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Hello,

I have never written codes for games. I am a very good (i think) C, C++, MATLAB and python programmer.
I want to start writing codes for games. Apparently i have to learn C# and use Visual studio.
I don't really like Windows tough (i use Linux: Ubuntu). However, if i have to use Windows to develop
game, so be it.

My questions are:
What language should is use?
What compiler should i use?
Do i really have to learn a new language?
Is there a game that every beginner starts with? (a "Hello World!" type of game) :D

Thank you very much in advance

Posted 30-Jan-11 4:00am

The_Real_Chubaka

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OriginalGriff · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-30T04:11:00

Solution 1

What language should is use?
Depends really: Games generally need speed, and to be portable to multiple platforms. If you are looking at Linux based systems to start off with, then C# is not a good choice - you would need Mono on each platform in order to play it. C++ is a good start.
I would be tempted to look at XNA[^] - you could do worse.

What compiler should i use?
Depends on language, platform, etc.

Do i really have to learn a new language?
Quite possibly, yes. If you are seriously intending to write professional games, then you will need to use whatever the rest of the team is using - and gaming teams are well organised nowadays, "back bedroom" productions are not mainstream anymore.

Is there a game that every beginner starts with? (a "Hello World!" type of game)
No! Who wants to write a game that's been done before? :laugh:

Seriously, have a look at XNA: it could be a good starting point, and at least shows potential employers that you have some skill, and are aware that frameworks are needed.

Posted 30-Jan-11 4:11am

OriginalGriff

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Espen Harlinn 30-Jan-11 10:31am

Three more or less identical answers :)

OriginalGriff 30-Jan-11 10:33am

Is that "Great minds have the same ideas", or "fools think alike?" I wonder?

Espen Harlinn 30-Jan-11 11:02am

Rumor has it that I'm a 98.97% fool :) fooling around can be fun too ...
(http://caps.fool.com/player/stockcommander.aspx)

OriginalGriff 30-Jan-11 11:05am

Yeah, but you're 747 out of 72685, which means there are a lot of bigger fools than you!
I assume that it is play money, rather than real beer tokens you are using?

Espen Harlinn 30-Jan-11 11:22am

Depends - all of the short stuff is play, and I haven't entered into anything new for a long time.

A near full recovery of the DOW in under two years - somehow I can't make myself believe that this is sustainable; not until we see a significant improvement when it comes to employment related to tangible goods - not iPhones and Apps, but I've been wrong before - there is a reason it's called fool.com

OriginalGriff 30-Jan-11 11:26am

"employment related to tangible goods" - can't see it myself, the Chinese seem to be making everything cheaper than the west can make the case, let alone the insides as well.
About the only thing we have left is innovation...and they seem pretty quick to copy new stuff too.

Espen Harlinn 30-Jan-11 12:39pm

Yes, I think it'll have to grow from innovation, but there should be definitely be room for innovation in production and argiculture too. A free floating yuan would also help ...

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 30-Jan-11 11:43am

In our culture there is no first saying, second one literally sounds: "Fools' thoughts converges". A positive connotation of similarity in ideas is expressed as "Ideas runs in the air" which is quite different from "Great minds...". In this way, contradiction is resolved. Great minds are expected to be different (paradoxical), so is Ivan-the-Fool found in many cultures (John, Juan) who is depicted in fairly tails as a good soul, lazy but non-greedy non-conformist -- so "fool" is often used in positive connotation.

At the end this person gets all "5"s.
--SA

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 30-Jan-11 11:51am

An example of relatively modern proverb with negative connotation of "fool" sound like:

"Send a fool for a bottle -- and he will bring -- one".

(What's funny, not everyone understands the idea of this proverb correctly, as it was intendend.)
--SA

Henry Minute · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-30T04:14:00

It is certainly possible to write games in C++. It can be hard work though. One advantage of doing it is that you will, hopefully, learn a lot about Windows internals. Google for c++ writing games and you will get loads of useful tutorials as well as loads of advice, both for and against.

You can write games using php writing games the same applies to the results as for c++.

The XNA Game Studio[^] just makes it a lot easier.

Do some googling and reading. Only then will you be able to decide which way to go.

Espen Harlinn · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-30T04:25:00

>> What language should is use?
If you know C++, you'll probably be better of sticking with it, but c# is an option.
>> What compiler should i use?
Microsoft Visual C++ enjoys better support than any other compiler, even by open source projects
>> Do i really have to learn a new language?
No, but you might enjoy it. If you know C++, C# shouldn't be too hard to learn.
>> Is there a game that every beginner starts with? (a "Hello World!" type of game)
Download XNA GameStudio[^] and take a look at Ogre3D[^] - both have ample starter projects and tutorials.

If you want to take advange of existing code, I would say that C++ offers the wider range of high quality libraries. Most "real" games use C++ and add/use DSLs and scripting capabilites as needed.

Away3D[^] offers some amazing capabilites if you would like to put your game inside a web browser :)

Regards
Espen Harlinn

CPallini · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-30T08:17:00

Use C++ if you're developing games for desktop PC. As far as I know professional game developers doesn't like the possibility of a garbage collection cycle in midst of program execution (they don't like the unpredictability of it - They might be wrong and this attitude will probably change). The other reason is raw perfonce. In games performance actually matters and I believe (in spite of 'some benchmarks') that well written C++ is faster than well written C#.
:)

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