SDL or Allegro

[calkiot]

Hey every one. I'm new here, know the basics of C++ and is learning about game development. But what what library should i use. Simplicity helps, all I care about doing is making 2d rpg's. Screw the rest. So which one should i use? Allegro or SDL
And any helpfull tutorials concerning what I want to make will be greatly appreciated.

[wearymemory]

But what what library should i use. Simplicity helps, all I care about doing is making 2d rpg's.

That doesn't rule out OpenGL, SFML, Direct3D, and many others. Some of these libraries are well known for their 3D capabilities, but they also support 2D computer graphics.

Screw the rest.

Don't do that! Increasing your knowledge of different API's increases your employability, and is beneficial to any aspiring programmer, so try to learn each of them as best you can, but use the one you're most comfortable with, or whichever one fits your project's needs best.

So which one should i use? Allegro or SDL

Many before you, have asked.

At this point, you're better off flipping a coin. Do some research, and make sure the one you're choosing is right for you.

[isamgray]

Hey every one. I'm new here, know the basics of C++ and is learning about game development. But what what library should i use. Simplicity helps, all I care about doing is making 2d rpg's. Screw the rest. So which one should i use? Allegro or SDL
And any helpfull tutorials concerning what I want to make will be greatly appreciated.

I've used both, and I'm only going to be saying what I'm saying from my personal experiences and opinion.(I don't want to start a flame war by my first post on these forums. lol) I found SDL with OpenGL to be best, and easiest. Allegro seemed a bit...obtrusive, I guess is the best word, to me. I like how SDL gets out of the way and lets me do exactly what I want to do, and exactly how I want to do it.

Also, just a suggestion, but you should probably change your "screw the rest" mind set. That won't get you far, and definitely won't let you get things done very well.

[dandymcgee]

Search bar, top right corner of the web page, it's a valuable tool. It seems as if someone new is asking this question every other day. There is a wealth of information on these very forums regarding this topic, let alone that information one might find spread across the internet. Search first, ask second. Abide by this one rule and you'll be all set.

Aside from the usual lecture, welcome to the forums!

[calkiot]

oh, im sorry, when i said "screw the rest"
i was talking about different game types. I only want to make 2d rpgs right now. When I get more into it. Then ill go further, and thanks for the help.

[epicasian]

Not trying to be a douche, calkiot, but RPGs are the most difficult games to create. If you do decide to make your first game an RPG, split everything into sections, like EdBoon did, with his Zombie RPG called Jejunun.

Good luck,
~Asian

[Tevex]

Hey calkiot, I'm new here too,

Your post reminded me of this useful blog post made by a well known indie developer who makes RPGs for a living.

http://rampantgames.com/blog/?p=696

He just helps people see what makes RPGs hard to make.
Certainly not suggesting not to do the, but to be aware, and why.

You could start off with some smaller well known games that have been made before, so you can focus on the technical side rather than the game design stuff.
A simpler game like Snake would be useful because a lot of what you do in it, like tile based levels/screens with walls, player input and displaying/animating game characters etc. Since the scope is small you can finish it, and you know when you're finished because you know Snake.

You could then take what you learn from doing snake and do a slightly more complex game, like Theseus and the Minotaur, which has aspects of an RPG, like simple AI and can have procedural generation or designed levels etc.
http://www.logicmazes.com/theseus.html

It can be quite demoralizing working on a really big project, and then failing because you're trying to learn too many different aspects at one time.

"Thomson's Rule for First-Time Telescope Makers: "It is faster to make a four-inch mirror then a six-inch mirror than to make a six-inch mirror." "
http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?TelescopeRule

Best of luck!

[calkiot]

Best answer ive heard yet, even though not related to the subject. I guess i just didnt know what to ask. Thank you very much!

[WSPSNIPER]

Allegro < SDL < SFML

so im saying go SFML but i still love SDL but you would eventually need to learn opengl to do some optimizations because software rendering is not the fastest