GUI Programming and Using Files

[thatolchestnut]

Hello all you happy people,

As you can guess Im kinda a newbie with programming. Ive learned C, C++ (well currently learning), and Python (as well as programming in Vpython). All that said Im looking for where I should go next.

My goal is to have enough of an understanding of various languages so that I can make small games (2d and 3d) without necessarily relying on the command land for all graphical representations. Id also like to learn how to use other files aside from .txts (Ive been taking design courses and reading info in my spare time currently only at autocad/solidworks but theyre great to start out at).

So does anyone have some good pointers? I have created a graphical 3-d program on Vpython, but seeing as how clunky it ran Im assuming there are better and more useful alternatives out there. Thanks!

 

[watdahel]

There are free game engines out there that allow you to assemble simple video games like tetris. They're almost like drag-and-drop and require a little bit of programming. They're probably great to get your feet wet and encourage you to keep advancing. Since you do little coding you're less likely to be discouraged.

In my opinion I think it's better to start from the basics. C and C++ are good languages to learn. I used to want to be involved in every aspect of making a video game, from physics, graphics, sound, controls, internet programming and what ever. I wanted to do it all. I later realized that would be beyond my capability as it takes a village to make a great video game. It would be better to specialize in one area. I decided I'll study graphics programming since video games are all about graphics. Right now I'm studying Opengl programming. I haven't gotten very far. I think it will be more gratifying since I'll actually be able to see my accomplishments almost immediately.

 

[Markbnj]

Aside from the really simple toolkits that the other reply mentioned, any game, regardless of how simple, is pretty complicated compared to more mainstream desktop applications. Virtually every game deals with real time programming, sound, graphics, some manner of game intelligence and logic, handling user input, and an audience that requires things to work correctly and be understandable. My advice is just to start programming simple apps and work your way up to it.

 

[thatolchestnut]

Well I got my feet fairly wet in the python course I took. I programmed a robot that could navigate an area over time and I created a simple Connect-4 game that used ASCII art (though ASCII art is always fun lol) to display the screen, the players, and asked for the inputs / outputs from the user and denied bad input (it also included a very primal form of AI that essentially checked so many moves ahead for win possibilities).

I love the coding aspect of this stuff so that stuff doesnt really bug me (I get all giddy when I finally find the semicolon...sad i know... but I have fun!!). I would really just like to be able to create a small game that runs from an EXE that might do something simple w/o relying on the commandline window for everything.

Heck, it might just run and show a ball for all I care to begin with .

 

[postmortemIA]

Originally posted by: thatolchestnut
Well I got my feet fairly wet in the python course I took. I programmed a robot that could navigate an area over time and I created a simple Connect-4 game that used ASCII art (though ASCII art is always fun lol) to display the screen, the players, and asked for the inputs / outputs from the user and denied bad input (it also included a very primal form of AI that essentially checked so many moves ahead for win possibilities).

I love the coding aspect of this stuff so that stuff doesnt really bug me (I get all giddy when I finally find the semicolon...sad i know... but I have fun!!). I would really just like to be able to create a small game that runs from an EXE that might do something simple w/o relying on the commandline window for everything.

Heck, it might just run and show a ball for all I care to begin with .

You're looking for basic OpenGL 2D operations, like the first game on this link

 

[tfinch2]

XNA

 

[aCynic2]

For Linux, there's SDL.

For MS-Windows, there's DirectX.

 

[thatolchestnut]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
You're looking for basic OpenGL 2D operations, like the first game on this link

Ya, something like that is exactly what Im looking to be able to do. Its funny that billiards is up there, I made a mini billiards game before (but you can imagine how silly it looked lol).


Can you point me in the direction of a good book or an online course that you found to be decent? This is defiantly along the lines of what Im looking for tho, thank you.



XNA SDL ? Thats all jibberish to me Whats it good for or rather what is it designed to do? I know OF directx but aside from it making games look neat-o I have no idea how to program anything using Directx.

 

[postmortemIA]

try this
http://nehe.gamedev.net/