Thread: OpenGL

  1. #1
    Its hard... But im here swgh's Avatar
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    OpenGL

    I need to learn grpahics, and I have a good handle on C++ and now want to step up to using OpenGL as I heard Direct X is a bit hard for beginners on graphics. I know DevC++ can be used for openGL projects, but if I want to use DirectX later, do I need a seperate software package to use the headers it needs, or can I download thenm via and SDK?

  2. #2
    Sweet
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    They are meant for VC++ so the SDK won't just work on Dev-C++(MinGW). You would need to grab VC++.
    Woop?

  3. #3
    Supermassive black hole cboard_member's Avatar
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    You can either get the free 2005 Express edition or get a nice full version cheap on ebay. I got 2003 EA for £20 on there.

    Yes, I was well chuffed.
    Good class architecture is not like a Swiss Army Knife; it should be more like a well balanced throwing knife.

    - Mike McShaffry

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    Head right over to http://nehe.gamedev.net to get started on OpenGL

  5. #5
    carry on JaWiB's Avatar
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    There are also academic discount programs for microsoft software (although, I see you are in England so I don't know if it's applicable). I was able to get VS 2003 pretty cheap because I was enrolled in one class at a community college.

    Actually, I was looking at some information on the academic discounts today, and it sounds like I might be able to get VS 2005 for ~$50 only being enrolled in high school classes (have to check with the college bookstore to be certain).
    "Think not but that I know these things; or think
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    Registered User Frobozz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by joeprogrammer
    Head right over to http://nehe.gamedev.net to get started on OpenGL
    Actually I'd so no. NeHe's tutorials aren't that great and they over complicate things. I recommend the book "Beginning OpenGL Game Programming". More information on that book, and others, can be gotten from http://glbook.gamedev.net/

  7. #7
    Supermassive black hole cboard_member's Avatar
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    I'm not so sure. NeHe's tutorials are written in the way I like to learn - an explanation of what's to follow then the code block previously explained. I picked up (well, am still picking up) tonnes of information from there.

    You can also read the red book online too, but I haven't got the link with me here (in college).
    Good class architecture is not like a Swiss Army Knife; it should be more like a well balanced throwing knife.

    - Mike McShaffry

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    Here's the link to the red book online:

    http://fly.srk.fer.hr/~unreal/theredbook/

    I didn't know you could read it online until you told me . So I started looking and found this.

  9. #9
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    The red book and nehe's tutorials are both too hard for beginners IMO. Not that I know of a better alternative. I did read the red book but I just had to read it over and over until I understood it.

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    Software Developer jverkoey's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frobozz
    Actually I'd so no. NeHe's tutorials aren't that great and they over complicate things. I recommend the book "Beginning OpenGL Game Programming". More information on that book, and others, can be gotten from http://glbook.gamedev.net/
    You're one of the first few people I've met who has said so. Either this is a trend of programmers getting lazier coming true or you're just an exception to the curve, but every single person I have met who has wanted to learn OpenGL has gotten something out of NeHe's tutorials. It's an amazing place to start for beginners, and, just like any other book, you're not going to learn OpenGL the first time through. No matter where you learn it from, the only way you will learn it is to do it, and do it repeatedly.

  11. #11
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    Nehe's tutorial is quite easy to follow, but that glaux replacement is unavaliable, the link to the replacement zip comes up as error. So I was unable to move on.

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    This is a little out of context, but you should check out this site: http://tassadar.physics.auth.gr/~cha...php?key=opengl

    It has many commerical OpenGL books availible for free download, including "Beginning OpenGL Game Programming".

  13. #13
    Registered User Frobozz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by joeprogrammer
    This is a little out of context, but you should check out this site: http://tassadar.physics.auth.gr/~cha...php?key=opengl

    It has many commerical OpenGL books availible for free download, including "Beginning OpenGL Game Programming".
    Something tells me that site is not legal.

  14. #14
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    Let's just pretend we didn't think of that possibiliy

  15. #15
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by joeprogrammer
    This is a little out of context, but you should check out this site: http://tassadar.physics.auth.gr/~cha...php?key=opengl

    It has many commerical OpenGL books availible for free download, including "Beginning OpenGL Game Programming".
    I tried downloading the shader book but the unzip failed

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