Thread: looking to start game programming

  1. #1
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    Question looking to start game programming

    I've finished all tutorials on here on c++ programming and I want to get into game programming and visual stuff( graphics etc.) I was wondering if there is any software that allows contronller input into the computer that doesnt cost more than say a couple hundred bucks.. I was thinking about getting spmething for xbox or playstation but all of those softwares are in the thousands of dollars.... my main focus is to have something with controller input... I'm willing to learn another programmin language and actually want to learn something else so let me know of what you know is avalible....

    thanks cj

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    Registered User ITAmember's Avatar
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    You can use XNA for the 360 and Windows. I think it's C++, it would be pretty stupid for Microsoft not to make it C++.

    EDIT:

    It's free!

    EDIT #2:

    Microsoft download page

    EDIT #3:

    It's C#, not C++. Almost the same language though. (don't flame me for that, they are very similar)
    Last edited by ITAmember; 06-01-2009 at 09:13 PM.

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    C# is as similar to C++ as Java to C++. They are totally different languages.

    For PC, there are quite a few free and good game libraries (SDL, Allegro, etc).

    Unfortunately, for consoles, you won't be able to get the SDK for anything less than an arm and a leg. They are only meant for big game companies.

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    Indeed, even Wii, which is under $2,000 US, requires that you pass an "review" - they check to see if they think you have a sufficiently staffed and experienced organization.

    There are several excellent books on the subjects by David Eberly, and from the same publisher several more specialized texts on physics, contacts (the major part of physics and collisions is contacts - where objects touch) and AI.

    When you say controller input, you're probably referring to game pads, right?

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    Hail to the king, baby. Akkernight's Avatar
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    Direct Input is meant for joysticks and stuff... Infact they talk about Xbox 360 controllers under the Direct Input section of the DirectX SDK if I remember correctly...
    Currently research OpenGL

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    Registered User ITAmember's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyberfish View Post
    C# is as similar to C++ as Java to C++. They are totally different languages.

    For PC, there are quite a few free and good game libraries (SDL, Allegro, etc).

    Unfortunately, for consoles, you won't be able to get the SDK for anything less than an arm and a leg. They are only meant for big game companies.
    They still have the same basic ideas though. If you only need PC I would strongly recommend you use Allegro. It's very powerful and easy to learn, it is a C language instead of C++ however.

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    When I say input I mean anything.... from game controllers to joysticks.... I've heard of xna but the problem is I'm stuck with a dial up connection(I know you'll are probably like.. Those still exist?) I'm trying to get into console but thats way expensive so I'm going to stick with something that has controller input to windows... I'm prertty sure where windows and xbox 360 are both from microsoft they'll be pretty much the same.... I'm also in a program at my high school through the national science foundation thats suposed to start developing games for wii... and we are looking forward to a showcase spot at E3 in 2011.... so basically ideas on controller input and what libraries and all the good stuff I need to learn... I checked out blender but that is not what I'm looking for.

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    Registered User ITAmember's Avatar
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    Allegro has support for keyboard, mouse, and joystick input.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ITAmember View Post
    Allegro has support for keyboard, mouse, and joystick input.
    ok and im sure theres bound to be a free library floating around somewhere to support game controllers via usb port... I'll look into it

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    Quote Originally Posted by jamort View Post
    ok and im sure theres bound to be a free library floating around somewhere to support game controllers via usb port... I'll look into it
    Why do you care if it's USB or some other method of input? The OS should give you access to a library that gives you the input - whether it came in via USB, FireWire, PS/2, Joystick connector on the sound-card, or a piece of wet-string shouldn't really matter.

    USB device I/O is quite complicated. You do not want to do that yourself, if you can at all help it.

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    Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.

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    what method of input would you reccomend is the easiest? to start with

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    Keyboard. Just read keys and react!

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    Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them!
    Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.

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    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Use an API you are comfortable with and one that is well documented in books. Otherwise it will be difficult to find information and advice later.
    XNA is for C#. There were rumors that XACT sound was for C++ but I could never find anything on it so I went with OpenAL.
    XNA does not need to be for C++ since you can just use straight DirectX via COM. The only way to get a good picture of an API like OGL, D3D, or other portions of DirectX is to buy a book on it. OpenAL and other smaller libs are fairly well documented in their respective help files.

    Whichever route you take I strongly advise you learn more than just the wrapper be it for OGL or D3D and learn the underlying API. It will never hurt for you to have intimate knowledge of the API.
    Last edited by VirtualAce; 06-03-2009 at 10:00 PM.

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    SDL has support for game controller input.

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    spurious conceit MK27's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by medievalelks View Post
    SDL has support for game controller input.
    Who cares? According to E3, controllers are now out -- camera input is the tish.

    I want them to build a "real life" 3D net lounge and put it on screen at Times Square, using the crowd on the sidewalk. Then you could visit the screen remotely, and it would be like there were "ghosts" walking around midtown NYC.
    C programming resources:
    GNU C Function and Macro Index -- glibc reference manual
    The C Book -- nice online learner guide
    Current ISO draft standard
    CCAN -- new CPAN like open source library repository
    3 (different) GNU debugger tutorials: #1 -- #2 -- #3
    cpwiki -- our wiki on sourceforge

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