IonicWind Software

Aurora Compiler => 2D Graphics => Topic started by: Brandlingill on August 24, 2006, 11:26:19 AM

Title: Games programming
Post by: Brandlingill on August 24, 2006, 11:26:19 AM
Hi.

I have been looking at games programming books at Amazon but I don't know where to start. The subjects I have heard people talking about are directx, opengl and ogre. There is nothing about ogre at Amazon, several books about opengl and plenty about directx. It's all very confusing to me so can anyone recommend a good place to start? Thanks.
Title: Re: Games programming
Post by: kryton9 on August 24, 2006, 12:43:57 PM
It all depends on a lot of things from what I read.

First, is this for your own hobby type programming or do you want to make it a possible career. Then is it going to be a game for console systems, windows or linux. Then will it be a 2d or 3d based game.

In almost any language I programmed in, I always was able to make a game. The point where it matters is the level of sophistication and graphics.

OpenGL for non windows based systems and directx for windows systems.

I and others can give you better advice once we know more about the focus of your interest. It is a wide open field and so many game types hard to give a fixed rule.
Title: Re: Games programming
Post by: Brandlingill on August 24, 2006, 02:30:15 PM
Hi.

I would like to do it as a hobby, not professionally. It would mainly be for Windows and possibly Linux as well but not consoles. Ultimately I'd like to be able to make 3d games but I suspect starting off with 2d games would be an idea. I am assuming that 2d is less complicated than 3d of course. I'd like to learn games, not so much to produce a game that I could sell but to advance in my knowledge of programming and graphics. I have written a few small programmes for specific tasks but this would be purely for the enjoyment of learning. I hope that explains what I am trying to achieve a little better.

Are you saying that OpenGL and directx are similar, but for different platforms? If so, would you recommend that I buy a book on directx?

Thanks K9.
Title: Re: Games programming
Post by: kryton9 on August 24, 2006, 04:38:50 PM
Since you are like me, a hobbyist doing it for own fun and learning. I recommened staying away from directx and opengl books. They would be something you might look at in the future if you want to really get into things, but not really necessary.

Personaly, I find 3D a lot easier than 2D games. The reason, no need for really complicated artwork. Yes you will need to learn how to model in 3D, but that in its self is part of the fun and it is a challenge. Even for 2D, many of the new games, use 3d models and generate the 2d shots they need for their games.

Also, Aurora as well as other languages that support gaming offer easy commands to make the basic models.

Check out these demos for Aurora:
http://www.ionicwind.com/forums/index.php?topic=777.0    Great demo, showing a lot of advanced gaming concepts written in Aurora Alpha.

http://www.ionicwind.com/forums/index.php?topic=811.0   Cool space demo. Again written with Aurora Alpha

http://www.ionicwind.com/forums/index.php?topic=858.0    simple space racing game, Aurora Alpha

Also Paul, has many cool examples in the Aurora/Examples/D3D folder.

As you can see, although the code can look tough, for a game or surprising demo, it is not as hard to follow as a C or C++ language based game.

2 Other popular languages for gameing are Blitz Basic and Dark Basic Professional. I haven't really played with Blitz Basic passed the trial version, but I did buy Dark Basic Pro and
to me it is very very easy to learn and program and get started in making games. But after you get the basics and although you can do awesome things with Dark Basic Pro, really awesome things... the fact is that eventually you want to go with a more advanced language that offer OOP, and that is where Aurora comes in.

Just in an Alpha version now, but already a lot can be done and soon Beta is coming out with lots of more goodies.

I should mention that the 2D stuff is along well in Aurora too, I have not spent time with it, but will start soon to pass time till the next beta release.

Well will stop here, can answer more questions, so ask away.
Title: Re: Games programming
Post by: Brandlingill on August 25, 2006, 12:15:10 AM
That is a very helpful reply and some of it the opposite to what I had expected. For now I'll take a look at the demos you posted links to and wait for Aurora beta to be released. I'll try to work the code out for myself but it's nice to have somewhere to ask questions if I get stuck. Thank you very much kryton9.
Title: Re: Games programming
Post by: kryton9 on August 25, 2006, 12:57:38 AM
You are welcome. When you have time to read, take a look at this site.  A new discovery for me too, lots of good info.
http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~amitp/gameprog.html