A set guideline for beginning video game programmers!

Ben Loisch · 2012-09-11T20:13:57

Hello Everyone! I have recently been highly interested in game development, especially the programming side of things. I have been learning C++ for the last 3 months or so, but... I just don't quite seem to have a clear vision/view/guideline for getting into game development! ~sigh~ So... I made a console text Tic Tac Toe game, and I was like, whoa! that is cool! - http://www.imageurlh...Tic-Tac-Toe.png -thank you image hosting site!- http://<a href="http...age Hosting</a> [color=#800000]But then I think, oh man, this is a loooong way away from 2D games!(which is what I want to do for now), but you know, motivation keeps me typing away at this so I'll continue. [color=#800000]~I'll ask questions on behalf of the aspiring beginner game developers out there! XD So when I was first learning C++ I thought everthing was hard to understand. When I saw someone's code of their console Tic Tac Toe game I went 0.0 and has no idea what was going on. The thing is, a few months later I knocked out the game in an hour with no problem! So my learning process seems to be in steps. 1 -Learn the basics of C++. 2 -Make a simple console game Tic Tac Toe! 3 -??????? So now you know what I have accomplished and I will tell you my thoughts on getting a grasp on making 2D games, but I have a few questions first~ ~~What programming language should I start out with? -So I heard C++ is a hard language to go with first, but I like the logical design of it! I can't help but keep going with it. Should I switch to Java since it seems it has basically everthing a beginner would need? ~~Just how much work do I need to do before I can get into making 2D games? -I do not know if I should jump right into learning a simple 2D graphics library like SDL or SFML or Allegro. Should I learn C++ really well, THEN move on into a graphics library? ~~Use an engine, make one, or don't use an engine? -Ok ok, I know making an engine is way to hard and time consuming so I'll skip that idea! -I am very confused when it comes to learning a language well, especially when it comes to using a game engine or not. So I want to get the very most out of my learning, does that mean I should use a game engine and start making games just like that? Or should I take the long run and get the experience working with a graphics library making 2D games without an engine? I figure this because I would get a better, more indepth experience making games. ~~How to pave my own way? -Ok, so I see people who have made 2D games and I am like, "HOW DO THEY DO IT?!". So I am so engrossed with the thought of how to make a game that I really have no idea how! What I would want(not saying what I need, so correct me if I am wrong) is personal experience from others. I want someone to tell me how they did it, going from learning a language, to making 2D or 3D games! How? ~~What graphics library to use? -This isn't so much as an issue, but I've heard things of SDL(it's C based and old), tried SFML(hate the setup with any IDE) and don't even want to think about Allegro! Can anyone give me some advice when choosing a graphics library-(choose this one, it doesn't matter what you choose, try them all). I am at the utmost confusing time in learning game development. What should I do? Where should I start? What should I learn? How can I do it? I make it to generic, sorry. The most important thing I think every beginner looking into game development would want, is some personal experience of another person.[color=#800000] A very detailed guideline of how you got started, how you progressed, and finally where you are at now! So... Thank you very much for answering my questions, I hope this helps all the people who read this and the questions/comments that follow! ~To all you people game developing away, keep it up, you guys rock and give us beginners something to think about! N,n,n,NINJA!

For Beginners

Started by bloisch4 September 10, 2012 07:57 PM

10 comments, last by EddieV223 11 years, 7 months ago

jeteran

311

September 11, 2012 07:32 PM

Hey, good to know you are interested in going serious in game dev.

This site can help you learn a little more about the basics of programming:
http://www.khanacademy.org/cs

Hope it helps, happy dev !!

Old user from yayo_99

https://www.gamedev.net/profile/71132-yayo_99/