I need to use? For example I am learning C++, and I know how the logic works to make a game of Tic Tac Toe. Thing is, I can't remember every single thing code wise that I need to put into the game itself. So, I plan out the game, piece by piece (with the // comment brackets. //Main Game Loop //Check for Win Condition //Check for Draw //Draw board etc. If I do that, I usually know exactly what code I need for the game. Is this acceptable if i'm currently still learning?

It's the only way to do it..

You're a better programmer than me.

I have been programming professionally (non-games) for the last 10 years and been toying with programming for 20 years. Only now have I finally written tic tac toe, and now I'm trying my hand at pacman, not to learn how to program, but because I have realised that I continually fail to write my dream game because I can't plan it correctly. I have known about top down programming and thought I was doing it, but alas, that's not the case, more like bottom up, so now I'm writing these games with the aim of learning to plan properly.