In the beginning…

[Anonymous]

Hi Folks, maybe some of you guys out there can help me with a question.
I have been playing computer although mainly console games for a long time now and i am really interested in creating some games of my own. Problem, I have no idea where to start. :?
Question? Could any body point me in the right direction?
I mean right to the beginning…

Thank you in advance
Maco

[Anonymous]

Install XP/Vista.

Download Visual Studio C++ Express Editions (which are free) (2005 or 2008).

Amazon.com, and buy this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Through-Game-Programming-Second/dp/1598633600/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210378906&sr=8-1

Read it cover to cover, work through the examples.

Check in here for help if needed.

[Anonymous]

Problem, I have no idea where to start. [/quote:60c9437ff8]

You said it there; it can be difficult to know where to begin.

If you’ve no prior programming experience I’d actually recommend you try out Game-Maker for a while to teach you the basics of game logic etc. and then move onto a programming language:

http://www.gamemaker.nl/

Game maker is quite powerful and you can make games without prior programming experience- although it does come with it’s own programming language if you want more power.

If you feel a bit more confident about coding then you can try Microsoft’s XNA Game Studio which will let you create games for both Windows & X-Box 360 (Zune support coming soon also) :

http://creators.xna.com/Education/GettingStarted.aspx

XNA uses the C# programming language which is like C++ except that it has been modified to make programming less difficult, quicker and less error prone. If you want quicker (and easier !!)results, XNA might be worth looking at first instead of delving straight into C++.

Of course, C++ is still the daddy when it comes to developing commericial games and it is a very powerful language. But I honestly wouldn’t recommend beginning with it immediately. C++ can be a pig of a language to learn and even experts working with it for years still don’t fully understand some of it’s finer points. I think it’s better to start off with the easy stuff and work your way up for there. Build on a catalogue of successes, not failures !

[Anonymous]

Hi guys, Firstly thank you very much for your help, i really appreciate it.
Reckon i need to start off with fairly simple stuff and get to know it a before i move into the unknown.
Think i will go with your recommendation Darragh and try it out.
Thanks again guys..
Maco

[Author]

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