Advice for making a 2D side scroller.

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12 comments, last by Halifax2 14 years, 10 months ago
Hello I am new here, and I was wondering what do I need to start out on for making a 2D type of game that isn't so complex to create? I have Gimp for designing the images but I don't have the tools to make a program out of?
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Do you have any knowledge in programming? And what is your OS?
Forgot to post that. Well right now I am using windows xp SP3, but I'd like it to be more cross platform. But I was wondering how I could make it from the ground up or if it would a lot harder then using some sort of SDK?
I would suggest Game Maker if you're just looking to make a game without learning all the programming stuff.

http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/

If you're interested in learning a scripting language, try out Python with PyGame.

http://www.python.org/
http://www.pygame.org/news.html

If you want to learn C# with XNA try those out.

http://www.csharp-station.com/Tutorial.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/express/vcsharp/

http://creators.xna.com/en-US/

That is all I would recommend for a starting game developer.
Yep, I'd pretty much say the same thing as MrCpaw.
How hard is python? I thought I could just start on something simple with C without anything related to .net or XNA.
Quote:Original post by Unknownforest
How hard is python? I thought I could just start on something simple with C without anything related to .net or XNA.


I would recomend C++ because you get all the features of C in it so it is a bit easier. If you want to create a cross platform game then I would recomend SDL http://www.libsdl.org/ because it includes everything you need to make a 2D game. I learned a lot by creating a 2D game with SDL. You could also try out Allegro http://www.talula.demon.co.uk/allegro/ or SFML http://www.sfml-dev.org/ they are both very nice from what I heard but I have never tested them.
I would suggest C# and XNA since it is easier than C++ and you can run it on both the PC and XBOX.
Have fun BunnzPunch'n'Crunch
Quote:Original post by Unknownforest
How hard is python?
Somewhat easier than C, and a lot easier than C++. Probably not a lot in it if you are comparing to C#.
Quote:I thought I could just start on something simple with C without anything related to .net or XNA.
For a 2D game, python + pyglet is a lot simpler than C + SDL or C# + XNA.

That said, if you are determined enough, you can start with whatever language - just be aware that it will take longer, and be more frustrating.

Tristam MacDonald. Ex-BigTech Software Engineer. Future farmer. [https://trist.am]

Quote:Original post by lephyrius
If you want to create a cross platform game then I would recomend SDL http://www.libsdl.org/ because it includes everything you need to make a 2D game.


What's the difficulty for learning it. Sounds interesting.

Quote:Original post by Bunnz
I would suggest C# and XNA since it is easier than C++ and you can run it on both the PC and XBOX.


Honestly I don't really have interest in working with the 360, but I have interest in working on windows, os x, and unix.

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