hello everyone my name is Josh and i''m 21 from brooklyn ny. I just bought the "Zen of Direct3D programming" by peter walsh. I''m very new to c++ and was wondering if there was any truth behind the words of many game developers where they say that no prerequisite of the c++ language is needed. Sounds like a great line to get n0obs like me to buy the book and expect to be developing games by the end of the last chapter. Time and money is very limited to me for the fact that i''m married and have a child. Any advice on what steps i should take in the career of game development? How long has it taken you guys to learn enough to profit from your knowlege? thanx in advance to any response. -face ============================= you laugh at us because we''''re different, we laugh at you because your all the same... =============================

I have this book. Currently i am reading it, and i love it, because Peter Walsh explains not only code, but theory as well. it isn''t boring, and, you could get away with doing what is in the book without knowing c++. HOWEVER, do yourself a favor, and learn the language. It makes it easy to understand why it is he does things. Otherwise, all you are learnig is how to copy code, and that''s not cool.

Tpics covered in the book include:

Using the GDI
creating a window
creating a pong clone
creating a font engine
a sprite engine

Then it starts getting into 3d stuff, and talks about matrixes, vectors, magnitudes, cameras, the whole enchilada. Only one chapter is devoted to talking about directinput, (as you need a way to access the sample engine that he walks you through the creation process of). So if you wanted a book on DIrectX in general, i would suggest going with something else.

Otherwise, rock on. DOn''t expect to learn c++ fom it, though.

Learn C++, its easy to learn and fast to use!
And then start thinking the games way...

_________________________________________________________________________
Can someone be nice and help me on my way to be the next Hideo Kojima? Thought So...

I just recently picked up that book as well. At the end you will be able to create some very basic Direct3D applications but nothing that could pass as a commercial game.

But if you can memorize the stuff in that book, it will speed up the development process later down the road.

My suggestion if you want to get into game development quick is start out small. Get some small 2D puzzle\action games published using the spare time you have (if any) and work your way up to the cool 3D game later.

That's what i'm trying to do.

I really suggest you learn C++ if you plan on being a game developer. If you know C, C++ should be a snap to pick up.

Good luck becoming a game developer. It's a goal of mine as well.

How much ass is it going to kick when your kid can say to his friends: "My dad made that game."
=)

[edited by - caffeine on June 14, 2002 6:05:53 PM]

You definately need to learn c++ first. Class''s, pointers, references are things you need to know fairly well. If you dont have a lot of money dont worry about it, there''s plenty of tutorials everywhere. But I do recommend you buy visual c++ 6.0, having a good compiler is important I think.

hey thanx for the replys guys....i just bought a c++ primer today i think i''ll run throught that book first then go over and pick up the Direct3D book again...

-face

=============================
you laugh at us because we''''re
different, we laugh at you
because your all the same...
=============================