Hey, I'm New to this site, so I'll say Hi quickly.

Anyway, I've recently started Coding Games, but am finding it hard to code by myself, Up till now I have been using tutorials and references to learn a little bit about C++ beforehand.

My question is can anyone help setting me off on the long road to coding games?
How is it best to start?

What kind of game should I try and code to begin with?

I've always wanted to code something like Europa Universalis 3, which is one of my favourite games,However, I haven't a clue about where to start, what libraries would be best suited for a game like that.

If anyone can give me any piece of information, I would be grateful.

Thanks,
Jamie

Hi there, I'm currently learning to program as well.

I would keep it basic until you have got your head around the language that your using.

I have started to use Flash and ActionScript 3.0 to code basic games to get to grips with the fundamentals of game design.

Start by coding you own pong, brick breaker, or bubble popper game.

I recommend using Flash and ActionScript to start your development. The language takes a bit of getting used to but you can test your games instantly for errors in your code.

Hope this is some help to you.

You need to know a computer language before you can produce a game. If your new to C++ I recommend you buy a book on it and read it, tutorials online are usually not that great.

I recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Without-Fear-Beginners-Guide-Edition/dp/0132673266

I don't think any language is more conceptually difficult then any other language. They all have their quirks, even assembly is pretty easy if you start with it. Feel free to start with whatever language you want, but you need to master a computer language before you can do much. You will also find knowing one computer language helps you learn others.

Hey there!
I'm currently studying software engineering in Montreal, and I've been programming stuff for about 5 years. It's not that much, but I think my advice might be able to help you. ;)

First thing you should do is choose a language (I recommend Java or C# for beginners), and stick to it for a few months/years.

Next step, I think the best way for learning the basics is by trying. Here is what I would do :
1. Learn what an IF statement is, and how to use it
2. Learn what a LOOP is, and how to use it
3. Learn how to create a function, and how to call it

With this, you have the basic tools for writing code that works and does stuff. You should then try programming anything, just to get comfy with the basics (a very simple calculator is a common example). If you have ideas of such small programs which you think might help you understand, just try it. ;)

When you feel comfortable with the language, you should search about the basics of OBJECT ORIENTED PROGRAMMING. It's an extremely important concept that is absolutely essential to any modern programmer. When you do, make sure that you understand the difference between a CLASS and an OBJECT, it's a very important detail before understanding any other concept about object programming.

When you feel more comfortable with the language and with object programming, I suggest making a clone of Minesweeper (you might want to google the term "recursion" and learn about it, you'll probably need that). Start by simply reproducing the game's basic rules. When that is done and works properly, you can try to make the menus for specifying Expert, Beginner or Intermediate. This'll also help you learn about User Interface, like windows, buttons, labels, menus, etc.

You could also try making a basic Tetris game. Again, start with the basics (blocks keep falling one at a time, and a full horizontal line disappears). When it works, you can add a timer, then a score (then a highscore!). You can also try to make the game speed up in time, when everything else works. This game should teach you important stuff, like displaying images, moving them on the screen, using object programming to instantiate the blocks, etc. This might be a bit more challenging, but it's a good challenge for learning.


I think with these few steps, you're good to go for at least a few months. Learnin how to code is a long process, but don't despair when you're having a hard time. It's hard for everyone at first, so it's not just you. ;)

Good luck, an have fun!

You can email me if you have any questions.

Programming (real programming) is not really about a language or some fancy new framework. Programming is about solving problems through algorithms.

So start by learning algorithms and math. Lots of both. Then learn computer science basic concepts too like: data bases, formal languages, automata, etc. That will help you tremendously.

Converting an algorithm to code in some language, that's the easy part. The difficult and more interesting part is to learn how to design algorithms to solve particular problems.

Also keep in mind that there are many other interesting things to do, not just games. Games these days are more about art and design than programming. I would say that if you are an artist, you have a greater chance to produce a game than if you are just a programmer.