Hi, I am brand new to the game development community. I am currently a Computer Engineer but I only work on web-based application. I am now venturing into the realms of game creation and have been completely astonished by the complexity involved. As a beginner what should I learn to cover the fundamentals of game programming, should I try to create a mod for a game like Half-Life or should I start simple by building my own 2d game? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

so you know you wont be able to make even the most basic 2d game for quite some time (in fact a long time). first you should choose a programming language such as c++, learn everything bout that. once youve read bout 700 pages of info on that you will be able to display text under dos. thats it! then you need to learn how to program under windows and then after reading another book learn direct x to do 2d games. after reading 3000 pages you will be able to make a basic 2d game. good luck and go to the new start here link

I would recommend starting out by purchasing 2 particular types of books, rather than scrubbing through pages of tutorials that mightn''t teach you what you want to learn immediately.

First, get a hold of an André Lamothe book; they seem to be really great books for beginner DirectX programmers. "Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus" and "Windows Game Programming for Dummies" are about the two best that I''ve heard of for beginners.

Second, try to find a book that you can use as a reference manual for your language of choice. If you are going with C++ (and this is recommended) then look for "Object Oriented Programming in C++" by Waite Group Press. It''s what I used in college, it''s what I recommend.

Try making small example programs, and don''t worry about innovation for now. You have the basics of programming from your web development, so you should know how to write event-driven applications (which is important in games IMO).

Read as much as you can, try things out (even if it seems as though it''s a waste of time), and eventually you will be able to think in game-code.


MatrixCubed
http://MatrixCubed.org

web game: Does that mean you make like: text based online games like utopia and earth and the such?

so, what types of info would you recommend for a 16 year old kid that is already 200k dollars in the hole? Obviously I cant go and buy a book, and if you tell me to steal it, I will get really pissed off. People say its too early for me to learn programming, but I really really want to learn c++, beucase ive been interested in video games my whole entire life. got my nintendo when I was like 4 years old.

At this point in time, I dont know a single thing, I dont even know what c++ stands for. So I need one of those beginer books for newbie beginers.

ANY SUGGESTIONS??

Pindergust Lightheart
Tribes/starcraft: MASTER
Clan Leader: ~Young Blood~

-=you only get 1 chance, make life count=-

kid, don''t listen to ''em!
i started learning how to program when i was 8 years old...
it was WORTH IT.
just play around, have fun, try everything...
download a C++ compiler, screw around with it. start a simple project. anything, doesn''t matter. think of a simple idea for a game.
start with a guessing game or something, like hangman. and just go from there...
it''s hard, there''s a lot of material to go through before you really have an understanding of how the computer works, but i was programming my Amiga when I was 16, and now i''m 20 and have been working professionally in C++ for 3 years... it paid off.

so its most definatly not too early for me to start learning c++ huh? I heard it was the most used for makeing video games, and I love video games. YOu must be some sort of genius eh?

Somebody e-mailed me on this message I wrtoe: and he said, you need a few things to begin learning. A compiler, a friend, a book, and TIME. Beucase if you expect to learn it in a weekend, you are strongly mislead and you may just crumble beucase you think you cant do it.

I wish I was introduced to this stuff when I was only 8. Becuase my mind was very active and wanted to learn stuff then. but now its like: stop showing me stuff, I dont care. I am going to force my 8 year old brother into this, he reads as fast as most high schoolers, but hes not putting it to good use yet.

Pindergust Lightheart
Tribes/starcraft: MASTER
Clan Leader: ~Young Blood~

-=you only get 1 chance, make life count=-

Hi
Let me get one thing straight! You do NOT need to read 700 pages just to write some text in dos using C++... I''ve been a teacher in C++, and I would gladly help you! Game-programming is actually the hardest thing to do!!!

Then secondly, do NOT choose DirectX as your API, it sucks! Use OpenGL, the code is well written, and you''ll get some great projects up and running in no time!

I''d say about 200-250 pages of C++ should do the job, but then ofcourse you would need to learn more C++ with time, as your demands to your game increases...BUT 700 PAGES JUST FOR THE BASIC!!! NO WAY!!!

Email me if you''ll need help!

Best regards
Roquqkie

Cool thanks for the advice everyone. Currently I am 200 pages into C++ Primer Plus by Waite Group and am learning alot. I have Game Programming gems ordered as well as two basic game programming books. I have yet to learn any of the API''s but I now have a good understanding of how to use the basics of them. I''ll keep everyone posted on what is helping me so far. Thanks again.

heh, bad teacher then

quote: Original post by Pindergust
so, what types of info would you recommend for a 16 year old kid that is already 200k dollars in the hole? Obviously I cant go and buy a book, and if you tell me to steal it, I will get really pissed off. People say its too early for me to learn programming, but I really really want to learn c++, beucase ive been interested in video games my whole entire life. got my nintendo when I was like 4 years old.

I started learning C/C++ 6 years ago when I saw 10 (i.e. I''m 16 now) and have it down very well now. So being 16 means you''re more than ''old'' enough to figure it out. Try sites like cplusplus.com (C++), cprogramming.com (C++), and/or http://www.graylab.ac.uk/doc/tutorials/C/ (C) for some information about C/C++.

There are lots of free compilers for C/C++ on the internet. Look for DJGPP, MingW (DevC++ 4 is at bloodshed.net and uses it), Borland C++ 5.5 (Borland.com, find VIDE for an IDE for the free version), and many more.

"Finger to spiritual emptiness underlying everything." -- How a C manual referred to a "pointer to void." --Things People Said

http://druidgames.cjb.net/