Thread: Simple, non 3d games - what to use??

Hullo all!
Before deciding to learn c++ I used a simple but limited program called game maker. With this I got pretty far through making an RPG, and i would like to do the same in c++.
I'm positive it's possible, but correct me if there's some anti-RPG aspect to c++
The question is, how? Would i have to learn Open GL or Direct X? If so, which one should it be??
Is it possible to write a game using only the windows API?? Would it be that much slower??
Remember I only want to do 2D stuff, no 3d. . . 3d is evil. . .
Thanx

P.S these forums rule!! Proud to be a member

Originally Posted by born_a_trumpet

P.S these forums rule!! Proud to be a member

If internet hugs were possible, I'd give you one right now .

RPG's? In C++? Yes, yes, yes! You can make RPG's very very nicely in C++. I've made a few demos myself.

What kind of RPG are you wishing to make? Tile-based? Pseudo-3D? 3D Isometric? First person? The possiblilities are only limited to your creativity. A buddy of mine and I are making a 3D Isometric RPG with a RTS battle system. I've made a few tile engines, I've made a simplistic 3D engine that I was going to make a first person RPG with. If these terms are greek to you, look them up. Especially tile engines. Tile engines are fun and easy to make.

If you've already made one with the tool you mentioned, the number crunching and content is already done I'm sure. All you need to do is get it all to draw to screen really. If you can get away with windows GDI, go for it. I wouldn't recommend it, but it's up to you.

This is all assuming you have programming experience and have used C++ before. If not, you've got a bit of work ahead of you.

Originally Posted by born_a_trumpet

Remember I only want to do 2D stuff, no 3d. . . 3d is evil. . .

Since you only want to do 2D you might want to check out SDL. It is great if you want to focus more on learning C++ and less on having to handle graphics.

Not to mention you'd have less trouble porting if you used it since it already exists for multiple platforms.

Isn't there a sticky thread or something that has a list of game dev libraries?

I would strongly suggest you go to

www.allegro.cc

Allegro is an extremely simple to use "gaming" library. Perfect for RPG's in my opinion....

Gamemaker was a great tool, but just like you said (Salem) it is very limited and also very, very slow.
So Windows GDI (Which I just happened to read about) would be too slow for a full game??
I would be redrawing every step, with prolly a lot of animation, depending on the map (and my level of experience )

The finished game will (one day, hopefully) be just a modest, old school RPG, resembling the old snes days. I think it'd be great if these games could be revived on PC . If an open source engine was released there'd be hundreds of these games created!!

Bludstayne!! I would love to see these demo's of yours! I'm planning just on a simple tile based engine - not isometric, that's too 3d I know the terms and would love to learn how to make a tile engine

I'll check out those libraries. . . though I would rather write my own routines and stuff. . .
Or am I getting it wrong?? Trying not to sound too inexperienced, what exactly do these libraries do?? Are they dll's, or headers?
I really need to learn C++ specific aspect to programming. I can manage the maths and the RPG routines ok, but APIs and windows programming is hell!! :/

Thanx for all the replys , soz for a slow reply on my behalf. . .

both SDL and Allegro are graphic libraries. What they do is they let you do graphic (more or less advanced graphic) quite simply. You will still have to write the algos for damage and everything.

So Windows GDI (Which I just happened to read about) would be too slow for a full game??

Windows GDI is horrendous for games, unless you're making tic tac toe, or scrabble, or something like that.

Yes!! It all makes slightly more sense now!!
I've checked both the websites. . . And have one last question which do you think would be the best and simplest lilbrary to use for 2d games??
Or is that an over-asked question?

Thanx! That (and the games sticky) gives me enough to start on