I'm currently doing some gamedev in VB.NET 2005 and found it to be a nice easy to use language with a lot of power behind it. You can certainly learn 2 languages at one time. In fact, you might be suprised how similar the languages are (in concepts), just need to learn the syntax.

Quote:Original post by Zyndrof
Therefore I have two questions:
1. Is it possible to learn to languages at the same time and learn them both well?

It's certainly possible to learn two languages at the same time. I did that, and it only made things easier in my opinion. Learn them *well*? Sure, I don't see how that'd make a difference. Of course, to learn a language *well*, you need to spend a good deal of time understanding even advanced aspects of it, but you can do that sooner or later no matter how many languages you plan to learn, and how you schedule them.

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2. Would there be a reason for me to learn C++ aswell? Meaning is there anything I can do (and would want to do) in C++ that I can't do in VB.net?

Ooh, that's a loaded question. [lol]
I'd advice you to read the two dozen other threads about "should I learn C++".
But basically, no, there's nothing you can do in C++ that you can't do in other languages.
C++ is *currently* the industry standard for game development, but that doesn't mean it's better, or that you have to use it. Many professional games have been made in other languages, and until you plan to go professional, it's certainly not an issue anyway.

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Have in mind that I'm programming for fun and have no intention of making a living out of it.

Then you don't need C++. Personally, I'd avoid Basic languages however, because they tend to teach some nasty habits that can be hard to get rid of. But that's just me. :)

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Probably not. Especially starting off, it's important to learn how to 'think' in a language. Switching back and forth will hurt that.

I disagree completely. It's important to learn *not* to let the language restrict your thinking. The more languages you know, the better. Switching back and forth can only help that.
Moreover, it can actually make things a lot easier. You try to learn language A, you get stuck on some weird feature, so you let it go for a bit, and focus on language B. And hey, they have a different way of achieving the same effect, and in the end, it'll give you a different perspective on the same feature, and in the end, a better insight into what is going on.

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as far as I know you have a lot more access to lower level systems (memory management etc.) in C++.

True, but that doesn't actually allow you to do anything that couldn't be done in VB. (Other than allow you more ways to crash your computer).

I would like to throw out my own little anecdotal evidence of my own experience. Learning more than one language is probably a good thing. I learned how to do a little in GWBasic way back in the day, then a little c++, then a little more basic, then some more c++, then I picked up a little Delphi, and soon after a little VB, and later on I started Picking up PHP. I found that each time I moved to a new language I found it easier and easier to learn the next one. What's odd is that I don't think I became a really good programmer until I had been doing it for a few years. I suppose if I had concentrated on one I might have become proficient at it a lot sooner, but on the other hand....

Allow me to tell you about the new guy at work, Alan*. He is a pretty good C++ programmer. He doesn't seem to get confused about things that would normally blow the mind of a lesser programmer like pointers. However the project we are currently working on is being done in Delphi. Whenever he has a problem to solve, he just can't seem to get past it until either, A. he codes it in C++ and then translates the results to Delphi (insane if you ask me) or B. Someone (me) explains the problem to him as if it were a C++ problem. Clearly Alan 'Thinks like a C++ programmer' and doesn't 'Think like a programmer'. To compare I have no trouble at all switching between various languages.

This is going to be very important if you want to produce games in VB.net. I do use VB.Net for my game programming and the real pain is that most of the relevant code samples you'll find are in C# or sometimes Managed C++ So being able to translate to another language will be a crucial skill. Even since becoming a pretty good language since VB was Dotnetified, it still seems to be used mostly RAD stuff. You know CompanyA wants a little tool to do Foo, and just wants to slap something together and move on.

My point is that you will benefit from learning multiple languages, and hopefully if you are learning them at the same time you won't end up like Alan. It might take you a little longer to become proficient at the first language, but I assure you if you ever want to go pro (not necessarily in games) it will be worth It when look for a job as you will have more opportunities instead of finding yourself locked out of a good job at CompanyX because they want the language you didn't learn.

One more thing that's nice is that you can then be a language snob and only sound like a partial asshole, since you can somewhat credibly say "I use X, Y, and Z; and Z really is best."

But then again, all this is just my personal experience and is in no way a scientific report.


*Not his real name.