Thread: help a n00b starting out. any advice?

The code::blocks IDE seems popular, certainly in the $0 category.

> what are the differences between IDE's.
Price and features mostly.

I would suggest you spend up to the next 12 months just practising anything you can get your hands on, so you have a wide range of tools and techniques to hand.

console tic-tac-toe, computer picks at random
console tic-tac-toe, computer picks not to lose
console tic-tac-toe, computer picks to try and win
graphical tic-tac-toe, based on the previous version
graphical tic-tac-toe, as above, + sounds / music
graphical tic-tac-toe, as above, but using 3D graphics
graphical tic-tac-toe, as above, but animate moves
graphical tic-tac-toe, as above, but add 2 player option
graphical tic-tac-toe, as above, but computer is now a network server playing TTT
graphical tic-tac-toe, as above, but peer-to-peer head-to-head play.

OK, not the most exciting game, but that's not the point. It's a familiar concept which won't get in the way of the learning experience.

Also, each progression is a natural evolution of the previous step. If you've thought about your C++ classes, and implemented them properly, then each one should just enhance the previous iteration of the code.

If you find yourself basically rewriting the thing from scratch, then you probably did something wrong in the design stage. For example, the move picking AI shouldn't change at all from going from console to graphical representations.

Am I the only one thinking he should spend some time working on upgrading his MegaBuster Cannon?

I downloaded the Borland compiler and not sure what too use for an IDE.

Are you saying the version you downloaded doesn't have an IDE? I think Borland Turbo Exporer (FREE!!!) includes an IDE. (Of course, you don't need and IDE. It just makes things more convenient.)

Just about any "modern" compiler/IDE should be good for learning. (All compiler writers try to make their compiler ANSI/ISO C++ compliant.) I always recommend the new programmers get a popular compiler, so that they can get help. ...Compilers (and IDEs) can be a pain to install, configure, and learn. Once you get comfortable with the C++ language, you may want to experiment with different IDEs and choose a different one.

Some popular free IDEs are code::blocks, Microsoft Visual C++ Express, and Bloodshed.

You can find more FREE compilers / IDEs at TheFreeCountry.com.

...and any other tips in speeding me up in the direction to programming for gamming.

Graphics game programming is an advanced topic.* This is a bit like saying "I'm just learning to play the violin, and I want to write a symphony." So, first, get yourself a good beginning C++ book, and learn the C++ language as a foundation.

While you are working through your beginning C++ book, you can start researching graphics & game programming. There are several Game Programming Links on the Game Programming Board, here at cprogramming.com. Once you are comfortable with the underlying C++ language, you can choose a graphics library (maybe OpenGL or DirectX) to start learning.


* Note that commercial games are created by a programming team. An individual programmer can create a game, but you can't "compete" with a team of 50 or more programmers... 50 programmers working on a game for two years would be equal to a single programmer working for 100 years! And, some of the team members are experts in "realistic graphics", others are experts in programming efficiency & speed, others are experts in sound, etc. You can eventually learn all of these things (and more), but by the time you become an "expert", everything has changed...