In the Rogue Spear Database forums there has been a bug argument over the best language. I have heard things like C++ is dead. I may be a newcomer but I haven''t heard anything about it being dead, especially since almost everyone uses it to make games with. Am I correct in assuming that Visual Basic is easier to use than C++ but it is slower and not good for complex games. Also, I have heard C# is a combination of C/C++ and VB. Is that true? Please help because I have no experience with VB or C#. Thanks

>>I have heard things like C++ is dead.

LOL. Undoubtedly said by a non-programmer. Not true.

>>Am I correct in assuming that Visual Basic is easier to use than C++ but it is slower and not good for complex games

That depends on your definition of easier. I would say C++ is easier to use for many things that VB is a pain in the ass for, and vice-versa. But officially VB is a RAD business tool. Borland''s C++ has a RAD environment, but overall C++ is not really considered a RAD tool.

>>Also, I have heard C# is a combination of C/C++ and VB

Interesting. Never heard of it. But if I want the ease of a RAD environment with the near-speed of C++, I use Delphi. If you''re a beginner you may want to check it out.

>>Also, I have heard C# is a combination of C/C++ and VB. Is that true? Please help because I have no experience with VB or C#.

Currently C# is only used in the .Net framework, which is in a beta stage.. and for what i''ve heard its still pretty slow.

C# is compiled into an intermediate language, which is then stored on the disk. When you run it, it get''s compiled into machine code.. so theoretically you could get the same perfomance(ithink

i think that if you would ask MS it would be their goal to have games made in C#, but if it ever will happend i dont know...

oh yeah heres my opinion on VB:
Forget about VB if you wanna make games its too slow...
you will waste time learning how to use directX in VB, and then having to learn it over again in C++...

>> I have heard things like C++ is dead.

Well, a language is dead when no one uses it anymore. A quick look at GameDev''s articles or forums might give you a clue on whether it''s dead or not

>> Am I correct in assuming that Visual Basic is easier to use than C++ but it is slower and not good for complex games.

I would say VB is easier to start doing pretty things with. It might also look considerably slower because unlike with C or C++, you can choose to write "quick and dirty" code. That''s a strong feature of VB that people often consider as a con. Well-optimized VB code will run just as fine as C++ code, except in some specific fields where some of VB''s limitations will result in performance slowdowns.

>> you will waste time learning how to use directX in VB, and then having to learn it over again in C++...

Uh... DirectX being an API, I don''t really see how you''d have to learn it over again in C++... it''s like saying that even when you use the Win32 API in VB, you have to learn it over again when you move to C++...

As for whether VB is a wise choice for making games, all I can say is that I wrote a few games, and enjoyed working on all of them whether I used VB, C or Asm to write them. Also, my experience in VB game programming was very helpful when I moved to C and Asm. Just remember that performance improvement comes at the cost of longer development times, no matter what language you use.

C++ is not dead. That''s all I have to say on that.

I think C++ is already compiled into an intermediate language already (when using MSVC++) as both C++ and VB use the same compiler (shock horror). And since exes made by VC++ require a few runtimes, then it is probably already in an intermediate language (depending on your definition)

So probably C# is using a similar compiler, since it can mix C++ and VB code with ease I believe.

But this is not fact... this is me speculating... so don''t quote me... I said don''t.

Trying is the first step towards failure.

First of all, I would like to hear who said "C++ is Dead". I don''t know of any better language to do the complex jobs than C/C++ does. Every respectable game on the market was made in C/C++. Apps and Utilities are almost all made in C/C++. I use C++! So Unless some guy heard of D++++ and is holding out on us, What kinda drug are you on bud.

Hmm... wouldn''t that intermediate language you''re talking about be assembly by any chance ? I''m not 100% sure on this, but it would make sense that high-level code (this includes C, C++ and VB as well) gets translated into assembly code, then into an OBJ file, and finally linked into an executable. Maybe Visual C++ skips the assembly part and directly generates OBJ files, but the disassembly feature of MSVC is performing too well for me to believe so.

>> And since exes made by VC++ require a few runtimes, then it is probably already in an intermediate language

Just because a program requires a "runtime" (I don''t really like that name, it''s too ambiguous) doesn''t mean it''s an interpreted or intermediate language. The fact is, *ALL* programs require runtimes, as they can''t run without DLLs such as kernel32.dll or shell32.dll. If there was a new version of Windows each time a new Visual Studio version is out, infamous runtimes such as msvbvm60.dll or msvcrt60.dll would be included within Windows, and *nobody* would notice them. Also, ever since VB 5.0 is out, the VB runtime files acts just like any other DLL, providing a batch of functions for the programs written in VB to use. That was just to clear a few things up

Grr... I hate IE ! anyway, that last anonymous post was from me.

Thanks for the help. I didn''t think C++ was dead but I wondered if there was any reason for the guy to say it. I just didn''t want to open my mouth and talk about something I know little about. I am working on a 2d top down view tank game using DX7 and C. I am mostly modifying and adding to source code from a few of Andre LaMothe''s demo games. I really like programming but it seems as if it will take forever to learn. I guess it just takes time.

Yes, C++ is dead. COBOL is the new favorite. everyone must use COBOL!

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