Well, I got my first computer (trs-80) when I was
8, and started to play around with basic. Wouldnt
exactly call it studying though.

True, true...

But, why do you want to go head first in game programming?

An 8 year old and a computer can have a lot of fun. Especially if circumstances come about that the computer is a better thing than going out and getting shot in a neighborhood or having everyone pick on you in a extremely negative light.

I programmed on a Texas Instruments(don''t know what model or what), and, at age 8 wrote a music program that would play a song for approx 3 mins while a robot dance to it with neon lights flashing.


Anyhow, congrats on preparing to start now. Find that programming book mentioned and "Teach yourself c++ in 21 days" whcih you can find for free(and it''s everywhere to view) over the internet.

I ran a search on eBay and found a few other windows programming books < $10 USC. Included were, Teach yourself Visual c++ in 21 days, Tricks of the windows game programming gurus, and win32 sdk.

You can download a decent compiler thru borland c++ or over at www.bloodshed.com . They have the Dev-C++ compiler/IDE which a lot of people, not wanting to shell out $85.00 for Visual c++ 6.0 use. There are a few problems with this and DirectX together, but there are a lot of forusm across the net that can show you how to overcome this.

Stick with it all, and take as many math courses as possible. While you do that, and learn c++ and assembler, you should also do some searches thru Artificial Intelligence sites, as well as some networking stuff when you are ready. The AI stuff can be used while programming as basic methods will stick in your head!

Anyhow, that''s just a few things.

Take it easy, and very good for you starting out this early(watches out for the kid to make sure he doesn''t take his job in 4 years)

Hasta!

I highly doubt a 16 yearold old take your job...

Do u think a 16 year can work at Blizzard Entertainment and make StarCraft II?

If you care about her/him, you''''ll listen
If you love her/him, you''''ll heal his/her wounds
If you like her/him, you''''ll do all of the above, and help her/him in need

A person who cares is a person who never speaks

Thanks for all of your replies so far. And yes, I''ve STUIDIED programming and have programmed since 8. I got hooked after reading a magazine article a long time ago. And I got even more hooked on games when I was 10, by Starcraft. Now, I''m starting on a basic Tetris game, entitled "The Sky Will Fall!". I hope to become a succesful dude in this field.

Don''t know, maybe. (I typed this line in 4 sec.) Pretty fast for a 12 year old. Wouldn''t you say?

Typing gots nothing to with programming. MAny people are fast typers. What you need is a fast brain. (A BASIC tetris game or a basic tetris game?)

Well I applaud your bravery in starting early, good for you. But you have to accept the fact that there are things that only maturity can bring. Another thing, don''t let your head get too big too fast. 4 years is a good start but you need heck of a lot more experience, not even with games, but programming in general, and problem solving in general. In the process, there are things that only time can mold, responsibility, tactness, discretion, and "seriousness". I''m not saying you are not serious about pursuing your goal, its clear that you are determined, but I''m not sure you''re being realistic. But maybe you are you just need to slow down a bit and tackle things one by one and make sure you understand, not know. There are a lot of knowhows in programming, but its not what you know that makes you a good programmer. Its the disgretion you take when you solve a problem, the approach you take when implementing an algorithm, etc. If you say you want to be the best dude in this thing, well don''t just say it. Its good to start early but don''t forget, you have a long road to take. and 4 years of garage programming doesn''t mean crap when you stand up against the maturity of people who''ve written servers, operating systems, satellite tracking modules and the like. And even if you don''t need to program those beasts, you need to learn and understand a whole deal of storytelling, what makes and sells a good story, a good game. characters, plots, quatrinions, hidden surface algorithms, collision detection etc...man you''ve got work to do and knowing it doesn''t cut it. You need to understand the meat and use it as tools in creating or solving problems that are yet to be faced.

hey was that a good speech or what? well, dude, hooray for you but if you get your head too big too fast, you''re not going anywhere. knowing a lot of things is different from understanding simple things and using it effectively.

GL

I always give the same exact advice. Want to make games? Go make them You''ve already know some programming, maybe it''s the time to do your first game, some basic game you can finish in a week or so. Start it, but most importantly, finish it, and then go for a second, a third, and so.

If you need help with some difficult part of the development process, just post here your doubt and somebody will reply with help. Articles are very useful too, but if you want my little advice, work harder in trying to make finished projects than in reading about tons of stuff you won''t ever use at all.


--DK
--H. Hernán Moraldo
http://www.hhm.com.ar/
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