I am a beginning programmer, creating my first game. It is a tetris clone, programmed in Liberty BASIC. My problem is that I haven''t the slightest idea how to start it or what functions or, basically, anything I''ll need. Help me PLEASE!!!

I feel so sorry because i have make a lot of mistake in my type writing. I don't know why the word inside the tag is disappear. Never mind. My question is:-
1. what is #include < windows.h > and #include < mmsystem.h > ?
2. hwnd=CreateWindow(0,NAME,TITLE,WS_POPUP,0,0,GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSCREEN),GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSCREEN),NULL,NULL,hInstance,NULL);
a. what is hwnd ? A keyword or variable name?
b. can you explain to me each component inside that statement ? If cannot, tell me which book do you prefer to me can get the answer. Is it relate to directX ?

I'm feel so sorry to ask this because didn't learn any directX, directdraw, directsound and so on.
In college teacher didn't teach me any things of this. My friend also don't have interest with this. So the only way to get help is from Internet. I hope you can explain to me. If you cannot explain, tell me which book is better choice to read. I will find this book.

KOK@HOE

Edited by - HuaHsin on September 19, 2001 12:14:07 AM

Before you do anything else I would strongly suggest you look here for some tips.


YAP-YFIO

-deadlinegrunt

DOH!

Edited by - deadlinegrunt on September 19, 2001 12:29:34 AM

I cannot link to your tips site. Are you mising part of the code?

KOK@HOE

Ok... here goes...

New programmer number one:
I''ve never even heard of Liberty Basic... but I''ll assume it''s not just a freeware BASIC interpreter.

Aaaanyways, what I suggest to you is look at all the things you''ll need your Tetris Clone to do. Write them out in pseudocode, this is basically a list of the tasks in the order they''ll need to be performed. There are standard ways to do this, but if it''s for your own use then do whatever works...
Secondly... you sound as if you don''t quite know your language of choice yet... so learn it. Each problem has multiple solutions, and your first game isn''t going to use the most optimal ones. Learn from this experience, and build on it. And don''t forget to show it off to all your friends!!!

New programmer number two:
None of the things you''ve listed are to do with DirectX, but all are to do with windows. The two #include directives tell the compiler to read the contents of those files before continuing...
HWND is a type specified I think in windows.h, and contains a Window Handle, and lastly that''s the statement you call to fill the window handle with the relative contents... I suggest you look up some tutorials on the internet on win32 programming before going any further... if you don''t know what an #include directive is... you''ve still got a ways to go.

Thank you deadlinegrunt ! Im very appreciate to you. But it seem dosen''t make any effect on me. Im so sorry. I still don''t understand about the statements. I don''t know where to put the code inside my program? I didn''t see the output? Don''t have output I can''t get the idea. I think I should have some pratical class Is it develop by using Microsoft Visual C++? Im now learning C++. Should I have to learn the things about DirectX and Direct somethings else after learning or during learning in C++(not Microsoft Visual C++)?

This is the problem Im facing now. Hope you can help me. Can you introduce some book which is good choice to learn that?

KOK@HOE

Thank you MiNDHiVE. Im just a student and not a programmer
OK back to my question.

1. I know the #include. Can MiNDHiVE tell me that command coming from which language. So I can get the idea from that point. Do you mean that Win32 programming is the one from Microsoft Visual C++? I found out in the option project tag.

2. Why the forum Help with 's clrscr(); can not post and reply?

3. Can anyone teach me how to make a topic like yours. I have so many question to ask. So I can store the information in my topic as a reference.

KOK@HOE

Edited by - HuaHsin on September 20, 2001 1:29:18 AM

Edited by - HuaHsin on September 20, 2001 1:32:12 AM

fellow malaysian....hehe... (r u west malaysian??)

i think u should start with the basics first, first, to clear things up, Microsoft Visual C++ is a compiler, which u use to compile and build programmes, and it uses C++ (MSVC++ is just the name of the compiler)
C++ is the code u use to programme these programmes (and of course, numerous other apps)

u don''t need to worry about windows programming or directx for now, start with win32 console apps (do that by silecting windows console programme in the new projects screen in VC++) which is simpler and can give u a good start in C++ programming

also, if u live near KL or any big city, it won''t be a problem getting books on C++ (try ''Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days'')
but the books could be very expensive, unless it is printed in Singapore



Error C0000: No dirty 4 letter words allowed

-=Idiot of the Net=-

HuaHsin,

I believe that the best way to learn game programming is to buy Windows Game Programming for Dummies by Andrew Lamothe, and work through it. It is a very good book, and it is where I started.

There are some other books by Andrew Lamothe, and they are in the book section of Gamedev. He is a very good writer, and you''ll be amazed at how much you''ll learn.

Good luck to you,
Lucas

HuaHsin, it might be wise to take an English course or something. You do have to read books.

Also, by asking the questions like those you''ve posted, it shows that you have little, if not none at all, knowledge of programming in C/C++.

Get yourself a book that gets teaches it right the first time. I recommend C++ From the Ground Up by Herbert Shildt. If you''re looking into win32 programming, you can get Windows 2000 Programming From the Ground Up by the same author. There are better books out there, but I find that his books are easier to refer to when having problems.