Hi all, Im new at GameDev.net, so yeah this is also an introduction. I just bought a new MacBook yesterday, and now im interested in game design etc on it. Im some what familiar with coding but the only language I really know well is HTML. Anyway, I want a language that is comparatively easy, maybe like Java, and has good capabilities. Basically I want it to be a multi-platform game as well. I hate to see graphics that hurt my eyes, im not here planning to make some game with Crysis like graphics, but I dont want to make a game with really box like graphics either. Anyway, so to game development im what you call a COMPLETE noob. I have read several tutorials etc but nothing that really interested me or explained a lot. I was looking at this tool called Blender, but for some reason its a pain to get it to work I cant even follow the tutorials because everything works so differently on mine. Ok so I was thinking of Java, because I have some good experience with it aswell... but I got jME but under NO circumstances could I get it to work. (Yes I followed all the tutorials, I spent friday-sunday trying to get it to work a few weeks back on my PC) So can anyone tell me: What language; Including ALL the tools I would be needing to develop a full game. So yeah thats all I need to know. Thanks in advance! P.S. my post is so wierd i admit, nothing is in order... if u have any questions that might help you determine what tools would be right for me please post.

Sounds like you want to jump right into a 3D game. If you aren't a good programmer, then you have to use more "game creation" type tools.

There are too many options to list here.

I suggest you check out the Game Programming Wiki (gpwiki.org).

Blender has it's own little game engine, you could try that.

Thanks for your reply,

You are some what right when you say im trying to jump straight into a 3D game... but those "Create game easily" tools are useless, id rather learn a language than do that stuff...

And well blender is for some reason hard, the stuff they tell on the tutorials ... well my copy doesn't do the same stuff, dunno why... but im not really interested in blender anymore.


I wanted to do either Java, C# or C++ but I dont know what tools to use....

And thanks i'll look that site up.

If you want to be a programmer, pick a language (Java, C#, Python) are good choices. Then just stick to it for a few months, buy a book, read all the documentation on it, find a beginner tutorial.

You basically have to start with console/terminal applications, so your not even in 2D world and it will take awhile to build your skills.

And setting up your tools/compiler is always a PITA, especially the first time you do it.

Another option is Blitz 3D or the programs from The Game Creators.

Quote:Anyway, I want a language that is comparatively easy, maybe like Java, and has good capabilities.
Basically I want it to be a multi-platform game as well.

That pretty much eliminates C#. Python and Java provide inherent portability. C++ is a portable language itself, but implementation wise, its platform specific. So you have to rely on a lot of good cross-platform coding.

Quote:I have read several tutorials etc but nothing that really interested me or explained a lot.

You have to work your way up. Game development is not a simple place to start. It's one of the hardest programming domains to get into.

Quote:I was looking at this tool called Blender, but for some reason its a pain to get it to work I cant even follow the tutorials because everything works so differently on mine.

Blender is not a programming language. You could use it to make games, but if you're really interested in going down the programming route, you won't be touching it for a while. Not until you're at the level of dealing with handling model data and rendering a 3D world.

Quote:Ok so I was thinking of Java, because I have some good experience with it aswell... but I got jME but under NO circumstances could I get it to work.

As in J2ME? If you want Java, you get J2SE. J2ME is for mobile devices, like a cell phone or PDA.

Quote:So can anyone tell me: What language; Including ALL the tools I would be needing to develop a full game.

No language like that. Nothing comes in a "here's a complete everything you could possibly need gamedev programming package". Although you're better off with languages like Python and Java than C++. With C++, the core library is very small, and you'll have to learn a number of 3rd party libraries when making serious games.

If you have experience with a language, you should have no trouble getting it to work, right? Because if you do, that means your experience was superficial at best. Generally, you'll hear recommendations for Python and C# here. In your case, you probably should debate between Python and Java. I would advise against C++ until you have significantly more experience.

I am assuming you want to work your way up the programming route. If you want faster gratification, something like the DarkBasic toolset might be more appropriate.

Thanks for the replies people.

No it wasnt J2ME, It was jME (Java Monkey Engine).

As for DARKBasic etc, I heard it does not have the kind of capabilities I want.

If I start a language I want it to be one with which I can theoretically create any kind of game I wish within 6 months - 12 months.


I seriously have no idea about Python, only Java... I heard Python is good... I'll do some research.

And I wont be running Boot Camp on my Mac, the reason I got it was the OS X and I have a separate computer with Vista so I dont need both in my mac.


EVE is based in Python right? Suddenly im somewhat interested in Python... i'll look up more on it, also if anyone wants to give me any links that might help me getting started with python I would really appreciate that.

Did you remember to check gpwiki.org for Python?

Malduster, if you want to create a game in 6-12 months so would i recommend Multimedia Fusion in it's newest version...

Though you won't have full control so is it quite powerful. (Not a single line of code needed at all needed.) It is a Event based "language".

If you still want to code so do NOT pick C++ to start with :P. (I got most my C++ experience from PHP XD.) Choose Python or whatever the others said.