Best way to start?
by Eric Schuld · in General Discussion · 04/09/2006 (7:35 pm) · 9 replies
Just looking for an opinion on what the best way to start is... I have a little experience with 3d modeling so i'm not to worried about any of that...
BUT - should I start learning C++? OR - should I nab the book "3D Game Programming All in One" that is on Amazon and get my foundations first just using the tools that torque has?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...
BUT - should I start learning C++? OR - should I nab the book "3D Game Programming All in One" that is on Amazon and get my foundations first just using the tools that torque has?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...
#2
So would you agree that if I want to get the most motivating results - and actually see some work - get the 3D game programming book first? then as I need and want more - learn C++?
Would I actually get started making games without some knowledge of C++? I have Visual Studio - so I have access to it that isn't a problem... :) Just the time to invest in learning coding etc. :)
04/09/2006 (7:49 pm)
LOL - thanks :)So would you agree that if I want to get the most motivating results - and actually see some work - get the 3D game programming book first? then as I need and want more - learn C++?
Would I actually get started making games without some knowledge of C++? I have Visual Studio - so I have access to it that isn't a problem... :) Just the time to invest in learning coding etc. :)
#3
1) Python
2) C++
3) The Game Programmer's Guide to Torque
4) 3D Game Programming All In One
5) The Game Programmer's Guide to Torque (yes, reread it)
6) Advanced 3D Game Programming All In One
Just stick with it and it will come. Remember nothing in life worth anything comes easy (except Chinese food).
04/09/2006 (9:12 pm)
IMHO, I would suggest going with learning a scripting language like Python first. This will introduce you to the topics that you will have to understand before grasping TorqueScript. Python is a very simple object-oriented scripting language that will really benefit you. I would suggest something like the following:1) Python
2) C++
3) The Game Programmer's Guide to Torque
4) 3D Game Programming All In One
5) The Game Programmer's Guide to Torque (yes, reread it)
6) Advanced 3D Game Programming All In One
Just stick with it and it will come. Remember nothing in life worth anything comes easy (except Chinese food).
#4
Thanks for the thoughts... I did get the 3D Gaming book recommended from the page...
I believe that works a little through some scripting? Am I right? Also - if not Python for scripts - what would you recommend? Can I not just learn scripting in Visual Studio?
04/09/2006 (10:13 pm)
Bah - Chinese food is rediculious... 30 minutes after you eat it you are hungry for more... :)Thanks for the thoughts... I did get the 3D Gaming book recommended from the page...
I believe that works a little through some scripting? Am I right? Also - if not Python for scripts - what would you recommend? Can I not just learn scripting in Visual Studio?
#5
04/09/2006 (10:20 pm)
You could certainly learn something like Visual Basic (not a scripting language but simple). You could also look at C# which I find to be a very well designed language. It is also a very beginner friendly language. C# however forces you to learn object-oriented programming from the get go (which could be a good thing). Of the two, I would recommend C#. I learned C# before C/C++ and feel like I was well enough off. I still am a big fan of Python because of its power. Eve Online uses Stacked Python to a VERY large degree and they have (correct me if I'm wrong) the record for most concurrent players in a persistent world game (MMO). Python is powerful and very flexible!
#6
So I have a good access to programming languages.
From a programming standpoint I totally understand learning C# - seems it is being pushed WAY more than C++ anymore... BUT - Torque is C++ programming - so if my interest lies primarily in learning how to use torque at this point - would you change your recommendaiton to focussing on C++ and a scripting language? Like Python? What is the main webpage for Python if you know?
04/10/2006 (8:49 am)
Yeah - wasn't refering to visual basic - visual studio is Microsofts suite of visual basic, C#, C++, J#, etc.So I have a good access to programming languages.
From a programming standpoint I totally understand learning C# - seems it is being pushed WAY more than C++ anymore... BUT - Torque is C++ programming - so if my interest lies primarily in learning how to use torque at this point - would you change your recommendaiton to focussing on C++ and a scripting language? Like Python? What is the main webpage for Python if you know?
#7
04/14/2006 (10:13 am)
Well, i'd just buy that book and learn the scritping language. You don't need to know c++ to start making games with torque. I've wrote 10,000 lines of torquescript code and like 100 in C++ for my project.
#8
Don't try to do everything because you will end up accomplishing nothing, I am a modeller/programmer but even I know I can't do everything so I contract out animation, texturing, and some of the C++ side of my projects.
04/14/2006 (11:25 am)
If you're wanting to learn the engine from a coding standpoint, I would recommend learning the scripting language (3D Programminer All-in-One) and then learning C++ as you can then improve the engine to meet your needs via the C++.Don't try to do everything because you will end up accomplishing nothing, I am a modeller/programmer but even I know I can't do everything so I contract out animation, texturing, and some of the C++ side of my projects.
#9
A few friends and I are looking to work through a game together - one is working mostly in the 3d modeling (with our other guy on the animation) then me and one other on focusing on the code and scripting. If we get serious and the game turns out to be quite good (we have a novel idea but I dont' want to get into it until we actually have story-boards/details worked out) I will have a base understanding of C++ but we can look to contract out any of that - it is all going to depend on how serious we get with the game. :)
We stay all casual - just leave it without advanced coding and leave it simple - if the game truly has potential to go somewhere - we will worry about that when we cross that bridge. :)
I am working through the 3D programming all in one book - I am deeply interested in the Torque specific book and will look at that after I get through this one...
Thanks again!
04/14/2006 (11:44 am)
Thanks for the thoughts guys. I am fully aware of the fact that if i try to do everything I would get no where fast AT ALL. :) What I am most hoping for is that I can have a general base knowledge of Torque - the script - C++ coding etc. (I'm ok with 3d modeling and animation but it's been like 7 years since i was really deep into it.)A few friends and I are looking to work through a game together - one is working mostly in the 3d modeling (with our other guy on the animation) then me and one other on focusing on the code and scripting. If we get serious and the game turns out to be quite good (we have a novel idea but I dont' want to get into it until we actually have story-boards/details worked out) I will have a base understanding of C++ but we can look to contract out any of that - it is all going to depend on how serious we get with the game. :)
We stay all casual - just leave it without advanced coding and leave it simple - if the game truly has potential to go somewhere - we will worry about that when we cross that bridge. :)
I am working through the 3D programming all in one book - I am deeply interested in the Torque specific book and will look at that after I get through this one...
Thanks again!
Torque Owner Ben Ewing