Off Topic: The Flood
This topic has moved here: Subject: Programming...
  • Subject: Programming...
Subject: Programming...
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Yea im getting into programming, ive already started and have a good grasp for C++... does anyone know of a website that explains the structural code of a game? say like a sidescroller like super mario brothers? or maybe a tetris type game? all i find is websites with tutorials about C++ in general... but i want a website that will tell me what i need to code to have a functional game...

  • 08.12.2004 4:04 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

www.gamemakers.nl you can make your own games and it gives good instructions.

  • 08.12.2004 4:07 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

is it a game making program?

  • 08.12.2004 4:17 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

yes. but you can download stuff for it. you can make your own game etc. and have stuff already made for you

[Edited on 8/12/2004 4:20:28 PM]

  • 08.12.2004 4:19 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

no... you dont get it... i want to code my own game using C++...

  • 08.13.2004 4:13 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

First off, there's no such thing as a 'game making program'. Secondly, to really use C++ (or any modern programming language) you must TRULY understand object oriented programming.

Lastly, making a game means you must know, not only the original Ansi 2d Drawing Lib, but also either DirectX (3D) or OpenGL (most games are going with DX since opengl seems outdated these days).

Lastly, you need a team of developers to make an actual game.

For something simplisitic like pong, or even boggle (I've programmed both) you need only the drawing libs, and source coding capabilities.

  • 08.13.2004 4:21 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Too true. So many people get into programming and CS classes because they love games and want to make them, but most lack an understanding of not only the time/money/manpower requirements, but also a grasp of how far thier miniscule level of experience will take them.

No offence to MJOLNIRdragoon, but it's gonna be a LONG time of writing menial and insignifigant programs before you have the experience necessary to even make a simple side scroller. You have to learn to walk before you can run.

  • 08.13.2004 4:27 PM PDT

Tom Achronos
Bungie.net Overlord
twitter: http://twitter.com/Achronos

"I have no words that would do justice to the atrocities you commit to the English language, as well as your continued assaults on the concepts of basic literacy and logical reasoning."

A good idea would be to examine the source code of some existing engines, and see what parts you understand, or seem interesting. You much more likely to make a career out of it if you specialize in something, like AI or graphics. AI, in particular, is something that is in high demand. In any case, be prepared to spend a lot of time doing hard self studying. Not everybody is cut out for it.

There are several engines that you can view the source code - Quake, Marathon, open source engines like Crystal Space. Be aware that a lot of this code is C, not C++, and you should learn the difference - it is more than just objects.

  • 08.13.2004 4:56 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Sage advice, sir. I was looking forward to a career in programming, but later decided it was the design aspects I was interested in, and am now a graphic arts major with a minor in CS.

Some advice for those of you looking for experience, join a mod team, or start one of your own. That gives you a hands-on look at the inner workings of a fully realized engine and will provide a taste of poffessional development. In fact, many of today's developers got their start working on a mod that was perticularly impressive and creative on an existing engine.

  • 08.13.2004 5:58 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I have to agree with Archonos and Surge in this case, I love programming from a certain perspective and I found that out the hard way. My favorite (and hopefully it will end in great fruitation) is programming network side code. The first program I ever did (I'm still finishing my degree in Information Systems Managment with an emphasis in Comp. Engineering and Comp. Sci) with network code, I was hook. It was SO fun to watch you and your friend manipulate packets (in C then moving to C++) and making a half-assed instant messanger out of it! All the while we were supposed to be making an FTP program. (You should have seen the look on our professor's face when we told him we integrated an instant messanger).

But none the less, practice some, get into it quite a bit. You may find out you don't like it, or are not just cut out for it, nothing wrong with either :)


I wanted to edit this since I thought of something else. Along the lines of Surge's suggestion about a mod team, be weary. I was doing 3D animation/modelling for a Quake 3 mod team when I was young 14 until I was 17ish. It was fun for a while, but I found out I did not like doing Animation and modelling like Surge (I also owned a web design company when I was 14 until I was 15 but that only made it worse!)

[Edited on 8/13/2004 6:08:59 PM]

  • 08.13.2004 6:05 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

When I first started using C++, I download the CDX game development library. This was really easy to use, even just starting out. It didn't contain that many classes, and was really a shortcut in DirectX programming. I'd take a look at it:

http://www.cdxlib.com/

It's really simple, and allows you to easily create some cool games fast, without having to write code to load bitmaps and such.

  • 08.13.2004 6:14 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Abolitionofman
First off, there's no such thing as a 'game making program'.


..Yes, actually, there is.

RPGMaker95/2000/2003, Game Maker, FighterMaker, ShooterMaker, they're all 'Game Making Programs'.. It's even in their names. Sure, there's ways you can look at it like saying "There are no programs that just make games out of nothing." but there ARE programs that give a quick slip'n'slide click-click-enter approach to making a fairly well made video game.

Aside from that, yeah, you guys are right. :P

  • 08.13.2004 6:17 PM PDT