I currently own "the Zen of Direct3D Game Programming" and "Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus". Both books seem as exciting as heck, but I need something that explains all of the foundations of working DirectX 8 with Visual C++ 6.0... If I open opne of the projects from the CD and try to compile it, it works. If I try to hand code - copy the stuff from the book, it just won''t compile. I''m running Windows 2000, Direct X 8.1, and Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0. Anyone know of a great tutorial that goes into details on the various includes, resources, etc. need to get everything properly up and running? I have some experience with Visual Basic, but practically none in Visual C++. Any help would be greatly appreciated! The multiverse is sloppy... I just make it neat

I''m just getting started with game programming myself (and relearning C++ while I''m at it), so hopefully I can give you a bit of help from first-hand experience. I''m working through Game Programming All In One right now (from Premier Press) and while it has some drawbacks (e.g. lack of/poor editing) I''ve been overall pleased with the book as far as a raw beginner''s introduction to as broad an overview of game development as possible.

I strongly encourage typing out the code from the book, rather than just using the stuff from the CD. That will lead you to situations like where you are now, with code that you think should work, but maybe won''t even compile. That''s a great way to get started learning abotu degbugging and how to tweak the code yourself to get things running.

For your specific problem, it sounds like maybe you''re not linking the DirectX libraries into your project that you''ve typed up. You need to make sure that the libraries (*.lib files located in the lib directory of your DirectX SDK installation) are associated with your project, otherwise the compiler won''t recognize your DirectX function calls. You can either use the Project Settings dialog to type in the names of the libraries, or right-click on your project name and choose Add Files to Project then browse to the library files you need.

Also, you''ll need to add the appropriate directories to the list the compiler searches. Bring up the Options dialog (from the Tools menu) and go to the Directories tab. Add the DirectX lib directory to the Library Files directories, and the DirectX include directory to Include Files. Make sure to use the up arrow button to put these new DirectX directories at the top of the list so that you can be sure to use your latest version of DirectX when compiling.

OK, I''ve rambled on for long enough, especially if that wasn''t the problem you''ve been having. If you''re still having trouble, post the error message the compiler is giving you and I might be able to help.

Good Luck!

--Roderick Smith

hrmm...

You know, last time I tried to work through this schtuff... it didn''t work. I picked my "Zen of Direct3d Game Programming Gurus" books back up and walked through the chapters again and now its working fine. I don''t get it. I was getting compiling problems because of "unresolved external links", but now I''m not. lol I could have sworn I walked through all of the steps before...




The multiverse is sloppy... I just make it neat

www.nexe.gamedev.net, www.andypike.com, the SDK, that''s all you need to get going.