Need Some Programming Help.

Damn!

WHO do I find here? Samwise!!

Hey come post at our forum at ps2lair :-)

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Originally posted by IronFist
dbv23, don\'t try to program a game until you know the language good.  Wait until after you know the language before you start to program a game or you will run into a lot of trouble.  
And the best video game programmers book out there right now is "Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus," written by Andre LaMothe.  Ask anyone at Gamedev and they will tell you the same thing.  I wouldn\'t suggest getting it until you know C++ well though.  
And, if it\'s possible, I suggest that you take a programming class instead of trying to learn out of a book.  It is a million times easier if you take a class instead of trying to learn it on your own by reading.

Exactly. You need a strong grasp of the language, before you take on the task of creating a game. That can take up to 2 years or more. Learning a language fully, is beyond just learning what to do in a simple matter. You need to know how overcome hurdles and keep your code small, readable and many other things. Its good to have a goal, but don\'t rush in and try to build a game, you\'ll find yourself confused and you will burn out quickly, loosing interest in programming altogether. Take courses in C++, and then learn ASM. I don\'t believe alot of places teach ASM now\'a\'days. So, you will probally end up doing alot of research and buying old books on ASM, to learn it. If your truly curious about the complexity of designing a game engine, I recommend finding Raven Software\'s homepage and downloading their Hexen 2 source code. If you can\'t find it, just go to GameDev and look over some of the examples on stuff, you\'ll see how complex it can get. So, basically, learn the language inside out. Sleep and eat with a C++ book near you. Then, once your a C++ guru or have a good foothold of the language, move into a simple game.

That is, unless you make a text adventure with alot of IF statements.

I don\'t really get programming, is it hard to learn?

i have always wanted to learn to program games.  in three years i will go to a college to learn to program games.  is there any place that i will be able start learning now on the web.  i saw this thing in best buy game programming but i was not sure if it was good. does anyone know.

I am a guidance conselour. You won\'t be able to do it if you are stupid. May I suggest a job in the fast food industry? or the costodial arts?

Yeah, andre la mothe is one of the BEST game programming author around. heck, I\'ve even received a personal reply from him once!

Still, does anyone know any good books on Direct X immediate mode? I\'ve read several books on DX but most of them are either talking about the Retained Mode(useless!) or they\'re too basic or they just rip out the DX documentation on the functions and libraries!

IronFist: Hey, do let us know more about your game when you\'re ready, ok? And u don\'t mind sending me a free copy when it\'s done, wontcha?

Kaji, I live in Mid-Southern USA.  Arkansas to be exact.  And while there is not much demand here, in adjacent states there is.  But still C/C++ and UNIX prevail.

I\'m guessing, though, that after you have a little COBOL you won\'t want any more.  It sucks, IMO.

Web designers seem to be in universal demand.  And when you go for a job interview, make sure you ask if you have to wear a beeper

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Originally posted by SyxxKorn
I don\'t really get programming, is it hard to learn?

Once you understand the logic of it and if your good at math, its alot easier to learn.

Originally posted by Paul
IronFist: Hey, do let us know more about your game when you\'re ready, ok? And u don\'t mind sending me a free copy when it\'s done, wontcha?

This is the first game that I have ever been motivated to finish.  If I don\'t finish it, I\'ll do bad in the class.  The game is a 2D game that is like the mini game in Super Mario Bros 3.  Right now, the game is 2-4 players.  I am not sure if I will put in a one player mode; it depends on how much time I have.  The object of the game is to get all 3 of one type of object (either 3 stars, 3 shrooms, or 3 flowers).  If you jump on your apponents head and if they have an object, the object will pop out and you can grab it.  There are lots of cool things that I\'m going to put in it (like riding a pig! ), but right now, I\'m just trying to get the basic gameplay to work.  I have got the collision detection to work just how I want it, and the level editor also works great.  The animations of my guys running, jumping, squishing, etc., work perfectly.  There is a small bug (it has to do with the objects that you can get) that I need to find and fix (this might take a while ).

And don\'t worry, when it\'s done I\'ll probably put it on the internet for anyone to download.  

And dbv23, just so you know what you\'re getting into, programming takes a lot of time!  I have spent more time working on my game than I have played my PS2 this past week.  I sometimes get on my computer right when I get home from school at 2:30 pm and start programming, and don\'t stop until like 1:00 am!  I have already been programming for like 4 hours today, and I just stopped to take a break and come to this forum for a little while.

BTW Paul, I wish I could help you with that Direct X stuff, but I have decided not to try to learn Windows programming until after my mission.  I just don\'t have enough time.  I am using Allegro for my game right now.

IronFist: Did u do the graphics yourself as well?
I think it\'s very difficult if you have to do everything yourself.

I\'ve worked on a RPG game before I couldn\'t take it anymore because it\'s just freakin impossible for 1 guy to do everythinG(even write my own music). All I have was a dude running around in a isometric 3D village ala Diablo styled and some other NPC walking around aimlesly.

The closest I\'ve come to completing a game was a project I work with a few other guys for about 6 months. It was a multiplayer game which support 2 monitors but the plug was pull by the guy who financed us. I think it could have been a really fun game.

Oh well, it was fun while it last.

but Hey, if you ever needed music in your game, let me know.