Hello. This is my first post on Gamedev, I'm been looking around the site for a while but I never started my own topic so I hope I can get some help

So, over the past three months or so, I've been experimenting with a few different languages:

• Python (my first language, I'm quite comfortable using it for basic programs, etc. but I wanted something more for making games)
• Java (my second language, I had looked at it before when I was trying to make Minecraft mods a few years ago but I'd since forgotten about it really. I understand the language and syntax but I can't really make anything from it.)
• C++ (again, I know the language and syntax of it (knowing some Java really helped me here) but I can't really sit down and put anything together)

I was just wondering if anyone else has/if having the same sort of problem and how they plan/did get over it?

Thanks

You get over it by trying to build something, failing to do so, asking questions about your failures, learning from them and revisiting the problem.

It concerns me that you're dabbing in three different languages. All three of those are perfectly suitable for making games. If your goal is to make games, then you should start making them using whichever of those three languages you are most comfortable with. This sounds like Python, so what makes you want "something more" than Python? What is it you feel you are missing?

I would argue strongly that if you can't "make anything" in a language you don't really know the language or the syntax. You've perhaps just memorized some words, but don't have the critical reasoning about the way those words relate to actually form them into a useful program, and thus effectively don't know the language.

Regardless, pick one of those languages. Ideally (again) the one you think you know best. Start with a simple game, and try to make it. The simplest possible game you can make is a text-based guess-the-number game. Can you do that? If so, can you build a text-based hangman game? Settle on a simple project that seems within your skill level and try to make it.

Post questions when you run into them.

I think it's essential that you find open source game projects for you to study.

They might not even illustrate the best coding practices, but they will show you a way.

I don't think this is good advice at all.

Reading and comprehending source code is a skill on it's own, and requires a reasonable understanding of the structure of a program and conventions of the language. In this case the OP is unable to grasp enough of that structure or those conventions to articulate his own ideas in a tangible form via a programming language; looking at what others have done (without context for why) is not going to make that any easier.

Plus, since the context for decisions is not provided with most source code, it's very easy to pick up extremely bad habits this way.

Not to mention that any of the 'open source game projects' the OP is likely to find via his or her local search engine of choice are almost certainly going to be well beyond the threshold of complexity he or she should be staying in.

The problem you're facing is that learning to program is a lot more than just learning syntax. You have to learn how to use the libraries of your environment, you have to learn how to use the building and packaging and editing tools available to you, and you have to learn how to solve problems. All at the same time.

Thanks for all of your responses by the way, after I saw that first one I just thought I was being a nuisance. I hope not :)

I've always been very good at problem solving, even if it sometimes takes me a while to look at what I have and realise what's gone wrong.

The problem I have is making the jump from games that run in the CMD to fully graphical games. It's just the way my brain works I guess. I've already made several text based adventure games / interactive fiction games with Python and I've done a bit with C++. It's just that, in my mind, if a program is written... it shows text, likewise, if a program is made in a graphical environment such as Unity, it will be displayed graphically on the screen. I really need to get this out of my head.

I really need to learn how to write stuff in OpenGL, SDL, SFML, etc.

I apologize if I've lost anyone there... I've always been pretty terrible with words... and programming :P

I think you would benefit from going through the SFML tutorials. I imagine you'll have a fairly good idea of how you can write a game in C++ after that.

Having a look through now, I don't know why I didn't think of that before. Thanks :)