Thread: I want to learn how to program games

  1. #1
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    I want to learn how to program games

    Im just a beginner programmer. I learned html and have just finished my college class in introduction to programming. I was wondering if anyone knows what books are good for programming games or if there are any good sites for that. I am also wondering what kind of software do u use for programming games as well. O and does anyone have any sample codes of simple games that I can look at. Thanxx.

  2. #2
    ATH0 quzah's Avatar
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    Google is your friend.

    Quzah.
    Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.

  3. #3
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    I'm sorry Quzah, but....

    > Im just a beginner programmer.
    Google is your friend.
    In fact, search it for approximately several years building / coding ALL SORTS of different programs / applications. Don't code something you only want to, code everything possible.

    > I learned html
    MAN, if that isn't one of the biggest primer's for game programming!

    > and have just finished my college class in introduction to programming.
    Ah, you're still "wet behind the ears"!

    > I was wondering if anyone knows what books are good for programming games
    I have one titled, "Secrets of the Ages", except, it's just points to ponder, and beliefs / tatics from all the pros ( 3d realms people, ID software people, EIDOS, etc ).

    > or if there are any good sites for that.
    Man, if there was a site that showed you step-by-step on how to create the next Quake, that'd be pretty dumb. I wouldn't share the kind of information. I'd milk it for all it's worth!

    > I am also wondering what kind of software do u use for programming games as well.
    MSVC++ ?
    C programming + C compiler ?
    Allegro ?
    Direct X ?
    OpenGL ?
    etc ?
    ...all these are a given

    > O and does anyone have any sample codes of simple games that I can look at.
    Goto Download.com and download the source code for the original full version of quake.
    This isn't simple obviously, but I hate to sink your boat: This technology is "outdated" and it was made by one of the most well-known ( or atleast at the time ) programming teams around. Programming team.

    side note:
    I personally like Ion Storm products better.
    The world is waiting. I must leave you now.

  4. #4
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    I say skip the first quake and go straight to the full gpl quake2 code

    ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/sou...ource-3.21.zip

    or go to planetquake or fileplanet and look for it if for some reason you can't get it from id's ftp.

    it's newer, better built, heavily commented, plenty of places to go with newbie questions since the q2 community is alive and kickin again with the source release

    I have learned alot about all aspects of C and opengl from the more than generous guys ad Id Software. Some people don't like John Carmack, they complain about sloppy programming style, question his corporate intentions and such, but...whatever, he and his minions get the job done and you can learn alot from them. If you learn how to effectively use a struct or a union from that source or even implement volumetric fog into the engine, then who cares where he puts his block braces or if he's in bed with this company or that.

  5. #5
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    Unregistered, you sure do know alot don't you?
    Sure, you can copy / read along with a Quake source, but....lets see you create a quake clone from scratch with your own brain. That is the point I was trying to make.

    All in all
    > Im just a beginner programmer
    You cannot do that.

    Copying / reading along with a "quake" source is one thing, creating a quake clone video game from scratch, line by line, by yourself is another story.

    > it's newer,
    Cool.

    > better built
    Not by you.

    > heavily commented
    Not by you.

    > since the q2 community is alive and kickin
    q2 community has nothing to do with you.

    > again with the source release
    The source release which isn't yours.

    Personaly:
    Quake was much better than Quake 2 IMO.
    Last edited by Shadow; 05-21-2002 at 10:30 PM.
    The world is waiting. I must leave you now.

  6. #6
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    I'm sorry I forgot to put my name in when I went back a page and then came back.

    Why are you so testy and defensive? You suggested quake and I suggested quake2 because it was more up to date and he would be less likely to be confused by the quakeC stuff. What exactly did you expect him to do with the quake source?

    This place seems less friendly the more I read.
    Last edited by sodsm live; 05-21-2002 at 10:37 PM.

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    > This place seems less friendly the more I read
    Actually, I am a very friendly and considerate person...IMO.
    Unfortunately, "from sctratch"

    1. > I want to learn how to program games
    2. > Im just a beginner programmer.
    These 2 do not go together.
    Actually, they kind of do quite frequently.
    But, they don't meet up with each other for a very long time.

    - edit -
    To answer your qestion of "What did you want him to do with the Quake source anyways" I say:
    Review it. Plain and simple. Just have a look, nothing else.
    This way he says what exactly goes into making a game engine. The graphics, levels, and sounds are another completely different thing. They come from the creative department. The quake source details all the technical programming stuff that goes into a popular game. Do you honestly think a beginner programmer can do what John Carmack does?
    Last edited by Shadow; 05-22-2002 at 01:19 PM.
    The world is waiting. I must leave you now.

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    Give me a break. Do you honestly believe I expected him to look at the source and say "oh, that's how you do it" and run off and write a full blown game.

    You seem to go out of your way saying the quake2 source and other related areas have nothing to do with me. What is the point? Does this mean that you have something to with the quake1 source?

    Look, I don't want to get on your bad side because you seem like a very knowledgable person. What exactly did I do to make you want to burn me so? It's not like I spam these forums. I've made 4 or 5 posts, 3 of which were an attempt to help someone. What's the deal?

  9. #9
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    > Give me a break.
    I'm about to.

    > Do you honestly believe I expected him to look at the source and say "oh, that's how you do it" and run off and write a full blown game.
    No. Not even close. He asked how to program games, and honestly, you wouldn't even conceive something like Quake by yourself. I used it as an example on the basis that quake or something similar is what he had in mind. You should start with something very simple, so you may learn how to manipulate simple graphics, and write a simple, albeit "outdated" game engine. You need to learn how to make games, not learn how to make quake.

    > You seem to go out of your way saying the quake2 source and other related areas have nothing to do with me.
    Well, to put it simply, they don't.

    > Does this mean that you have something to with the quake1 source?
    No, it does not. I never stated such a fact.

    > Look, I don't want to get on your bad side
    You aren't. Don't jump to conclusions.

    > because you seem like a very knowledgable person.
    Thank you. We are all still learning though. Even the professional game makers are still learning!

    > What exactly did I do to make you want to burn me so?
    Nothing really. I don't think I was even burning you. If I was, you'd know it.

    > It's not like I spam these forums.
    Good.

    > I've made 4 or 5 posts, 3 of which were an attempt to help someone.
    I hope you did well.

    > What's the deal?
    Nothing, nothing at all.

    Sorry if I might've made the wrong impression. I post in a "cut through the BS" manner.
    The world is waiting. I must leave you now.

  10. #10
    Registered User sean345's Avatar
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    There is some game info at
    www.gamedev.net

    - Sean
    If cities were built like software is built, the first woodpecker to come along would level civilization.
    Black Frog Studios

  11. #11
    Registered User Azuth's Avatar
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    I know I really shouldn't put my 2 cents in here, because it's only likely to get me flames, but I'll dig out my aspestos suit.

    Having read this thread I must say that it appears that everybody has been less than helpful to the original poster; appart from about half of Shadows first post, which it appears was rather scathing, or at best a bit sarcastic.

    The original poster does not mention quake, but an argument between two posters to this thread fair focuses on it. He's not asking how to write the next quake, at worst it's a poorly worded question about where to start with game programming, that is probably in the wrong forum; but that doesn't seem like enough reason to me for us to not give this guy a few general pointers.

    In that respect Shadow is coorect, the original poster should search the web, learn some general programming skills and view the code of others, though I'd start with simple games, not Quake. (I personally have done a reasonable amount with the Quake & Quake 2 sources, more through shear bloody mindedness and determination that being a top coder), and from a learning point of view, they're like C & C++, the argument about which is better is moot, they are different.

    Shadow, from most of your posts in these forums I have a lot of respect for your opinion and your ability, but you do appear to have lost the plot a bit here. Quite possibly because this question appears weekly from people that it often appears expect game programming to be...

    Code:
    int main (void)
    {
    LoadMap ("/mymap.map");
    DrawMy3DMan("/game/3dman.bmp");
    if (keys = arrow)
          (then move(arrow_direction);
    return 0;
    }
    All in all, I'd say the original poster should post his/her question again in the game programming forum, or before that, use the search function on this board, the question has found a reasonable answer many, many times, with many a good place to start.

    PS: If anyone has the libraries to make my code example work please deliver them up to the world
    Last edited by Azuth; 05-22-2002 at 08:00 PM.
    Demonographic rhinology is not the only possible outcome, but why take the chance

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    > do appear to have lost the plot a bit here.
    I'll admitt I did get a little off track with my replies *sends scolds in the general direction of himself*.

    I also agree with you on your comments made following the sentance I quoted.

    I was just trying to stress the fact that John Carmack ( example joe, no specifics here ) works with a software team. He does not work out of his living room / bedroom.

    >at worst it's a poorly worded question about where to start with game programming
    Tell me about it. More people should really read this article:
    How to ask questions the smart way

    > Shadow, from most of your posts in these forums I have a lot of respect for your opinion and your ability
    Thank you.

    > but I'll dig out my aspestos suit.
    *shakes hands and walks away*
    The world is waiting. I must leave you now.

  13. #13
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    Hmm... if I had the libraries to make that code work.. I'd "milk it for all it was worth!"




    Poor original poster. Wanted a simple little answer and got a catfight -

    I know how you're feeling, though, unregistered Guest. I'd love to program really cool stuff too, but at the moment the best my ability can do is write simple calculators or text editors (I just threw myself into the wide world of windows programming... ack). I'm still working my way up.

    I had to start from figuring out how the damn computer knew to write "Hello world!" when I made my first program. I didn't just jump in and start writing stuff that I could sell. Programming is a long, arduous road, and the previous posters have a point - learn to code easy stuff, low level stuff, learn what you're doing at a keyboard and behind a compiler, learn your way around functions and how to make them do what you want... once you have skills that are based in good self teaching, then you can think about doing the things you want to do. Until then, you're no good to yourself trying so hard to find yourself at a destination when you don't understand the path to get there.

    Do take a look at the game post though. Hell, look at all the posts. I sometimes blow my mind by looking at code that is FAR more complex than I am capable of writing - it gives me ideas, expands what I understand about what I already write, and brings me one step closer to writing that kind of code.

    Work your way up. You'll be proud of yourself when you get there - and then you won't be stuck at a destination without anywhere else to go.

    Have fun too. I hate programming, but I love programming. Hate = debugging. Love = WHOO! IT WORKED!!!

    It's fun.

  14. #14
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    You want to write a game. You need these things:

    1) A language definition (either C or C++).
    2) Knowledge of Operating System Internals
    3) Knowledge of Hardware Architecture
    3) Knowledge of Software Architecture
    4) And about 2-3 million dollars.

    Also, you need to understand the theory behind game design.
    Last edited by Osama Lives; 05-23-2002 at 02:47 AM.

  15. #15
    Code Warrior
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    About the theory. Study computer science for 5 years and you'll get somewhere. I think .

    EDIT:

    Osama Lives <- sorry but this is a stupid nickname
    You want to write a game. You need these things:

    1) A language definition (either C or C++). <- TRUE
    2) Knowledge of Operating System Internals <- TRUE
    3) Knowledge of Hardware Architecture <- TRUE
    3) Knowledge of Software Architecture <- TRUE
    4) And about 2-3 million dollars. <- FALSE

    The game can be created for 0 $.
    Last edited by GaPe; 05-24-2002 at 08:38 AM.
    Current projects:
    1) User Interface Development Kit (C++)
    2) HTML SDK (C++)
    3) Classes (C++)
    4) INI Editor (Delphi)

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