I am a beginner in game programming. I want to make simple games that do not require any plug-ins, video card, etc. You know, easy to play on any computer. Does OpenGL entail any complexities? I mean, can a typical openGL game be played on a low config. PC? If No, then what API programming language would be good for me to learn in this case?

Of course it can. Just stay away from extensions if you are that bent on super low end.

OpenGL can run on every 486 PC and up (well, I'm not sure how far back you can, but since OpenGL utilizes 32-bit I took a guess ;-)), but you should beware that it can only do so, because it runs in software mode if hardware accelerated OpenGL does not exist (but that was only common like 5-10 years ago), which normally leaves you with a couple of fps (frames per second).
But that's normally only an issue when you command an unaccelerated extension (like using VBO's on a GeForce :-P).
You can always see what extensions the current card has by calling glGetString(GL_EXTENSIONS).

The general rule is also that anything you can make with Direct3D (DirectX is a set of API's, not just a graphics API) you can also do with OpenGL (which is ONLY a graphics API).

What do you mean by plugins? You mean libraries? You will need a video card to do mostly anything with your PC :-)

I'd say go try SDL, it can do 2D and you can use OpenGL with it and it will run almost everywhere.

OpenGL is practically useless on a PC without hardware acceleration.

Quote:

Original post by qesbit What do you mean by plugins? You mean libraries?

I think he refers to stuff you have to install on your computer before it will work, like direct x and such.

OpenGL should come by default on windows NT 4, windows 98 and above(there is a pach for it to run on win 95 allso).
IT should allso be included in most mac and linux systems to, but i am a little bit in the dark on those syatems so i leave it to someone else to explain.
No other software is required besides your graphics card drivers (but without them nothing works).

Quote:

Original post by qesbit OpenGL is practically useless on a PC without hardware acceleration.

But so is allso pretty mutch anything else.


OpenGL is by far the easiest and most scalable graphics API out there.

[Edited by - lc_overlord on February 27, 2005 7:02:23 AM]