Hey all. I'm going to the UK for about 2 years next and I hope to find a games programming job. Just so you know I've got a Java qualification and +- 2yrs experience. I also know C\C++ very well. Now, I want to make a smallish game to show as a demo. I don't want it to be some stupid space invaders game. I'll be using the OGRE3D engine so I just need an idea that will not take to long but which will display my skills. In terms of the programming, I'm not worried about difficulty, it's quantity that I want to avoid. So please could you throw ideas at me. As well, I'm not a noob games programmer. I have written things before, but they don't really qualify as a demo. I won't be starting from scratch in terms of design and basic concepts. Thanks

You can always do a simple space shmup (e.g. Asteroids or the like). They're pretty simple; every possible collision scenario results in the destruction of an object (or reduction of health; anyway). If you want something a bit more complicated, you could try a simple platforming game à la Mario; then you need to deal with terrain and a variety of sprite types. There's also always the puzzle game genre, but those are a different kind of programming, really. Mmm...

Wouldn't this go better in the Game Design forum?

Hey, thanks

I will have to make it 3D though.

How about asteroids, but in 3d? You could also add some enemy ships with AI.

Space invaders is too good for you? OHHHHHHHHH - Where's your handbag?!

Well, it depends on the type of game you want to make. I personally, would leap in and make a simple 19XX or R-type clone. Only difficult thing about it would be basic memory management and scripting.