Wondering how to get started programming games

[thatguy]

Hi I was just wondering if anyone could answer the simple question of how I should go about getting started on programming my first computer game. I have a lot of great ideas and I want to try them out. I was thinking of buying Microsoft Visual C++ 6 and downloading the half-life SDK. Then I was going to learn C++ and make my first game as a mod for half-life. Is this a good idea? If not, what should I do?

[Galen of Edgewood]

Originally posted by thatguy:
Hi I was just wondering if anyone could answer the simple question of how I should go about getting started on programming my first computer game. I have a lot of great ideas and I want to try them out. I was thinking of buying Microsoft Visual C++ 6 and downloading the half-life SDK. Then I was going to learn C++ and make my first game as a mod for half-life. Is this a good idea? If not, what should I do?

Go out and have fun. If you screw up, just learn from it, and don't do it again.

Sorry 'bout not being too helpful here, but I honestly don't have any experience in the game programming field.

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Baby of Edgewood @ birth (03/09/01, 12:34am)
6 lbs 7 ounces
18 inches long
perfectly healthy

[namgor]

I am at your same position when I was in grade 6, I ended up producing more and more games with my idea, drive new algorithm to make things more efficient and it must be a good learning experience.

Yes, professional games can be done in VC++6, so that is a good software to get.

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I am crab, scoins is crap.

[Adisharr]

Originally posted by thatguy:
Hi I was just wondering if anyone could answer the simple question of how I should go about getting started on programming my first computer game. I have a lot of great ideas and I want to try them out. I was thinking of buying Microsoft Visual C++ 6 and downloading the half-life SDK. Then I was going to learn C++ and make my first game as a mod for half-life. Is this a good idea? If not, what should I do?

Not a bad idea but it may turn out to be more complex than you anticipate. I'd start with some simpler things.. Maybe some 2D games - small ones..




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- My head best viewed at 320 x 200 -

[zombor]

Originally posted by thatguy:
Hi I was just wondering if anyone could answer the simple question of how I should go about getting started on programming my first computer game. I have a lot of great ideas and I want to try them out. I was thinking of buying Microsoft Visual C++ 6 and downloading the half-life SDK. Then I was going to learn C++ and make my first game as a mod for half-life. Is this a good idea? If not, what should I do?

Go to college, heh.


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Compaq Armada E500
650MHz PIII 128MB RAM
8MB ATI rage mobility
11GB hard drive/DVD
dual booting win98/2k

who said you cant game on a notebook????

[Insane_Marc]

Originally posted by zombor:
Go to college, heh.

Actually I started in about 5th or 6th grade with Quick BASIC. Its great to know before you get into high school, when they start to teach it to you.

Of course all the games I made were crap and nobody plays them but me...

Now I've promised myself that I *will* learn VB someday...then C++ and I'll make good games. Well, decent games...that only I will play...

But you might want to start with something simplier the Visual C++. Unless you already have...

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<Insert Funny Quote Here>

[Boldy]

I agree that you start with a very simple program. I'd worry about learning C++ before you even think about writing games.

Visual C++ is a good package, but if you're going that route I'd suggest you write console apps at first instead of getting into the Windows interfaces.

[Chronostormer]

Maybe this will help -> http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/.../gameprog.html

It also has a bunch of links.

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I want to be a Cat Fish!

[dstidolph]

Knowledge of MSVC/C++ is good for far more than games. It will get you a career. If you want to program games, like Quake or Half-Life, it would take you years to write something like them, so don't. Either work on simple games that you can build yourself, or use existing games and use editors to build your own "mods" and levels.

Be aware, game programers make about 20% less money than programers outside the industry. I know this from experience.

Good Luck,

David Stidolph

[Slovin8]

Game programming, that's my thingy Well, I wouldn't call myself a Pro game programmer but I have a lot of experience in this field.

VC++ is certainly important, it's a pretty good IDE. Now you have to learn C++ to be able to program decent games. A knowledge of DirectX or OpenGL is very crucial. If you're programming for Windows, then a knowledge of Win32 is as important.

I suggest you start with something simple, go and buy some books on game programming. I highly recommend those by Andre Lamothe like Game Programming for Dummies. I'd recommend also buying some books on DirectX or OpenGL. To be able to program from scratch, you will have to build a solid background not only in software engineering, but also in math (if you're doing 3D) and modular design.

It took me quite sometime to write a game engine, it was very frustrating and tedious at times. Planning, I believe, is the most important aspect of developing any software, including games. I didn't want to use anyone else's code so I wrote the whole 2D Engine myself. It contains:

1) Graphics Engine.
2) Sound Engine.
3) Multiplayer Engine
4) Main Engine.

It took me over a year to get it done as I wanted, though it would probably take me less now since I am well aware of the errors I made.

Good luck, game programming is certainly fun, exciting, and educational.

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Specs:

Bipolar semantic processor @ 1.9 TeraHertz (Not OC)
Narrow-beam Holographic emitter.
128 Gigaquads of QRM (Quantum Resonance Memory)
666 Gigaquads HD.
Heuristic polarization matrix v3.0
Asymptotic Neuron transmitter.
Alpha heatsink/fan.

[MafiaBoss]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...203403-3382324

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...203403-3382324

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Good Luck

[This message has been edited by MafiaBoss (edited May 03, 2001).]

[Slovin8]

Btw, Lamothe sucks sometimes. He made a couple of good books and the rest are cut and paste of his previous works plus extra wasted thikness to deceive you that it worths something.

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Specs:

Bipolar semantic processor @ 1.9 TeraHertz (Not OC)
Narrow-beam Holographic emitter.
128 Gigaquads of QRM (Quantum Resonance Memory)
666 Gigaquads HD.
Heuristic polarization matrix v3.0
Asymptotic Neuron transmitter.
Alpha heatsink/fan.

[richardginn]

go look at deitel & deitel programming books.

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[randwannabe]

I always see people recommending those Deitel & Deitel books but I can never find them in any bookstores. Not only that but the ones I do see on Amazon are hella expensive!!! Are they really that good?

[richardginn]

yeah, real good and real expensive at the same time. There is only one i've seen to get them cheap. Get them as a used book.

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