Beginning Game Making
by Matt Eastman · in General Discussion · 10/12/2003 (3:22 pm) · 29 replies
Hi, I'm a 13 kid and I'm looking for any resources that could help me out with learning basic programming in a simple language that a kid could learn. I'm looking for a website that could tell me how to start programming because I'm kinda broke right now and can't buy any learning books. Thanks, and sorry if you have trouble understanding this, I've had a long day and am rather tired right now.
#22
10/15/2003 (11:10 am)
It's not true that you code has to be Mac specific in C if your are using the Allegro package I suggested. It is multiplatform, and compiles on Windows, Mac, Linux and a couple other things. 
#23
lol wow... You really must not have used it then.
"Plus the fact it compiles these HUGE binaries which is just really stupid and the realsoftware company would have known better than to pull that crap."
Oh yes, because you know how much crap they want to pull. Come on. HUGE is not the word I would use at all. A typical app will be about 2 megs, BUT in 5.5, the size has been (and will continue to be) reduced dramatically.
But that's besides the point.
REALbaic is a fully object oriented language with 2d and 3d capabilites as well as a plugin API which makes nearly (to be safe from saying absolutely) anything possible. REALbasic was the key for me to actually understanding C++. I'm not recommending it because it's crap. Get a grip. I know MANY professional C++ programmers who use REALbasic INSTEAD of C++ because it's far more productive and can do the same things. Putting my C knowledge into writing plugins for use with REALbasic is really what made me understand C and eventually C++. I couldn't have done it otherwise without hours upon hours upon hours and pages and pages of books.
No one is suggesting that a Quake or Unreal level game can be written in REALbasic (despite the fact that it technically could). The point here is to introduce the guy to programming, learning something that's actually useful (as opposed to python because like someone said, it's all interpreted and semi-useless in this case).
If you're dad knows Java, well, learn Java, but realize that Java also has a lot of mumbo jumbo that goes with it. I suppose every language does, but at least C++ or REALbasic and others behave the same between platforms.
10/15/2003 (12:09 pm)
"OK first of all DO NOT TOUCH nor even THINK about using RealBasic. What complete garbage it truely is."lol wow... You really must not have used it then.
"Plus the fact it compiles these HUGE binaries which is just really stupid and the realsoftware company would have known better than to pull that crap."
Oh yes, because you know how much crap they want to pull. Come on. HUGE is not the word I would use at all. A typical app will be about 2 megs, BUT in 5.5, the size has been (and will continue to be) reduced dramatically.
But that's besides the point.
REALbaic is a fully object oriented language with 2d and 3d capabilites as well as a plugin API which makes nearly (to be safe from saying absolutely) anything possible. REALbasic was the key for me to actually understanding C++. I'm not recommending it because it's crap. Get a grip. I know MANY professional C++ programmers who use REALbasic INSTEAD of C++ because it's far more productive and can do the same things. Putting my C knowledge into writing plugins for use with REALbasic is really what made me understand C and eventually C++. I couldn't have done it otherwise without hours upon hours upon hours and pages and pages of books.
No one is suggesting that a Quake or Unreal level game can be written in REALbasic (despite the fact that it technically could). The point here is to introduce the guy to programming, learning something that's actually useful (as opposed to python because like someone said, it's all interpreted and semi-useless in this case).
If you're dad knows Java, well, learn Java, but realize that Java also has a lot of mumbo jumbo that goes with it. I suppose every language does, but at least C++ or REALbasic and others behave the same between platforms.
#24
10/15/2003 (6:08 pm)
I concure Python or REALBasic are both excellent choices.
#25
10/15/2003 (6:26 pm)
Ya, I know this may seem a bit incompitent but I haven't been able to find where to download Java for MacOSX, I know the site has a download page on it but it takes you to the Apple java site where there's no link to the download. If you could help with just this one last thing, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for all this info, oh, and I got Python aswell incase the Java is a bit too advanced for me to begin with (or incase I can't find where to download Java, lol).
#26
If you have the original OS X disks, it may be included with them. I believe you can also buy the CD for $20 if you don't want to spend however long it takes to download the 280-300 mb.
10/15/2003 (6:31 pm)
Well if by "Java for Mac OS X" you mean the compiler and all that, it's all part of the Developer tools package. Project Builder is used for Carbon, Cocoa, Java, and even AppleScript studio. Same with Interface Builder.If you have the original OS X disks, it may be included with them. I believe you can also buy the CD for $20 if you don't want to spend however long it takes to download the 280-300 mb.
#27
10/15/2003 (6:52 pm)
Okay, I think I might start to understand this, I need a client for the java, right? If so, is this the type of thing I'm looking for www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/9667 ?
#28
10/15/2003 (7:01 pm)
Everything you need is included in the Developer Tools.
#29
Normally, I would tell you to go to http://java.sun.com , but they don't seem to have a Macintosh version of Java for some reason.
You might want to go to http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/7276 . That looks like Java, but it might just be the JRE, not the SDK. Also, it's called an "update", which suggests that you need to already have some piece of older Java software. The file seems to be slightly smaller than it should be too (though I'm not sure about this).
Since your dad uses Java and has a Mac, he probably knows where to download it. You should probably just ask him.
10/16/2003 (7:57 am)
That BlueJ program looks like it could be useful for you. But it's only 1.6 MB. So it could not possibly contain everything that comes with the Java SDK.Normally, I would tell you to go to http://java.sun.com , but they don't seem to have a Macintosh version of Java for some reason.
You might want to go to http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/7276 . That looks like Java, but it might just be the JRE, not the SDK. Also, it's called an "update", which suggests that you need to already have some piece of older Java software. The file seems to be slightly smaller than it should be too (though I'm not sure about this).
Since your dad uses Java and has a Mac, he probably knows where to download it. You should probably just ask him.
Torque Owner Kurtis Seebaldt
"... whereas the teaching of BASIC should be rated as a criminal offence: it mutilates the mind beyond recovery."
BASIC has gotten better than it was when that quote was made, but it still takes you down the wrong path if you are serious about programming. So, it really comes down to what you are looking for. If all you want is to know enough about programming to get stuff done, BASIC can help. If you want to make a career out of software development on large scale projects (enterprise software, most games) learn something more in line with todays design philosophies (C++, Java).