cgannon64
BOB DYLAN'S ROCKIN OUT!
Just found a nice little intro course to QBasic. Its not much, but at least it gets me familiar to using a language, and the terms and stuff. 
Game Programming...
- Thread starter cgannon64
- Start date
CrackedCrystal
Where am I?
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2002
- Messages
- 1,007
BASIC is a great starting language. I started with TrueBASIC as a sophmore in High School. I now have experience programming in C, Pascal, BASIC, VHDL, and various assembly languages. Yeah, VHDL is not a programing language in the classic sense (it actaully is used to design hardware) but uses alot of the same principles.
I love programming in assembly. Its not very useful in practice, but its fun :jump:
Also, when you learn an assembly language, you really start to understand how computer processors work.
I love programming in assembly. Its not very useful in practice, but its fun :jump:
Also, when you learn an assembly language, you really start to understand how computer processors work.
cgannon64
BOB DYLAN'S ROCKIN OUT!
So far it doesn't seem very useful to know BASIC. All I can do is make a number guessing game and a rudimentary calculator. 
CrackedCrystal
Where am I?
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2002
- Messages
- 1,007
Originally posted by cgannon64
So far it doesn't seem very useful to know BASIC. All I can do is make a number guessing game and a rudimentary calculator.
You have to start somewhere.
My first program:
The standard "Hello World" program
My second program:
Printing something along the lines of...
"5 + 2 = 7"
Where the number 7 was calculated.
My third program:
It counted down from 10 using a loop.
Learn the basics, then you'll get into the big stuff.
Scripting in UNIX/Linux is very helpful.
It also helps getting a job with software developers even if you only take out the trash - it will give you a chance to talk to them on a daily basis and ask questions, questions, questions!
I also must say that Unreal Tournament does NOT use the Quake engine. It uses the Unreal Engine which was is constantly being updated. Look at UT 2003 with is using an updated Unreal Engine and then Unreal 2 which is using a further updated engine.
It also helps getting a job with software developers even if you only take out the trash - it will give you a chance to talk to them on a daily basis and ask questions, questions, questions!
I also must say that Unreal Tournament does NOT use the Quake engine. It uses the Unreal Engine which was is constantly being updated. Look at UT 2003 with is using an updated Unreal Engine and then Unreal 2 which is using a further updated engine.
A game is simply a computer program. It's written like any other computer program: using a programming language, and is shipped with relevant data files (i.e. graphics, sound, etc).
I was fascinated by the idea of making a game as a teenager, so much that I learnt to program in C and C++ just so I could write games. I ended up liking programming more than I did games though. Civilization III is the only game I play at the moment, and before that came out, I didn't play any games at all for several years.
The idea of programming games still fascinates me (at the moment I'm stuck doing relatively boring stockmarket stuff), but even if you're skilled, the industry is small and difficult to get into.
To get into game development, you have to be skilled in one of the major areas: programming, graphics, or perhaps sound. Being able to 'design cool levels' almost certainly isn't going to cut it.
Being good at physics and math is helpful. Nothing too complicated though, just some fundamentals.
If you want to learn a language, C++ is the best but hardest language to know. If you want to start with something easy, you could try Python. It's free, and easy. There's a Python module specifically designed for doing games: www.pygames.com
Also, if you want to learn more about programming generally, I suggest considering installing Linux on your machine. It has lots of free language environments (including C++, Python, and others), and will teach you alot more about how computers work. (NOTE: I am not advocating Linux as a good desktop operating system for all or most computer users, but for someone who wants to learn to program).
If you have questions about learning how to program, the IRC channel #C++ on irc.freenode.net is good - I'm regularly on there with the same nick as here. I'd be happy to answer questions on programming in more detail there...
-Sirp.
I was fascinated by the idea of making a game as a teenager, so much that I learnt to program in C and C++ just so I could write games. I ended up liking programming more than I did games though. Civilization III is the only game I play at the moment, and before that came out, I didn't play any games at all for several years.
The idea of programming games still fascinates me (at the moment I'm stuck doing relatively boring stockmarket stuff), but even if you're skilled, the industry is small and difficult to get into.
To get into game development, you have to be skilled in one of the major areas: programming, graphics, or perhaps sound. Being able to 'design cool levels' almost certainly isn't going to cut it.
Being good at physics and math is helpful. Nothing too complicated though, just some fundamentals.
If you want to learn a language, C++ is the best but hardest language to know. If you want to start with something easy, you could try Python. It's free, and easy. There's a Python module specifically designed for doing games: www.pygames.com
Also, if you want to learn more about programming generally, I suggest considering installing Linux on your machine. It has lots of free language environments (including C++, Python, and others), and will teach you alot more about how computers work. (NOTE: I am not advocating Linux as a good desktop operating system for all or most computer users, but for someone who wants to learn to program).
If you have questions about learning how to program, the IRC channel #C++ on irc.freenode.net is good - I'm regularly on there with the same nick as here. I'd be happy to answer questions on programming in more detail there...
-Sirp.
Most Programmers will tell you to start with a modern language, such as C or C++.
Any knowledgeable software designer will tell you "...not so...".
C and C++ are too forgiving. First you need to learn software designing with a non-forgiving language, even if it has less abilities.
Pascal is perfect for that purpose. Pascal will give you the best software designing education, with procedures, processes, recursive programming and modular programming.
After you learn designing software, changing the language you use is just a matter of learning how the orders are written. But the firm base of modular software designing, as efficient as possible, will already be built inside you.
At least that's what I think...
Any knowledgeable software designer will tell you "...not so...".
C and C++ are too forgiving. First you need to learn software designing with a non-forgiving language, even if it has less abilities.
Pascal is perfect for that purpose. Pascal will give you the best software designing education, with procedures, processes, recursive programming and modular programming.
After you learn designing software, changing the language you use is just a matter of learning how the orders are written. But the firm base of modular software designing, as efficient as possible, will already be built inside you.
At least that's what I think...
Excellent point, Iceblaze! 
I heartily recommend Pascal as a first language. It forces you to do things "correctly", so you don't learn bad habits. Like Iceblaze said, once you know how to program in one language, learning a new language is relatively easy: you already will know how to design a program, the only difference is how the "orders" are written.
I heartily recommend Pascal as a first language. It forces you to do things "correctly", so you don't learn bad habits. Like Iceblaze said, once you know how to program in one language, learning a new language is relatively easy: you already will know how to design a program, the only difference is how the "orders" are written.
GenghisK
...
Plus a really important piece of advice.
In pascal or C, please please please, don't think basic! I mean NEVER use goto instruction. That's really a stupid one, and i still wonder why they integrated such a stupid command in an advanced language such as Pascal or C!!
In pascal or C, please please please, don't think basic! I mean NEVER use goto instruction. That's really a stupid one, and i still wonder why they integrated such a stupid command in an advanced language such as Pascal or C!!
I second that GenghisK.
Using GoTo is a nono, opposite of modular programming that only leads to trouble and lack of ability to support your programs in a later stage.
That caused downfall of many small start ups, the disability to support programs due to non-modular programming.
Using GoTo is a nono, opposite of modular programming that only leads to trouble and lack of ability to support your programs in a later stage.
That caused downfall of many small start ups, the disability to support programs due to non-modular programming.
cgannon64
BOB DYLAN'S ROCKIN OUT!
Anyone know where I can get a good, free Pascal compiler that is easy to install? I've tried unsuccessfully several times...
xerxes_thegreat
Times a bajillion.
Hey, cgannon, I'm also interested in programming, and I was just wondering if you've made any progress in your searches, and if so, if you could show me a few links to any helpful sites. It would be greatly appreciated!
A couple sites that may be of interest:
Game Programming Specific
http://www.gamedev.net
http://www.flipcode.com
Good online books for Java and C++ (Thinking in C++ and Thinking in Java both by Bruce Eckel)
http://www.mindview.net/Books
As far as a language, I would suggest C++ or Java. Both are good complete languages. One minor thing though, some might jump and say "But Java is slow", well that is more programmer error than anything. It certainly will be a little slower than equivlant C++ code, but unless you're doing scientific computing, or trying to write the next version of Quake, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Game Programming Specific
http://www.gamedev.net
http://www.flipcode.com
Good online books for Java and C++ (Thinking in C++ and Thinking in Java both by Bruce Eckel)
http://www.mindview.net/Books
As far as a language, I would suggest C++ or Java. Both are good complete languages. One minor thing though, some might jump and say "But Java is slow", well that is more programmer error than anything. It certainly will be a little slower than equivlant C++ code, but unless you're doing scientific computing, or trying to write the next version of Quake, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Similar threads
