I think it is important to consider why you are writing a game in the first place. Also consider the type of game. If you want to get a job in the game industry, consider what is being used in most commercial games, and consider what skills you have that you want to demonstrate. If you want to demonstrate a strong level of knowledge in OOP, consider Java, or maybe C++, but with C++ you might show a LACK of knowledge in OOP unless you are indeed really good. If you want to write graphics engines, then demonstrate an engine that has a high frame rate using DirectX, with C or C++. If you are just messing around on your own as a hobby and have no ''higher'' aspirations than blowing off steam, use some highly abstracted language with a canned game engine, consider also VB, PowerBuilder or Delphi. I personally want to write cross-platform networking code, so I will use Java for now rather than relying on some flavor-of-the-week networking library. I use C and C++ at work, but I think Java is growing. Sun''s JVM is slow as heck. Blackdown''s Linux port of the JDK appears to be even slower. However, there are MANY optimized JVM''s out there, using advanced compiler technology to speed things up. NO, I''m not talking about JIT ''compilers'', they aren''t that great either, there are better technologies that exist in the marketplace and many more under development. Java has rich API''s, and will, IMHO, have a substantial place in the gaming community of the future...

I use C++. I''m too object-oriented to use C. About VB or Java for games, I think it''s fine if you''re writing turn based or some other "slow" game like that, but I don''t think VB or Java is fast enough for 3D games. Not that I''ve tried...

C++, i find it an easier way to "think" about the game in terms of objects

yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift... -TapRoot

AIM screen name: StarCraftIsEvil

I use C++ here at work (Borland C++ Builder) and Borland Delphi at home. Which do I prefer? Delphi. It has all the object-oriented features of C++ combined with code that is a lot cleaner and easier to read. Build times leave C/C++ in the dust. Conversions of all the major and many not so major libraries are available for Delphi.


Steve 'Sly' Williams
Tools Developer
Krome Studios

I use VB and with current computers (300mhz->) and DirectX it IS fast enough , though I'm not so certain of getting a decent job with a knowledge of that language.

Edited by - Zombie on October 25, 2000 3:16:40 AM

You CAN get decent frame rates with VB (at 640x480 I get 450fps in the game I''m making - and that''s not optimised yet but looks pretty cool) I''m using D3DIM by the way.
About the job thing... correct - nobody in the games industry wants VB coders.
Also, VB does some things in a very ugly way. Others are not possible at all. (like fast management of big chunks of data)

All in all, I''d say go for it if you''re doing a small to medium sized game. For anything else, use something else.
I''m no good at C++ yet so I can''t recommend anything out of first hand experience...

JQ

And then he sings...

Perhaps, if we started our own company coding VB games, we could get jobs

I have to put my input in. I''m writing my engine (v2.1) in C++, with DirectX. I''m using a lot of C-style and Asm-style code to speed it up though.

Null and Void
At least I don't know COBOL...
http://www.crosswinds.net/~druidgames/

I program in assembly language. I use OpenGL and rewrite my own lib functions. I use OpenGL because DirectX is a pain in the buttcheaks to program in with assembly.

Yeah, most microsoft things aren''t meant to be messed with (as in using anything except the built in libraries). I personally think that OpenGL is easier to develope with, not to say it is more powerful (I hate those debates more often than not).

Null and Void
At least I don't know COBOL...
http://www.crosswinds.net/~druidgames/