Ok i have a few questions, keep in mind my knowlage of API's is very very very limited. I do know that using such an advanced api such as DX or OpenGL is going to be hard, and that Win32 experience is required, but i still wish to give it a try.

Now could you enlighten me on a few things and answer the following hopefully painless questions?

1. First off, i heard full OpenGL libraries is not free, is DirectX? In otherwords can i code fully in DirectX without paying a dime? (legally )

2. If DirectX is free, where can i download it at?

3. Are there any good tutorial / newbie DirectX sites that anyone knows of? I havent been able to find squat for DX or OGL.

4. What is a good DirectX book, for a beginner. Now DirectX is insanely complicated for a newbie to C++ in general (knowlage is there, however not yet applied), so i need a heavily explanitory type book. Any ideas?


Thanks, please forgive my nub ness lol. At the moment i am wanting to go OpenGL or DX (pref DX because id rather be there at the end), but all i can come up with is Allegro which is extremely not where i want to be lol. I mean it works great for beginning, but personally i want to spend time learning all this and not learn allegro, build my planned programs/games, then revamp everytime i need a little more with a more advanced API.

Anyway, thanks again to anyone who responds