Thread: "Deciding" in runtime the type of a variable

You're still really not explaining what you want to happen. You're just saying "There is big variables! AND LITTLE Ones! AND BIGGER LITTLER ONES! AND NONE OF IT WORKS!!! AHH!!!!"...

. Well, as I said in the first posts, everything works, I'm just trying to optimize stuff. And my variables are so big and heavy that my computer is sinking in the floor...

But you know, its just that its hard to explain, it's just that I allocate a quantity of memory that is different for my objects, and I know that using a void pointer, (or other), I can use NEW to prepare an area of memory for any object, depending on what it needs, and then just by knowing the type Id of that object, I can call a function pointer to which I pass the address to the area of memory that objects occupy, but I can't sum it all for everything, because I want to use as less memory as possible, and I know that I could use for everything, the same mount of memory, which would make it simpler, but that's not what I'm looking for.

I think making a game's hard, and I would like to let you think about how would you do it if you had many kind of stuff to handle. Just understand this: a game can have many kind of objects, can be items, can be enemies, etc... so the objects variables will not always be the same... But I don't even use derivates and stuffs, because I don't plan in trying to learn that yet...

If there's more about "still not explaining what you want to do" well I can't really go farther and hand out my whole code like that... Just start playing games and help me figure out how they're done...

Regardless of whether he should do it or not, the question he posed is "how can I do it?".

Yeah, that's what I want to know, but its also about optimization, not changing language over and over, unless I decide to create one! But then why should I create some language of mine?

There's Boost.Variant, but I'm with Sly: you should seriously reconsider your design. It seems you've created it with ActionScript in mind.

Well then I stand with Prelude's suggestion, as well. Not with using a less strictly-typed language, but reconsidering your design. There have been so many games done in C++, that I find it hard to believe there isn't a better way to do whatever you want done. Either there is a work around or you're just treading into grounds you really don't need to go into. As I said in my first post, I feel like whatever you find this useful for, there is probably a better way.

Oh by the way, I can teach you a better design for your game if you can teach me some action script basics. This is the best flash I've made so far. http://server6.theimagehosting.com/i...bleInLight.swf

I should mention that even though I provided an answer, I also don't believe he should do it.

I think what everyone is trying to say here is, give us the broader picture of why you want to do this and we'll give you better design ideas.

Heh, there is no math involved in that animation. The light layer is just doing a 90 degree rotation through the motion tween. I don't know the first thing about action scripting syntax or what it's capable of. Anyway, as I said about your game design. Since I still don't really know what you're trying to accomplish it still looks to me like you're looking for polymorphism. The way your explaining your problems, that's what I'm thinking you need. I don't mean to insult your intelligence if you already know what it is, but I can give you an example of how to use it if you need.

What kind of game are you making, may I ask?

Originally Posted by mikahell

But what's Boost.Variant? I feel like a fool but a pasted that in my code an it did nothing lol!

Boost is a set of third party libraries that look to be included into the next standard. You can google boost C++ if you're looking to install them, however if you're a nooblet like me, installing them can take quite a bit of time.

Originally Posted by mikahell

but it makes me sick when I hear things that I'm not familiar with, like "Overrides" "Derives" and others like child class from another parent master's class...

Heh, well that's what Object Oriented programming is all about. I don't know why you were being so discreet about your idea... it's not like we're going to steal it from you. You can definitely create a Legend of Zelda type game in C++. You can make that game in several languages... though you choose a language like C++ not because people say it's great but for the advantages it offers.

You should probably get very familiar with the three requirements of O-OP before trying to make this game if you want to do it in C++. That is Classes, Inheritance, and Polymorphism. You should also learn some basic data-structures and templates if you don't already. If you feel you're comfortable with all that, then you're ready to sit down, get out some paper and lay out your implementation.

I have seen several FF clones, a couple zelda clones, Ultima. Alot of people start with cloning games or features from games that they have played and liked. Shard of Dalaya is probably the most known clone. As long as you aren't trying to make money off it or distribute it as the original, I haven't seen many places that would care too much. 2d RPG style like that is hard new/cutting edge technology.

As long as you keep them for personal consumption, you'll be ok. Heck, you can even say Legend of Zelda without the (tm) thing

Do as Sly suggested. Learn the programming language first. It is obvious you already have some knowledge of it. But it seems you are lacking on some fundamental concepts. OOP is one of these.

EDIT: Oh, and RTTI stands for Run Time Type Identification. It is a feature of C++. I'm a complete newb to it as of yet. And a second look at its description after realizing no one followed on my suggestion, revealed why. It's not applicable to your problem.