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Thread: So many languages...so little time...

  1. #1
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    So many languages...so little time...

    Hi. I'm trying to make my own game. I've done stuff like sprites and music, but I'm missing the fundemental aspect of a game, the coding. The thing is , I have no programming skills whatsoever.

    So...which programming language do you think I should learn? I'm patient and have plenty of time on my hands. I'd like to learn a language properly (not just using a game creation package, or pre-written engine) as It will no-doubt come into further use someday.

    I've read a few Introductions of tutorials, and most of the languages seem the same. From what I can tell, C++ seems to be the easiest. Any suggestions?

    Thanks!

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    Flak Monkey! Dorza's Avatar
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    First of all what kind of game do you want to make?

    The basics of C++ are pretty easy to grasp but C++ can get pretty complex, particularly if your going to want a GUI interface. I personally think that Visual Basic is a good place to start for complete beginners anyway. With the right support you could get a game going with VB in time and you can customize the interface pretty much to what you would like in terms of style. Ive made a couple of games and the coding for them is pretty lengthy, even though their not very complex games i.e their 2d dont have alot of functionality to them and they wont keep you occupied for more than a few minutes.
    Last edited by Dorza; 17-09-2004 at 10:18 PM.

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    Ah, Mrs. Peel! mike_w's Avatar
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    I've tried learning Visual Basic. The most important thing, in my opinion, about learning this language is learning about programming in general. If I ever get into a career in programming, then I probably won't use Visual Basic. But the way of thinking and overcoming problems in programming is, I think, the most important thing to learn. All I hope to learn from Visual Basic is that way of thinking and general programming practises.

    Just for learning, I've found Visual Basic quite easy. Unfortunately, I don't know of any online guides or decent books, which you'll probably need if you want to learn Visual Basic or in fact any other language.
    "Well, there was your Uncle Tiberius who died wrapped in cabbage leaves but we assumed that was a freak accident."

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    Cheers.

    I was planning to make a kind of side scrolling RPG shooter. Eventually, I'd like to make a decent point and click adventure game, but at the moment, I haven't got time to pre-render all the backgrounds.

    Is Visual Basic the same language used in Dark Basic? I've used a demo tutorial and (altough I can't remember any code) I do rember finding the coding quite lengthy but also, kind of simple.

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    bored out of my tiny mind malfunction's Avatar
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    If you're just interested in writing games might I recommend:

    http://www.blitzbasic.com/

    Does 2d + 3d (get Blitz3d - the 2d in BlitzPlus is VERY slow) and has a freely downloadable demo to get you started.

    If you want to learn to program in general then I'd recommend Java for teaching you good (OO) programming principles. If you still want to focus on games / low level stuff then C++ would be a better idea than Java.

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    LWA
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    Ditto to what malfuntion says about Java, it's a great starting language. I studied it when I started at Uni. I found it to be quick to pick up and very powerful. There is also a very comprehensive API that details all the methods java uses and shows what parameters they take and what they return. Graphical User Interfaces can be created relatively painlessly as well once you know the basics.

    Check out http://java.sun.com/ if you're interested. Contains all the downloads and tutorials you will need to get started.

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    Senior Member Kezzer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fletch
    Hi. I'm trying to make my own game. I've done stuff like sprites and music, but I'm missing the fundemental aspect of a game, the coding. The thing is , I have no programming skills whatsoever.

    So...which programming language do you think I should learn? I'm patient and have plenty of time on my hands. I'd like to learn a language properly (not just using a game creation package, or pre-written engine) as It will no-doubt come into further use someday.

    I've read a few Introductions of tutorials, and most of the languages seem the same. From what I can tell, C++ seems to be the easiest. Any suggestions?

    Thanks!
    If you're not a programmer at the moment then it's going to take you years before you can even start making a game. Most people underestimate how difficult it really is. It is going to take you a LONG time.

    C++ is the easiest? No, it's the one of the hardest out the lot.

    Also, if you're planning to make a games engine yourself we're talking along the lines of 6 years experience in programming or more. I'm not saying this just to be harsh but it's true fact. I know someone who owns a games engine and he knew C# when he was 17. He's now 30 and had only started making a games engine 5 years ago.

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    Err...OK, thanks. I've been out today and had a look at a few programming books. It didn't occur to me to check out Java stuff, though. Contrary to what I said before, C++ does look hard, but then, so do the rest.

    I don't intend to make a fully fledged, sellable game, it's just a personal project, really.

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    LWA
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    Well good luck in your quest to become a 'Code Monkey' :-)

    Always remember if you need help, you know who to call.......

    HEXUS!!!!!!!

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    IRN-BRU(tm)
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    Java is the best for learning, the API is very very well documented and the structure of the language is simple, there are also great tutorials and the Java Almanac. Java can support any kind of application (console, gui, full screen exclusive) and has a very nice method for controlling input events which would be great in your game. However read about threads before hand as java can sometimes throw errors at you from direction you were not expecting, also the drawing cycle is a little lame, thread wise, unless you do it correctly, read tutorials and the almighty Almanac.

    http://javaalmanac.com/ existing coders may never have to write code again

    start by writing breakout or space invaders this will get you used to 2d programming, threading, handling input, double buffering, collision detection etc.

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    I don't think you want to plunge right in and try to produce code for the games you have described. I can agree with Purple above. Write a game of battleships in C/C++, do PacMan in java, do Pong in VB. They could be ASCII, they could have a GUI.

    You will have to pick up some books and write some programs, learn the arrays, ineheritance, streams, OO and polymorphism. It's like you say, 'So...which programming language do you think I should learn?'. You will have to learn.

    Then do some basic games.

    Or you could go the route of what malfunction suggests.
    To err is human. To really foul things up ... you need a computer.

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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    java is a good first language, but not ideal for games. learn java proficiently, then move onto another language once you have a firm grasp of programming principles - e.g. ansi c or c++

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    IRN-BRU(tm)
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    java is fine for games you just have to be good at it and/or use the correct APIs. C++ is a significantly faster, far better language for commercial games but for your home, after school / work piss arounds java is all good. java has a bad rep due to its inconceivably poorly programmed, bulky, slow, memory leaking standard API, but avoid that and write your own List, Vector, String classes and its fine, especially for 2D. C++ is the only way to go if your serious about getting a job programming, although java developers get paid more...

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    DsW
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    Quote Originally Posted by KeZZeR
    I know someone who owns a games engine and he knew C# when he was 17. He's now 30 and had only started making a games engine 5 years ago.
    He knew C# 13 years ago? Boy is he good...

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