ok to start off im pretty new to the programming aspect of computers, im 15 and have been a solid gamer since maybe 7 or so. I just got Visual C++ 6 and i have no clue how to start off! i''ve got quite a few online resources and tutorials to help me out since i dont have the funds to go and buy books (there about $60 and up and i dont have a job yet so yea) I''ve read through about 3 chapters of every Visual C++ online/downloaded book i could find and after a while they just start to ramble on and on about stuff i dont really think i need to know so if anyone has an idea of where i should start please help me! I really wanna start building games, and i understand most of the language i''ve gone through its just i have no clue how to start bluiding a game up... if any of this makes any sense to the ppl here then congrats! sorry if i''ve been babling on and on

How do I make games? A Path to Game Development.

~~~~~~~~~~
Martee

If you do not know C/C++ yet, you should buy a book or two on it. Really, try forgetting about games and focus mainly on learning the language. You will get to make games, but you can't just jump write into them. Buy a good book, and read it very carefully (re-read sections you don't understand, and only read a little each day as to let stuff sink in). Make sure to try or do whatever examples or exercises the book has in it. After learning C++, you will still not be able to make any graphic games. You will need to learn an API like DirectX or something. But it's best not to think of that right now, and just focus mainly on learning C++.

EDIT: Just remembered the part of your post that said you couldn't afford books. Well, another alternative would be to try and rent books from a library or something. Then you wouldn't have to pay so much, but the amount of books available would probably be less. There are also online tutorials on C/C++ as well. Do a search on C/C++ in a search engine. Although online tutorials usually don't cover as much or are as good as books, but there are good ones out there.

I hope I was of any help. Please let me know if you still have questions.

Edited by - Midnight Coder on August 16, 2001 10:04:08 PM

Well i finaly thought for a second about what i was doing and found some good books at the library and started reading the "Learn Visual Basic in 24 days" and am on my way
sorry for asking a stupid question withought thinking about it first thanks for the help anyways

Are you sure you picked up the right book? I thought you said you were using Visual C++... why then did you pickup a book on Visual Basic? Those are two totally different languages. I would suggest you stick to C/C++ as VB has some limitation to what it can do, and C is more or less a gaming standard.

http://www.bruceeckel.com has a few online books on C++ freely available for download (I was especially grateful for the parts about STL, since none of my books at home covers them!)

/Ksero

OMG!!!
ok first off i did pick up the learning Visual C++6 in 21 days (not Visual Basic remember i wrote that at about 11 last night) and secondly i stayed up till maybe 4 last night working on it... i need more coffee... i love programming but its a pain when youre learning

thanks for the site Ksero it really helped :D

Oh and Xorcist i just got a little confused, i've programmed in Visual Basic before and the excercizes for the first few things were the same so i got a little confused... try not to forget im only 15 and was reading how to books for over 12 hours yesterday (NO LIE)

Edited by - Sephiroth_987 on August 17, 2001 10:24:02 AM