DirectX 9 confusion
Hello, I''m new to the DirectX scene, although I''ve been programming for many years. I just downloaded the DirectX 9 SDK, and I''m interested in making a 2D game. Don''t flame me yet - I''ve read the tutorials and whatnot about setting up DX8/9 for "2D" rendering, but I got even more confused when I was going through the DX9 Help file. I found that there is an IDirectDraw interface in DX9, similar to that of DX7. Does this mean that I could go about setting up for 2D the same way I would if I were using DX7, or would I still have to do the same stuff that the tutorials on Gamedev.net cover with DX8?
G''day!
The DirectDraw interface in DX9 *is* the DX7 interface. If you want to use DirectDraw, DirectDraw7 should work nicely. If you want to go the 2D-via-3D route, then I recommend D3D9.
If you choose to use D3D you''ll still need to learn a lot of the basics for 3D, it''s just simpler since you''re ignoring 1 axis. If you go through some introductory tutorials first I think you''ll have a much easier time undrstanding it all. The Forum FAQ (linked at the top of each message thread) lists a few sites with tutorials.
Stay Casual,
Ken
Drunken Hyena
The DirectDraw interface in DX9 *is* the DX7 interface. If you want to use DirectDraw, DirectDraw7 should work nicely. If you want to go the 2D-via-3D route, then I recommend D3D9.
If you choose to use D3D you''ll still need to learn a lot of the basics for 3D, it''s just simpler since you''re ignoring 1 axis. If you go through some introductory tutorials first I think you''ll have a much easier time undrstanding it all. The Forum FAQ (linked at the top of each message thread) lists a few sites with tutorials.
Stay Casual,
Ken
Drunken Hyena
Thank you very much for the reply. I'm pretty well-versed in 3D stuff (OpenGl, linear algebra), so I guess it comes down to preference. Would the two methods (DX7 vs. DX9 2D-via-3D) be just as fast as each other, or is the DX7 interface considerably slower than the brand-spanking new DX9?
Also, if I take the DX9 2D-via-3D route, are there any big differences between DX8 and DX9 that I should take in account while following the tutorials on Gamedev.net?
[edited by - HawkeyePierce on April 21, 2003 1:10:06 AM]
Also, if I take the DX9 2D-via-3D route, are there any big differences between DX8 and DX9 that I should take in account while following the tutorials on Gamedev.net?
[edited by - HawkeyePierce on April 21, 2003 1:10:06 AM]
G''day!
If you''re doing some very simple 2D stuff, then the difference may not be significant. The 3D approach gives you (among other things):
- arbitrary rotation and scaling for free
- variable level transparency
The biggest negative is the learning curve, but if you''ve used OpenGL and you know the math, that''s not an issue.
I''d recommend the DirectDraw approach in 2 situations:
1)Supporting really old hardware is important
2)The 3D learning curve is too steep (just starting out, etc)
So unless #1 is important to you, I''d say go with the 3D approach (OpenGL or D3D).
Stay Casual,
Ken
Drunken Hyena
If you''re doing some very simple 2D stuff, then the difference may not be significant. The 3D approach gives you (among other things):
- arbitrary rotation and scaling for free
- variable level transparency
The biggest negative is the learning curve, but if you''ve used OpenGL and you know the math, that''s not an issue.
I''d recommend the DirectDraw approach in 2 situations:
1)Supporting really old hardware is important
2)The 3D learning curve is too steep (just starting out, etc)
So unless #1 is important to you, I''d say go with the 3D approach (OpenGL or D3D).
Stay Casual,
Ken
Drunken Hyena
Please excuse my ignorance, but does that mean that, using the DX9 SDK, I can still use the DX7 interfaces without installing the DX7 SDK? Intuitively I think I would have to down-grade to the DX7 SDK, but it would be great if the DX9 SDK encapsulated all of the DX7 interfaces and such. Thanks for your help.
DX is backwards compatible, meaning 9 supports everything before. Problem is that DX just gets bigger and bigger
--Vic--
--Vic--
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