I everybody, I'm new here (althought I was replying to some threads), and I've got a major problem. Every time I start my Dev-C++, I just start a new project, edit the default glut template, and close it right away just because I don't seem to be in the mood to program, like if I was already bored to program. I learnt C++, OpenGL and some Windows programming, but I can't seem to work on any project, because I always end up deleting the files, then trying another time, either because I think my idea is bad, or I don't know how to do a particular thing or again because I try to do something that would seem obvious in books, but it doesn't work. In fact, I nearly ever tried to program in OpenGL nor in Windows, I just read my books without trying. Am I bored too easily or is it just because I lack the skills to start something without stopping after ten minutes of work? Thank you! Gabry Hyrule

Thanks for the quick reply! but what's a wrapper library? seriously, I never heard about that... lol, anyways, I'll try your idea, throwing as many stuff in a program and make something cool... in the end!

I'll also check out the 4 elements thing you speak of.

I was also wondering, would being in a "team" of some sort increase my motivation? Because I could try to recruit peoples and do programs together.

Gabry Hyrule

Make it your task to do a Tic Tac Toe clone using four different APIs: SDL, Allegro, DirectX and OpenGL. That'll keep you busy for a while and will most definately tell you which API you prefer for later projects.

i find that when i lose the clarity needed to program, smoking some 'motivation' helps ;)

Seriously tho, you need to find something you can build that the very idea of makes you think "cool!". Find something to build that gets you excited.

For example, when I read this article, i thought "I could make some wicked cool vehicle physics with that!", and went off and programmed for a day and I had deformable boxes i could throw around, a few days later I had a jeep i could drive...
http://www.teknikus.dk/tj/gdc2001.htm

Or when I read this paper i thought "That is such a cool way to make bots smarter!". A few days later my bots could find good cover/ambush/hiding/sniper positions etc...
http://www.cgf-ai.com/docs/gdc2001_paper.pdf#search=%22terrain%20reasoning%22


Also, making a mod for something like HL2 (or the original HL) is great, coz you can get stuff on the screen faster. It only takes an hour to build a scientist launcher that explodes into a a cloud of head-crabs once you've played around with some simpler weapons ;)
(and seeing a scientist come out of a rocket launcher and go screeming across the screen is very cool!)

Thanks for your replies. I'm currently trying to build a little library for vectorial operations, that I'll maybe use later.

Thanks again!

Gabry Hyrule

Quote:Original post by Gabry Hyrule
either because I think my idea is bad, or I don't know how to do a particular thing

Nothing you make is stupid, if you learn from it. If you think other people will think its stupid, then just don't release it if you don't want, and keep it to yourself and your freinds or whatever.

Ah yes, this mindset, I fall into it all too often.

However as Oberon_Command said the key is to definately make/learn something cool, for example on my most recent adventure I decided I wanted to play with some 'cool' graphics, and I didn't fancy using direct X (don't ask why, just fancied a change), so off to the amazon bookstore I went, bought that OpenGL 'redbook' and I'm currently working my way through the book.

I understand that it's not everybody's cup of tea, but if you can think of an area that really interests you, maybe that you don't understand/know about yet, it could be time to find out how it works to get you going again.

:o)

Good luck!


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Many people seem to be having the same problem as me. Anyway, I'm trying to make a simple asteroid-like game, but about ten times I wanted to stop, but I just tried to keep on, like you guys told me too :)

Thanks again.

Gabry Hyrule