C++

[Warren]

I'm ready to start the first book. BUT, I don't have any software. What software do you use and where did you get it? I probably should get Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 used. New, it's $250! And with all the upgrades, it can go up to $2,100.00! I'm not about to pay anything near that, or even anything at all. Thanks.

[Moose or Chuck]

okay penisbreath SDK (software Dev Kit) does not give you the full code it only gives you the functions and calls and whatnot to get the job done. Second, i never said you were gonna write quake 4. Third, i don't know much about C++, i've been learnin it for a few months and i'm letting you know now, in 3 months u probably won't be writing any 2d games. If your lucky you'll make a drug wars clone.  Yes if i were you i'd start out on VB or maybe Delphi or Pascal they are all easy ass languages, but they teach you the basics of coding. Hell why don't you go pick up a nice TI calc and prog for that for a while. That'll teach you basic.  If you wanna learn some basics of C++ learn HTML alot of the Bracketing is the same.  And to whoever said VB sux can die. hehehe that Languaage ownz for none gaming, its the perfect language for anything that wants to share information with other programs thats why makin progs for aim and crap like that is so easy. It takes good advantage of winAPI, it is also a very very good starting block because of its easiness. You could actually make a weak 2d game on that in two months, shit i made a stupid skateboarding  game on that in like a month and a half.

[randall]

Yeah, I said VB sucks ass. Like I said, it's good for frontends, or non-cpu intensive operations, or quick apps.<br><br>Pretty much anything you write for AIM will fit into any of those categories. Matter of fact, that is where I learned to use the API; to control other programs.<br><br>Writing simple games is certainly possible with VB and is actually a good place to start.<br><br>

[Moose or Chuck]

Warren: I told you, that Windows Game Programming guide that I showed you has Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 on the CD for free. And the book does cover 3D.<br><br>Chuck: Ohh no, you called me a "penis breath." How old are you, 12? By the way, I know HTML, Perl, QBASIC, ASP, and PHP, along with a little VB (which is worthless) and I knew enough C++ to follow a program through. Starting with VisualBasic before you move to C++ is total BS. Why take a side road like that? Visual Basic's easiness is exactly the problem, and it detours you from the actual programming. All you do is draw a little window and then tell it what to do. Boy, really educational. I'm glad I did that before C++~. It really helped me understand programming~.<br>Visual Basic would be good for anything that is a small purely windows based application, like an internet search utility, or MAME front-end. But why bother with it for any game that would require any horsepower at all (meaning other than a puzzle game). Pong doesn't even refresh fast enough using visual basic. It's not that great an app if you want to do anything real in the business. Warren wants to be able to change around the stuff in the HL SDK to make a mod. Why would VisualBasic help him there? It would take him another 3 months to learn it and then unlearn it again to start on C++. Worthless, totally worthless.

[randall]

Warren, I don't know about the rest of the US, but in New York and Seattle I there are used computer book stores. They often sell new/used software as well.<br><br>I have seen VC++ 6.0 Enterprise Edition for $49.<br><br>Both cities also have half-price NEW computer book stores as well. Their stock is usually fairly current with latest versions of software.<br><br>So you can get a $49 book for around $25, sometimes cheaper.

[Moose or Chuck]

moose, i wasn't talkin to u haha, i was talkin to warren, and second , i'm 17

[Moose or Chuck]

o ya, if you'd actually use vb for more than a day to learn the basics, BitBlt is fast enough to make games, Mechwarrior was made in vb.

[randall]

yeah, you have to learn effective use of the Windows API in order to get any performance out of VB. It is more than fast enough to make pong.

[Warren]

Chuck, I recommend leaving this forum. You only have 28 posts, and everyone already hates you. You're even calling me childish names now! Moose Master, I've been trying to get Trick of the Windows Game Programming Gurus, but my parents keep saying "we just bought you 2 books, we'll get you the third when you're done with these 2." I try to explain to them that it has MSVC++ on it, but they keep saying the book's too expensive. Don't worry, I'll get it sometime. As for now, I just want a simple compiler. Are there any free compilers up for download? Randall, do you live in the US? Thanks.

[Warren]

At this very second, I am downloading Borland C++ Compiler 5.5. Time to make my first program! I'm too excited!!!

[Jaybot]

Go warren!  :)

[Warren]

Go me!

[Daedelus]

LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ha

[Warren]

Well, the Borland Compiler didn't help. It doesn't have anything! It just has "examples" of the program. I look through the whole folder, and there's no main .exe file. Do I use Notepad for the code? Man, I really need Visual C++. It's says I have to make a bunch of .cfg files to make it work. I said "create something.cfg and include lines to redirect the main application to preform the presumed task." Umm :-/ And it said to make some .ini files. Don't I need a compiler, linker, and other stuff? Doesn't Visual C++ have all that in one program? Instead of having to use a bunch of programs? Jeez, I'm just gonna get Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus, which comes with MSVC++. I was hoping to make my "Hello World!" program tonight. Well, maybe next week, from now to Wednesday next week, I don't have any time. Oh well.

[randall]

Yeah, I live in the US.