Thread: C++ Game Programming?

  1. #1
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    C++ Game Programming?

    I learned C++ because I heard that was a good language to start out with and everything. But the main reason I choose C++ is because I heard its used for games and such. But I'm confused.

    After I learn C++ what do I learn next?

    Are there any books you would recommend? I'm doing mostly self study so books would help. My ultimate goal would be to program a game on the iphone but I don't know the steps to get there. Can someone guide me in the right direction? Thanks

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    Registered User rogster001's Avatar
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    After I learn C++ what do I learn next
    You mean you finished learning it now?!
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    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    The next step would probably be to learn how to program.

    Learning the syntax of a programming language is easy enough for anybody who is able to think logically.

    But it's a huge step from being able to write "hello world" to being able to write a half-decent implementation of your favourite "eating dots and chasing ghosts" game.

    Look up how programs are designed.

    Sitting down, bashing out 10K lines of a game in one sitting and then expecting it to all work nicely just doesn't happen. You need to have a plan for what classes you need, what they do, what they depend on, what data they need etc etc.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

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    Okay so here is what me and my friends are planning to learn:
    C++
    Objective C
    Cocoa
    openGL
    openGL ES

    Our main goal is to be able to code a game for the Iphone. Someone please comment if we are going the wrong direction.

    So me and my friends are all new to programming and we were worried about how to get the structure of a program down. What is the best way to learn programming structure? Is there a book? Should we reverse engineer a simple game/program? Please push us into the right direction.

    Thanks

  5. #5
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    software design - Google Search

    Chances are, you won't be able to program the whole thing on the first attempt anyway. You can read all you want, but some of it comes down to hard practical experience (failure in other words).

    So before you try say a sideways scroller, maybe try something with a fixed screen.

    If your limit is say 1000 lines of code to write and debug in a reasonable amount of time, then 2000 lines is a good next step. You'll experience some new issues, and some idea of how to solve them.

    Going straight to say 50000 lines will leave you stranded, and disappointed.

    It's all about practice.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  6. #6
    Programming King Mr.777's Avatar
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    1. For game programming, i'll recommed you guys to go for OPENGL. But remember, you can only learn the few things out of real hard looking games...
    2. As Salem said, you can't be able to develop a game by just sitting over the chair and doing the hell of programming.
    Definitely you need the hard analysis and the extreme good quality design with the best planning. Good Luck..
    I don't care if someone doesn't like me, i was not put on earth to entertain everyone.

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    I don't know iPhone development, but i can tell you what you should learn next for developing games for windows.
    First read some tutorials on win32 (you don't have to know it deeply) and then choose one of these: OpenGL and DirectX.

    And if you want to create some serious games you should learn some algorithms and artificial intelligence programming.

    But don't expect to create your games in no time. It is hard work. You should advance step by step.

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