Hi, 2 of my friends and I have decided we''re going to make a game . We are pretty new to the programming world, but we would like to learn what to do before coding the game. Currently we are just sketching some drawings/maps of the enemies and stuff in the game and are looking for some help on anything. It is going to be a game based on Medieval Times and will be online (nobody plays single player now). I know it''s kinda big for people who don''t even know VB or C++ yet but we were thinking we were gonna start off by trying to make easy things (betcha they aren''t) like minesweeper and the likes before we actaully code the thing. My idea is we make a little island with some stuff on it and see if we can log into it and just run around and talk, then add more stuff as we learn, expand the map and then try and be rich bums . Just kidding, but all help would be appreciated. Also were going to high school next year, is there any classes we should DEFINENTLY take? The high school I''m going to has some very good computer classes and if it would be more easier I could post up the classes when I get my option sheets. Thanks - Scythe PS. I also rock at HTML and webpage making. If any of you need any questions about HTML or webpage design email me. I know a lot about computers considering I''m only 13 years old. I don''t wanna hear no, "You''re to young to program", blah blah blah and stuff like that please

It should probably be a good idea to take all the computer classes that you can. Physics isnt a bad idea either.

it sounds like a good idea for a game, but it will take a huge amount of work to get it off the ground.

since you are using VB, it should be easier for making windows programs.

- Moe -

ps - if you are in dire need of crappy artwork, dont be afraid to e-mail me at rcjbvermilion@hotmail.com

DONT USE VB!!!

If you don''t know VB or C++ yet, start with C++. Get MSVC++6 and learn it from a book such as Teach yourself Visual C++ in 21 Days(a very good place to start). If you learn BASIC first, as I did, it will be excruciating trying to make the switch to C/C++. I say this with all due respect, as I was stupid enough to work with VB for years.

VB has a problem. Here it is. When you make even a simple program, it doesn''t actually compile it like C++. It stores the code in a special file, and you distribute certain DLL''s with it. If you don''t understand, don''t worry, keep reading.

These DLLs run each line of code individually by hand, so it has to stop and compile each line of code EVERY TIME YOU RUN THE PROGRAM! This results in WAY WAY SLOW performance.

-Ben Bean Dog Dilts

Thanks, we have pretty much everything to make things for the game, but I was wondering, is there any good way in Paint Shop Pro 6 to make landscape tiles/sprites because I really don''t have the money to buy some 800$ graphics program. Also what would be a good height/width for the tiles?

Scythe

You can perhaps use Wally, it''s a program made specificly for making textures in FPS. But as textures are repetetive, they go very well for tiles. At least for square tiles.

As for height/width of tiles: Any size that are a multiple of 2 is generally a good thing (because of the binary logic in computers).
I would recommend 32x32 pixels, for square tiles. If you want isometric view you could for example use 64 pixels in height.

BeanDog: I do a lot of VB programming and I think you''re wrong about the VB DLLs. I use VB6 and there''s a "full compile" option that''s really useful. Also, the normal "run" mode can be very useful to debug.

I recently began to program DirectX7 games with VB and I can''t see anything impossible. (I''m realistic so I''m learning C++ to get a chance to have a job in the game industry...) So I think VB is a good language for beginners.

alexk7

"nobody plays single player now"

Blah..that''s just bull! I know I do, and I bet I''m not the only one. Not everyone have unlimited access to the internet (not flatrate, which means a huge phone bill).

I''d have to recommend C++ or VB (and C over C++ while I''m at it). Especially if it''s your first language, C is probably the better to learn, and it tends to run faster. Let''s see.. what classes to take, take every single CS class your school offers, take lots of math(especially algebra and trig). Also take history classes and creative writing to help in the creation of your world and documents.
You may want to take Creative Accounting if your school offers it to help you become even richer.

I think you should start with c++(Read visual c++ for dummies it is a good book).c++ is fast, it is easy and it is fun!
and don't start with a REALL big project.
Think programming as a big house with allot of stairs and you can't just fly to the top you must WALK up to the top.
Good luck!
PS: i play allot singel player(it is fun)


James Bond


Edited by - Martin2 on 2/25/00 12:01:36 PM

i''m working on a wrestling game,and i was just writting the code,but it was turning into a crappy game,so i did something diffrent,i wrote notes on paper i wrote what i was going to put into the game it look a little like this.
WEAPONS
chair
table
tash can
ect
WRESTLERS
tazz
ddp
sabu
ect

write your ideas on paper then do coding it helps alot