Thread: Where do i start game programming

That depends, what do you already know? You might check out the Allegro library. Easy to learn, cross platform, powerful... see my sig if you would like a quick and easy way to install it for your compiler.

Sorry, none of my games are available for download right now. However, a few Allegro games can be seen at www.allegro.cc

your new great 3d shooter is a few years off.

Here is what to do

First get a compiler..

Dev C++ is perfect for newbies get it at www.bloodshed.net

then go to Secret Document and find the link for the book C++ in 21 days.

after reading most off it, get the book Programming Windows 5th edtion

you must buy the book, there is no way to avoid it.

Allegro is a powerful, cross platform, multimedia library for C/C++. It provides simple functions for accessing video, audio, gaming devices, etc. OpenGL can plug into it for hardware accelerated 3D. Version 4.0 has just been released and supports Windows, Linux, BeOS, etc without having to change a single line of code.

I have found that if you have a small grasp on C/C++, Allegro is an excellent alternative to using a console to learn from.. but you will need to know basic concepts, like, what is color depth or screen resolution. What is a pointer. That sort of thing. Though Allegro is easy, it is used as a professional tool as well, so you don't have to worry about finding yourself at a dead end, like learning BASIC. Allegro is as fast as DirectX.

No offense, but you are a long way from making games. Learn C/C++ first, not just "basic string functions". Learn how/where/why things are stored, if you can't whip up a C/C++ off the top of your head to do basic things, then you're definitely going to struggle with a text-based console game, let alone a graphical game using allegro and/or directx.

if you think your anywhere near making AOE2, then you are mistaken... many people work together very hard to create a game like that.. it's not done overnight when you've learned the basic C++ string functions the night before.

come back and ask questions when you know something, you have starting doing things by yourself, and you need help on something specific.

if you want to talk about the up/downs pros/cons of something, then you're better off in the general discussions forum.

thanks
U.

Read my posts on how to use/start up with Allegro here. If it is over your head, you need to study the C/C++ language more first.

from the list of things that you have specified (and the way that you specified them) you've got a long way to go.

get into C++, read tutorials, code some programs, when you know classes, inheritance, polymorphism, structures, unions, and more than just basic string functions then consolidate your knowledge by practising more... then start to delve into the windows API.

get yourself a game programming book and read it.. that'll give you a good idea on what you need to know... and i think you'll be suprised just how complicated it can get if you don't know enough about programming.

U.

That depends upon your compiler. If you are using Dev-C++ and used my installer, just use the Allegro templates when you first create your program. It will set up the linker options. For MSVC, you have to add the lib into your linker options manually for now. Again, Allegro is a pretty easy way to get into graphics... if you think you are ready to get into graphics (which is a programming field in and of itself). Nobody goes through the exact same learning path. Good luck on your journey.