New to game programming

[Avishaiozeri]

Hi. Some years ago i started learning simple languages, like ASP, CSS , JAVASCRIPT, and some more things. All of them are just for internet websites development... Now i want to start learning c++ , for creating games. I saw it before, It kind of looked like JAVASCRIPT, so maybe it'll be easier for me to learn it. I'v just wanted to ask: In web programming, HTML (and css) is what used to design the page, what about C++? how does it work? I know its diffrent. I'v herd about opengl and Directx, but do i have to know how to use those libraries to develope, or display things other then letters on the screen? And if some one have some tips for me about c++ game programming, like what books to read and stuff like that, i'll be glad. thanks.

(sorry for the english:)

[ChrissyJ91]

Welcome to the forums and your english was fine no need to apologise . You will want to download an IDE (presuming you haven't already downloaded one). There are quite a few free IDEs such as Code::Blocks (http://www.codeblocks.org/) and Visual C++ Express Edition (http://www.microsoft.com/express/Windows/). The internet is full of resources to help you learn such as antiRTFM's videos on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/antiRTFM) and this forum is also full of links to resources, topics where peoples problems have been discussed and people who can aid you with problems you may face. I can't really name any books as I haven't properly worked through them yet although I'm sure others on this site can. I hope I have been able to help you in some way and good luck .

[Avishaiozeri]

Thanks, you're very helpful, i'll try the links . but what is IDE? A compiler like dev c++?

edited: Wow! i'v watched (http://www.youtube.com/user/antiRTFM) and its great! thank you! i'll try learning without books

[GroundUpEngine]

Yo
Check out my post aswell, it has loads of useful links for IDE's and Tutorials http://thechaosrift.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 999#p53649

[Avishaiozeri]

Thanks man but what IDE means?
I'v read your topic, very helpful, thanks.

[GroundUpEngine]

IDE is an Integrated Development Environment, e.g. Visual Studio, Dev-CPP, Code::Blocks, etc..

A software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. An IDE normally consists of:

~a source code editor
~a compiler and/or an interpreter
~build automation tools
~a debugger

[Avishaiozeri]

I see, so it compiles the file too?
edited : I'v just red the things you brought from wiki...

So what i need to do first is to learn c++ and practice, then try some 2d games? what do you mean libraries in your topic? like a file you add to your program with an include command? thats how graphic development works? by using libraries like opengl? okay. so i'll start learning now!
thanks for all the helpers and the help!

[MrDeathNote]

I see, so it compiles the file too?
edited : I'v just red the things you brought from wiki...

So what i need to do first is to learn c++ and practice, then try some 2d games? what do you mean libraries in your topic? like a file you add to your program with an include command? thats how graphic development works? by using libraries like opengl? okay. so i'll start learning now!
thanks for all the helpers and the help!

I think your getting the idea. Your right, learn c++ first then make 2d games. Libraries are used to handle input, sound and graphics for games. They are set up in different ways but you do include them in your project. SDL is a great library to start off with because its simple to use and it handles input, sound and graphics. OpenGL is a bit more hard core, it's a fair bit harder to learn and use than SDL but it's also a lot more powerful. OpenGL is just a graphics library it does not support input or sound but you can use it with SDL so that you can use OpenGL's rendering and SDL for sound/input. But make sure your comfortable with c++ before going onto games, it will give you a good base and allow you to focus completely on learning a graphics API.

[Avishaiozeri]

Thanks. I'll start learning it. this "libraries" like opengl, does game companys use them too?

[MrDeathNote]

Ofcourse man, OpenGL is widely used in industry. You've probably heard of directX, thats a library aswell. Check out some of the games made OpenGL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_OpenGL_programs

[Avishaiozeri]

Wow ! and i thought the companys use some unknown alien Languages!

[MrDeathNote]

Wow ! and i thought the companys use some unknown alien Languages!

Lol no, the industry standard for game development is c++. Pretty much every company will ask for applicants with great c++ skills.

[GroundUpEngine]

Wow ! and i thought the companys use some unknown alien Languages!

Lol no, the industry standard for game development is c++. Pretty much every company will ask for applicants with great c++ skills.

/signed

[Avishaiozeri]

So i see that learning c++ has great value... i'll get on it now.

And by the way, i wanted to ask a question. I'v just started learning, and i saw the use for cin and cout. they're not keywords, so i guess their coming from a library (maybe iostream?) if i'm right, how can you print letters in c++ on the screen? do you have to use this library? or is it not a library at all?
I hope it is'nt, 'cause otherwise c++ is harder and more complicated then i thought, if even for text you need libraries full of code. correct me if i'm wrong.

[MrDeathNote]

So i see that learning c++ has great value... i'll get on it now.

And by the way, i wanted to ask a question. I'v just started learning, and i saw the use for cin and cout. they're not keywords, so i guess their coming from a library (maybe iostream?) if i'm right, how can you print letters in c++ on the screen? do you have to use this library? or is it not a library at all?
I hope it is'nt, 'cause otherwise c++ is harder and more complicated then i thought, if even for text you need libraries full of code. correct me if i'm wrong.

iostream is part of the STL(standard template library) it comes built into c++, its basically a set of useful functions. To print to the screen you need to include iostream and use this code:

Code: Select all

std::cout << "Hello World!" << std::endl;

cin is used to get input from the user, it can be used like this:

Code: Select all

std::cin >> myVariable;