Where would be a good place to start if I want to learn how to make a game with Direct Draw

[RedShirt]

I attend Iowa State University and have a programming project.

So far, I have done all programming with zero graphics with C++ (all console based). For this assignment I need to make a graphical program (a videogame).

Since they don't like to teach us anything here at the university, or even give us a text book that talks about these matters, its up to us to learn everything.

I am in a group of 4 and have until the end of the semseter for this project, so I will have time to learn how to do it, but I can't seem to find a website that will take me through the basics of Direct Draw.

Can anyone help. And yes, none of us 4 (or most of the entire class for that matter) knows how to do anything with graphics in C++.

 

[Smilin]

There are a TON of books on this. Head over to your local bookstore or amazon or something.

 

[RedShirt]

I figured as much. Too bad the course didn't make one of these books the textbook for the course.

Any web-based free help? As a college student, I try not to spend money

 

[singh]

Are you sure you need Direct Draw? Maybe the Win32 API will be sufficient?

 

[JOSEPHLB]

GameDev.Net

MaxCode

 

[RedShirt]

Originally posted by: singh
Are you sure you need Direct Draw? Maybe the Win32 API will be sufficient?

Perhaps you are correct. We finally decided on what we are going to do and we are going to make a Chess game that incorporates trivia questions (for stupid requirement reasons).

Anyways, writing the AI should prove to be somewhat of a challenge and fun, and we're gonna make it so you can turn off the trivia and have it be multiplayer over TCP/IP etc. It should be kinda fun.

The name of the game is going to be ChessDoofus 309 1/3 .7. ;-)

Direct Draw certainly isn't needed for a simple game like chess.

 

[RedShirt]

Originally posted by: JOSEPHLB
GameDev.Net

MaxCode

Thanks for the links.

 

[Smilin]

ah chess game..

Use some mutual recursion in the AI somewhere... ie two functions called whitesBestMove and blacksBestMove and have em call each other recursively to pick the best move

 

[hudster]

Originally posted by: RedShirt
The name of the game is going to be ChessDoofus 309 1/3 .7. ;-)

ROTFL! I'll be sure to pick up a copy of this when it hits store shelves!

 

[RedShirt]

Originally posted by: Smilin
ah chess game..

Use some mutual recursion in the AI somewhere... ie two functions called whitesBestMove and blacksBestMove and have em call each other recursively to pick the best move

That is what we were thinking about doing. We really haven't done much on the project yet. I wonder how many times that should be recursivly called... Probably don't want to figure out the best moves for both until check mate

 

[RedShirt]

Originally posted by: hudster

Originally posted by: RedShirt
The name of the game is going to be ChessDoofus 309 1/3 .7. ;-)

ROTFL! I'll be sure to pick up a copy of this when it hits store shelves!

It's not going to be anything spectacular. It will be available free for download when we finish. Very Very basic 2d graphics.