I've been dabbling in different tutorials, books, and lessons exploring programming from C++, Java, and Python. I've toyed with Unity and made simple rooms out of the premade stuff in UDK, but I have yet to sit down and...."start".

I recently picked up two books Learn C++ in 24 Hours, and Beginning Guide to C++ Game Programming (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0672333317/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1/184-2141171-6759905?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=0Z2RA9CZKBD6DVYA81FX&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_i=0672315165 / http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Programming-Premier-Press-Development/dp/1592002056/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1318866006&sr=8-2)

I'm going though the lessons at a steady pace, but I just don't "see" a result. I'm in my freshman year of college, and I have time to adjust my major (currently Digtal Media and Arts), and while I enjoy math and the logic of programming, I'm not seeing an end result to making a game.

Then again, I've had more luck googling "Pong in C++" than any book.

My question is simply this. While I know I shouldn't ask "What should I do?", because only I know that, I have the urge to ask "Where should I go?" Going to a library or a book store and seeing this same...stopping point. It's odd.

The trick is, I'm not interested in software development. At all. I'd want to apply this knowledge to games first, software second.

And someone says "Games are software, silly."

If someone has been in my shoes and knows of a way out, I'm listening. Until then, I'll push though, and maybe I'll see something I like.

Not sure why you are dismissive of "[color="#1C2837"]And someone says "Games are software, silly."
[color="#1C2837"]
[color="#1C2837"]They are. Frankly if you don't get any enjoyment or rush out of coding, it might be the wrong thing for you to do. Reality is, games are a lot of hard work and a big part of that hard work is programming.
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[color="#1C2837"]From what I have read from your comment though, you haven't actually "done" anything yet. Abstract tutorials from books are all good and well for teaching concepts, but they aren't exactly satisfying. Why don't you actually "do" something? Take your example of "Pong in C++" that you Googled and run with it. I've written an incomplete but incredibly detailed tutorial on creating Pong in C++, run through it from beginning till... erm, well not the end... but you get the idea. Since it's incomplete you can use it as an exercise to finish the game off ( add sound, another player, etc... ). After that, take what you've learned and create another simple game.
[color="#1C2837"]
[color="#1C2837"]If after that you still aren't enjoying the process or nothing is sticking, try Unity again. It might be the details you don't enjoy and Unity abstracts away a lot of that process. If at this point you still don't enjoy it, perhaps it's time to reassess your career options.
[color="#1C2837"]
[color="#1C2837"]Oh, and stick with it for a while... as I said, it's not an easy task and if you give up early you are doomed to failure.

[color="#1c2837"]From what I have read from your comment though, you haven't actually "done" anything yet. Abstract tutorials from books are all good and well for teaching concepts, but they aren't exactly satisfying. Why don't you actually "do" something? Take your example of "Pong in C++" that you Googled and run with it. I've written an incomplete but incredibly detailed tutorial on creating Pong in C++, run through it from beginning till... erm, well not the end... but you get the idea. Since it's incomplete you can use it as an exercise to finish the game off ( add sound, another player, etc... ). After that, take what you've learned and create another simple game.
[color="#1c2837"]

Alright, I'll give it a shot when I can.
And you are right, I actually haven't "done" anything yet, but everything I've read hasn't seemed to enough, for me, anyway.

I'm not asking for a book to spoon feed me, I just feel like I'm hitting an odd gap where I've done a lot of following and no leading.

I have yet to sit down and...."start".
...
I'm going though the lessons at a steady pace, but I just don't "see" a result. I'm in my freshman year of college, and I have time to adjust my major (currently Digtal Media and Arts), and while I enjoy math and the logic of programming, I'm not seeing an end result to making a game.
...
My question is simply this. While I know I shouldn't ask "What should I do?", because only I know that, I have the urge to ask "Where should I go?" Going to a library or a book store and seeing this same...stopping point. It's odd.

The trick is, I'm not interested in software development. At all. I'd want to apply this knowledge to games first, software second.

And someone says "Games are software, silly."

If someone has been in my shoes and knows of a way out, I'm listening. Until then, I'll push though, and maybe I'll see something I like.

You are right, games are software.

If you choose programming for your career you will be expected to work with code every workday for 7 or more hours daily. You will be expected to tinker. You will be expected to try many things and fail at them quickly as you experiment. And you will do this for a few decades.


Being passionate about games is VERY different from being passionate about making games.

It's like the difference in being passionate about auto races vs being passionate about being an auto mechanic. Or wanting to travel the world looking at the tallest buildings vs designing those buildings vs building those buildings.

Being passionate about the end result is one thing. Being passionate about the process is another thing entirely.




If this were a case of someone who enjoyed tinkering with software and programming but simply lost interest temporarily, that would be different.


You don't even seem to have the impetus to start, let alone a passionate drive.


It looks like this isn't something you are passionate about.

Are you passionate not just about playing games, but instead passionate for the process of making games? Are you passionate about tinkering with rule sets, such as the paper versions of D&D or M:tG or other systems where you physically manipulate everything and run the rules yourself?

Find some things you are passionate about, and follow them.

If you aren't passionate about programming, better to change course now than after spending the money on a degree and spending years in a field you hate.

[quote="Serapth"]Not sure why you are dismissive of "And someone says "Games are software, silly."[/quote]
Perhaps the OP implied "application software", as opposed "game software"?

Moving this to the Lounge.

[quote="Serapth"]Not sure why you are dismissive of "And someone says "Games are software, silly."

Perhaps the OP implied "application software", as opposed "game software"?
[/quote]

This is a valuable lesson most new developers need to learn at some point... application software and game software, when you look up their skirt, have basically the exact same bits...

Sorry for the pervo analogy.

Software is the code modern day magicians use to manifest the hidden world. It is the arcana mathematica. Songs to the computer gods, awakening them from their slumber, powered by quantum physics and pure mathematics. It's breadth and depth is only a reflection of your own. Like any piece of art it reflects more the artists than the subject. What do you want to create? and Why? Those are your questions.

Kinda overly poetic but you get the gist, learning anything can be boring, be it painting, playing an instrument, dancing, etc.. It's your drive, desire and determination which gets you through the "boring" parts and then you start to make real progress. Like anything it takes about 10 years to master but if it's your passion it can take as little as 1-2 years.

Good Luck!

-ddn

Then again, if you're the creative type and cannot get into the programming aspect at all and still want to make (relatively simple, but far from trivial) games, there are tools for achieving that objective also. Search for "game maker" and its ilk. Mind you, they impose their own methods of doing things which you might find limiting but some of those tools are pretty decent.

[quote name='Confirm4Crit' timestamp='1318866314' post='4873493']
I have yet to sit down and...."start".
...
I'm going though the lessons at a steady pace, but I just don't "see" a result. I'm in my freshman year of college, and I have time to adjust my major (currently Digtal Media and Arts), and while I enjoy math and the logic of programming, I'm not seeing an end result to making a game.
...
My question is simply this. While I know I shouldn't ask "What should I do?", because only I know that, I have the urge to ask "Where should I go?" Going to a library or a book store and seeing this same...stopping point. It's odd.

The trick is, I'm not interested in software development. At all. I'd want to apply this knowledge to games first, software second.

And someone says "Games are software, silly."

If someone has been in my shoes and knows of a way out, I'm listening. Until then, I'll push though, and maybe I'll see something I like.

(Edited Quote)

Being passionate about games is VERY different from being passionate about making games.

It's like the difference in being passionate about auto races vs being passionate about being an auto mechanic. Or wanting to travel the world looking at the tallest buildings vs designing those buildings vs building those buildings.

Being passionate about the end result is one thing. Being passionate about the process is another thing entirely.

It looks like this isn't something you are passionate about.

Are you passionate not just about playing games, but instead passionate for the process of making games? Are you passionate about tinkering with rule sets, such as the paper versions of D&D or M:tG or other systems where you physically manipulate everything and run the rules yourself?

Find some things you are passionate about, and follow them.

If you aren't passionate about programming, better to change course now than after spending the money on a degree and spending years in a field you hate.
[/quote]

I love to think of ideas. I am constantly designing ideas, writing out documents, coming up with legitimate ideas. I love to figure out why players do or don't like something, I love the art and science behind the games.

But that sentence makes me sound like the idea guy. I don't have an army of programmers, artists, and composers. I want to get involved in game design, and I love math. This seems like a great idea.
The thing is, I don't want to be the guy sitting and coding, I want to be the guy designing and coding.
I don't want to make software, I want to make games. Games just happen to be software.
I seem to get a 50/50 response when I say this.
"You gotta know programming to get a job in game design."
"No you don't, you just need to be a creative leader"
I don't know, if you magically gave me a development studio, I think I could lead it into a powerful and successful title.

I just don't think that's how the world works right now.