Learning Game Programming
by Habib Karpal · in General Discussion · 04/21/2002 (9:55 am) · 9 replies
I hate sounding like a lamer, but I want to start learning how to program graphics and AI. I've got a good grasp of web-development programming, like JavaScript, DHTML and Java, and I hope to start C++.
I know a bit of C++, but not anything close to what I need to know.
I've got a book called Sam's Learn C++ in 21 Days. I know it's impossible to do what it says, but I figure learning basic C++ is a good place to start (duh).
I have a book on Direct3D game programming with DirectX 8, but it's very confusing and has almost no source code.
Does anyone have a website or book they reccomend for beginner programmers to read? Any help is...well, helpful. :)
I know a bit of C++, but not anything close to what I need to know.
I've got a book called Sam's Learn C++ in 21 Days. I know it's impossible to do what it says, but I figure learning basic C++ is a good place to start (duh).
I have a book on Direct3D game programming with DirectX 8, but it's very confusing and has almost no source code.
Does anyone have a website or book they reccomend for beginner programmers to read? Any help is...well, helpful. :)
#2
04/23/2002 (1:26 pm)
Thanks. I've got to get back to reading through the DirectX 8 SDK code, too. I used to be able to understand it (if C++ was only Java...actually I like C++ better. Forget I said that). :)
#3
04/23/2002 (2:26 pm)
Java is the devil
#4
I used their books for beginner and beg-intermediate C and C++, and I can wholeheartedly reccomend them. Fun and friendly, and a ton of great examples in psuedo and real code. Beyond that, and you're going to get into a whole lot of theory and some complex notation. I can't reccomend any of the other books I've used, since they were both very expensive and very boring. They get the job done, but will scare even the most dedicated coder.
I'm currently working out of a book that is about 1800 pages long, and has pretty much no code at all. The Deitel books are friendly, and very forgiving. The problem is, the farthest they go in C++ is up to template classes and functions. Online resources have been the most helpful beyond that, since they are usually written for people other then that academian. I'd reccommend taking a class down at your local community college for audit (probably about $100-$250 for a 10 week class) to really get you in the swing of things.
Make sure you find out how much you'll be learning, and what the teacher feels about group work. Standard lecture classes can bore anyone to sleep, but I've had a few classes that really make you work when you're learning. You do projects in groups, and do presentations to share what you've become an expert on. Very good learning experience.
The actual code that ends up on Flipcode and Gamedev is not something someone just learning C++ should start at. Most is theory, and the rest isn't code that will actually work in your project.
Good luck, and just remember not to give up. Once you get past the more obscure features like bit shifting and inheritence, the rest should be fairly easy with time.
04/23/2002 (2:38 pm)
Dietel and Dietel.I used their books for beginner and beg-intermediate C and C++, and I can wholeheartedly reccomend them. Fun and friendly, and a ton of great examples in psuedo and real code. Beyond that, and you're going to get into a whole lot of theory and some complex notation. I can't reccomend any of the other books I've used, since they were both very expensive and very boring. They get the job done, but will scare even the most dedicated coder.
I'm currently working out of a book that is about 1800 pages long, and has pretty much no code at all. The Deitel books are friendly, and very forgiving. The problem is, the farthest they go in C++ is up to template classes and functions. Online resources have been the most helpful beyond that, since they are usually written for people other then that academian. I'd reccommend taking a class down at your local community college for audit (probably about $100-$250 for a 10 week class) to really get you in the swing of things.
Make sure you find out how much you'll be learning, and what the teacher feels about group work. Standard lecture classes can bore anyone to sleep, but I've had a few classes that really make you work when you're learning. You do projects in groups, and do presentations to share what you've become an expert on. Very good learning experience.
The actual code that ends up on Flipcode and Gamedev is not something someone just learning C++ should start at. Most is theory, and the rest isn't code that will actually work in your project.
Good luck, and just remember not to give up. Once you get past the more obscure features like bit shifting and inheritence, the rest should be fairly easy with time.
#5
Anyway, I'll check that book out and go back Sam's when I need to. Sam's is an OK book, easy to read, but I'm not sure that it explains bitwise operations very well.
04/23/2002 (3:24 pm)
Thanks a lot, Matt! I've actually already signed up for a Computer Science course, although it doesn't start until autumn.Anyway, I'll check that book out and go back Sam's when I need to. Sam's is an OK book, easy to read, but I'm not sure that it explains bitwise operations very well.
#6
Learning programming is like a small leak in a submarine. First it's slow and annoying, then it will get bigger and bigger until it kills everyone.
Erm, no. That's not right...
04/23/2002 (4:47 pm)
I gotta admit, I never really caught onto bitwise operations until a month after the class that was supposed to explain them :pLearning programming is like a small leak in a submarine. First it's slow and annoying, then it will get bigger and bigger until it kills everyone.
Erm, no. That's not right...
#7
04/23/2002 (6:01 pm)
hehe Steve, I have that Sam's book and have been reading it on and off lately... however i'd like to take a C or C++ course at the local colleges but most of them don't let high school students take courses like that (high school students can take college-freshman courses but that's it =/)
#8
Then again, you've probably already tried that...
04/24/2002 (12:33 pm)
Lots of high schools offer Computer Science or Advanced Programming classes now that teach C++...you should ask your math teacher if they have them. Then again, you've probably already tried that...
#9
This is totally off topic, but I know you are a big Elder Scrolls fan. For some reason, we have gotten over 10,000 visitors within the month from the ES BBS system. We can't track back to the thread. Do you have any idea what is going on?
Jeff Tunnell GG
04/24/2002 (2:17 pm)
Hey Steve,This is totally off topic, but I know you are a big Elder Scrolls fan. For some reason, we have gotten over 10,000 visitors within the month from the ES BBS system. We can't track back to the thread. Do you have any idea what is going on?
Jeff Tunnell GG
Torque Owner Ryan J. Parker