I am a 17 year old guy who wants to start game development. I have programmed in the past and I know a little c++, java, c# and i am willing to learn other languages if I have to but I was wondering what I should learn to make games. I am thing xna at the moment but if you have any good ideas, please reply. thanks!

Linear algebra is good for writing shaders and solving problems. Database normalization applies to how you organize the data in your game. Use a safe high level language for high level code.

I am a 17 year old guy who wants to start game development. I have programmed in the past and I know a little c++, java, c# and i am willing to learn other languages if I have to but I was wondering what I should learn to make games. I am thing xna at the moment but if you have any good ideas, please reply. thanks!

My advice is to pick a language and start trying to make the absolute simplest game you can think of in it. There is a reason we tell lots of people who ask this question to start with games like Pong or Tetris.

These games will provide you with the absolute basics. When I learn a new language I always figure out how to do Hello World, and then if I am making a game in it, I always figure out how to make Pong!

Games such as pong can tell you things like how to load images and render them to the screen, how to handle collision detection, how to do update loops, ect.

These games are quick and they will give you a sense of accomplishment. They also allow you to find areas you don't understand with the language and to find flaws with how you structure games. They will lead you to start wondering if there are better ways to structure code or solve particular design issues you run into.

The key is to start. So grab XNA or whatever you feel comfortable with, and start creating something. Set a goal and try to figure out how to get there. In the process you are going to likely fail sometimes... I can not tell you how many projects I have half finished sitting around from the years... but you will learn!

Take a look at www.3DBuzz.com there's lots of gamemaking tutorials for beginners in C++ and C#/XNA.

Take a look at www.3DBuzz.com there's lots of gamemaking tutorials for beginners in C++ and C#/XNA.

This!