost everything you''ll find on the internet is written in it.

If you want to program games, I''d learn C first. In my opinion, I think you can learn C++ later on in your career, whenever you can find time away from your C game programming.

Allegro is a really good place to start, (and is where I learned most of my early stuff), and just lately I moved on to openGL, and with NeHe tutorials, it turned out to be really easy. I wish I had started it much sooner.

Anyway, better get back to work...

quote: Original post by crazy-vasey

Your computers fine its quite a bit better than mine. Check out the coronado enterprises tutorials on my site they''re what I used to learn how to code.

Get the free Borland command line tools or Dev-C++. Borland www.borland.com Dev C++ www.bloodshed.net

C++ Builder is the compiler I use.

My Homepage

The Coronado tutorials? Aren''t those the ones where the author had downloads for the source and stuff and he asked for donations and he removed them because he wasn''t getting enough donations? I''ve been looking for those forever. I had the tutorials, but I didn''t have the answers and source downloaded. I''ll check it when I get home as I''m on a proxy here at work.


BeS
It's Da BOMB Baby!!!

quote:
Also, what should I invest in as far as hardware goes? I am currently running a Pentium III 500 MHz with 128 Mb RAM. So all I have is the computer, monitor, mouse and keyboard. Any other things recommended? What about backup? What do most of you use? I have nothing aside from my hard drive (12 Gig).

That computer will work fine (I used to do game programming on a PII 300 Mhz with 64 mb ram). Backup... In the beginning your games will fit onto a floppy disk

Wow, I like the computer! I started on an 8-year-old 286 that didn''t have a working 3-inch disk drive.

I think that, if it''s possible, you should find someone you know who already knows or wants to learn C++, because I think that having someone you can just call and ask questions is a great help. (Not even these forums could replace a real human )

Falden

I think I''m in the same boat as you are. I''m 20 years old and trying to learn game programming. I''m a college student attempting to get a COmp Sci degree and already finished taking Programming I and II but the professors NEVER taught the C language through a game programmer''s view ( hope the Comp Graphics I course is game-related..). Anyway, I strongly suggest you get the DJGPP and ALLEGRO tool since that''s the one I''m using too. It''s pretty simple to use and the commands are explained well, in fact I managed to make a SIMPLE, (i repeat) EXTREMELY SIMPLE HANDBALL game using that free software ( it took me 5 weeks to do it without using STRUCT, just using "if"''s and simple functions and some incomplete tutorial I found on the web). Hope my suggestion helped you out.

I got a Python program that was included with a Game Design book I bought. I heard its for video games and I was wondering if it is a good place for newbie programmers like me to start. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Devore, though I would love to jump in and start creating a game, I''m more into just being able to prgram well. Your reply does bring up a few questions I have such as- How do you attatch the code to the graphic of the ball and tell the computer to make it bounce off of the bat and the edges of the screen, also how do you link the bat graphic the the keyboard? I''m not trying to jump ahead of myself in asking these questions, I just know that all the extra info I can get ahead of time will really help me out. Thanks a lot!