Any game programmers here?

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
Nice map.

I did some game coding long ago before college, for companies that no longer exist like Adventure International. Back then it was character set tiles for maps, sprites instead of polygons, and 6502 assembly for speed. Plus we had to walk through the snow to school, uphill both ways :)

Since college I've been doing C++ / Win32 / MFC development for a couple of e-learning companies, statistical analysis software for one, content creation tools for my current employer.

Most of the people doing development here are in other areas besides games, though I've seen one or two people working for game companies posting in Off-Topic threads about how messed up working for a game company is these days (long hours for mediocre pay with no overtime, layoffs once a project is finished).
 

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
Plus we had to walk through the snow to school, uphill both ways
Heh :).
I mainly do game programming just as a hobby anyways, kind of fun once you see the end result....
Yeah the reason I posted was mainly to see if there were people like me around. I guess there's a few ;).

-TPG
 

ArmchairAthlete

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2002
3,763
0
0
I've made a space-invaders type game where you're my school mascot shooting up my rival school's mascot type guys =)

Then for a class I did the bulk of the work for a Sim University game. No 3D stuff (yet).

I work full time now when I'm not taking classes as a coop so I don't have as much time to make games (although I still want to go further when I can).

BTW thanks for the site Pentium Guy! I'm past learning the basics of VB.NET now but if I want to try making a game with it I'll go read some stuff there.

EDIT: I have a school page with some stuff I've done on it, not sure if I want to link it and reveal info like my name though.
 

mdchesne

Banned
Feb 27, 2005
2,810
1
0
i found it much easier to find a map editor and edit the map editor code for my more.. specific needs. Make the physical map on the improved program, and then code in the AI, GUI etc
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
I've thought of getting the $100 engine license from GarageGames.com but don't really have time to do anything with it right now.

I am thinking of doing some modding work though (tools, scripting, level design maybe even messing with skinning / modelling) since that seems a lot more practical for spare time / hobby work than coding anything significant from scratch.

Neverwinter Nights, Morrowind, UT2K4 all seem to have good modding tools support and active communities of modders.
 

Pr0d1gy

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2005
7,774
0
76
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
I've thought of getting the $100 engine license from GarageGames.com but don't really have time to do anything with it right now.

I am thinking of doing some modding work though (tools, scripting, level design maybe even messing with skinning / modelling) since that seems a lot more practical for spare time / hobby work than coding anything significant from scratch.

Neverwinter Nights, Morrowind, UT2K4 all seem to have good modding tools support and active communities of modders.


Don't forget Battlefield 2 is about to come out with full mod support...Desert Combat anyone? It could be something good for you to work with as I hear it is very intuitive.
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,674
1,843
126
I'm learning Windows programming (started today, actually) and I'd like to do some 2D game development.

I need to get dropdown menus working first though. ;)
 

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
What language? In VB6 or any of the .NET languages (VB.NET for instance) it's simply "click and drag" a dropdown menu :p.

In Java you'd do something like
JMenuBar menuBar;
JMenu menuBigMenu;
JMenu menuSubMenu;

menuSubMenu.CaptionorTextOrWhateverItsCalled = "My Sub Menu";
menuBigMenu.CaptionorTextOrWhateverItsCalled = "My Main Menu";
menuBigMenu.add(menuSubMenu)
menuBar.add(menuBigMenu)

myJPanel.add(myMenubar)

C++, I'm not even going there :eek:. Windows programming in C++ = !!!!!!

-The Pentium Guy
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,674
1,843
126
Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
What language? In VB6 or any of the .NET languages (VB.NET for instance) it's simply "click and drag" a dropdown menu :p.

In Java you'd do something like
JMenuBar menuBar;
JMenu menuBigMenu;
JMenu menuSubMenu;

menuSubMenu.CaptionorTextOrWhateverItsCalled = "My Sub Menu";
menuBigMenu.CaptionorTextOrWhateverItsCalled = "My Main Menu";
menuBigMenu.add(menuSubMenu)
menuBar.add(menuBigMenu)

myJPanel.add(myMenubar)

C++, I'm not even going there :eek:. Windows programming in C++ = !!!!!!

-The Pentium Guy

C++

I want to learn VB next. I'm not a programmer, but I needed some stuff done at work and had to do it in QBASIC. I didn't mind it, but I ran into limitations very quickly (obviously).

C++ seems useful, and not too hard, but I bought a book that uses "UnderC" which I don't have any interest in.
 

EvilManagedCare

Senior member
Nov 6, 2004
324
0
0
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Nice map.

I did some game coding long ago before college, for companies that no longer exist like Adventure International. Back then it was character set tiles for maps, sprites instead of polygons, and 6502 assembly for speed. Plus we had to walk through the snow to school, uphill both ways :)

Dave, at the risk of sounding star struck, I loved the old Adventure International games. I was never any good at them, but I loved them. I will never forget playing Pirate's Island on my old Ti 99/4a and making the breakthrough with 'SAY YOHO.' Never was able to finish the sequel, which I believe was the first Adventure International title with graphics: Return to Pirate's Isle. Scott Addams has a website up and he sounds like a pretty grounded guy. When I was stuck I actually called Adventure International and asked to speak with him to get hints (I think I was like 12). Oddly enough, I couldn't get through to him.

 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
Originally posted by: EvilManagedCare
Dave, at the risk of sounding star struck, I loved the old Adventure International games. I was never any good at them, but I loved them. I will never forget playing Pirate's Island on my old Ti 99/4a and making the breakthrough with 'SAY YOHO.' Never was able to finish the sequel, which I believe was the first Adventure International title with graphics: Return to Pirate's Isle. Scott Addams has a website up and he sounds like a pretty grounded guy. When I was stuck I actually called Adventure International and asked to speak with him to get hints (I think I was like 12). Oddly enough, I couldn't get through to him.
they were a cool company back in the long ago :)
I did a few Atari 800 games for them (Stone of Sisyphus, Star Trek, Galactic Empire & - Trader) and one Commodore 64 game (Sea Dragon) that came out just as they were going bankrupt (d'oh!)

I didn't make a ton of money doing it, but it was fun and good training for when I went to college to get my BS in Computer Science.

Heh, here's a vanity page I did in 1999 when I was first learning HTML: 80s flashback!
 

Poulsonator

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2002
1,597
0
76
Dave, if you don't mind, what e-learning company do you/did you work for? I've worked for one for the last 5 years myself...

 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
I worked for MicroCase (statistical analysis software for the college market) until Thomson Learning acquired us in 1999 and I didn't feel like moving to N. CA.

Since 2000 I've been at Respondus, Inc. which makes content creation and publishing tools for servers from WebCT, Blackboard, eCollege, ANGEL, etc. We're a small company but it's cool to design apps used in 50 countries and over 2,000 universities :)

How about youf? Feel free to PM if your employer is more strict about revealing your secret identity.
 

Poulsonator

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2002
1,597
0
76
Yea, I realised after I asked that I didn't divulge my information. Not very fair, eh? Anyways, I've been with OutStart for the last 5 years. Exciting at first, since my wife and I moved from Fayetteville, AR to Orlando, FL, but anymore it's just a job. Still, I've made some great friends and we love it here in Central Florida.

Personally, I find e-learning some of the most boring crap on the face of the earth. It just happens to pay the bills. Even more unfortunate is the fact that, as you mentioned above, working for something "cool" like gaming would totally destroy your personal/social life, so I suppose it's the lesser of two evils.

Eh, I'm rambling! Thanks for sharing that info. I was just curious to see if I had heard of your company or not. I haven't, but I'm really not up to speed on our competitors anyways. I just want to get my 8 hours in and get home! ;)
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
I haven't, but I'm really not up to speed on our competitors anyways.
We're big fish in our small pond of tools for "Course Management Systems" like WebCT.

It's actually interesting work, Windows C++/MPC application programming including client/server internet coding, WYSIWYG editing glue code, image format conversion. For our StudyMate product I've had to figure out how to build Flash SWF files on the fly and to create crossword puzzles efficiently from a user's word lists.

We don't do "edutainment" or "drill-n-kill" programs ourselves, we give professors the tools to create and inflict such activities on their students :)