Different programming languages for games?
by Shane09 · in General Discussion · 02/09/2009 (6:08 pm) · 4 replies
I am currently up in the air as what programming language would be good as my FIRST, yeah, that's right, FIRST programming language ever. Before suggestions begin, I would like to state what I would like to learn, and what I would like to one day accomplish.
1) Object-oriented programming. I'm guessing these are the types of languages you use for game creation?
2) I use a Mac (Leopard).
3) c++ sounds like it could be fun, and one day useful, however, I have heard "problems" with it from some programmers & experienced programmers. I heard it is OLD, as in YEARS old. Also, is it true there are many problems with it? Will it take a whole team to conquer the issues with c++?
4) I've been looking at c# & Open Dylan. Both of those languages sound like they could have a good potential for game creation. I don't know any AAA titles right off the top of my head, but I think there is a few. With c#, I currently run it under MonoDevelop. It's extremely hard to find any tutorials though for learning c# on MonoDevelop on a Mac. With Open Dylan, I can't get it to install. But, I've also heard that Open Dylan can be an extremely great language. With the applications/games made with c# & Open Dylan, are you legally able to sell them?
I would someday hope to 1) have my own engine, and 2) create my own games, possibly with that engine. What languages would you, as the community, recommend? What compilers would you also recommend to go with that language. I'm only 14, so I do not have lots of money to buy a good engine, or a excellent compiler. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
1) Object-oriented programming. I'm guessing these are the types of languages you use for game creation?
2) I use a Mac (Leopard).
3) c++ sounds like it could be fun, and one day useful, however, I have heard "problems" with it from some programmers & experienced programmers. I heard it is OLD, as in YEARS old. Also, is it true there are many problems with it? Will it take a whole team to conquer the issues with c++?
4) I've been looking at c# & Open Dylan. Both of those languages sound like they could have a good potential for game creation. I don't know any AAA titles right off the top of my head, but I think there is a few. With c#, I currently run it under MonoDevelop. It's extremely hard to find any tutorials though for learning c# on MonoDevelop on a Mac. With Open Dylan, I can't get it to install. But, I've also heard that Open Dylan can be an extremely great language. With the applications/games made with c# & Open Dylan, are you legally able to sell them?
I would someday hope to 1) have my own engine, and 2) create my own games, possibly with that engine. What languages would you, as the community, recommend? What compilers would you also recommend to go with that language. I'm only 14, so I do not have lots of money to buy a good engine, or a excellent compiler. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
#2
Since Python is included with the OS, you could also look into PyGame, which is built on top of Python+SDL+more. Python is a good learning language, in addition to being actually useful for real tasks. Just get the O'Reilly book on Python and start coding.
Dylan isn't exactly widely supported for games. On a Mac, you have these options right out of the box: C, C++, Objective-C (the preferred language for native apps), Python, Ruby.
TGB is also a cheap option. You need less code to do more, and some of the creating is dragging and dropping assets. Go 3D when you get real good.
02/10/2009 (5:07 pm)
Get yourself a good C++ book (Thinking in C++, free here: http://mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html ) and a nice cross-platform engine (SFML finally got Mac support) to have a relatively easy start in that direction.Since Python is included with the OS, you could also look into PyGame, which is built on top of Python+SDL+more. Python is a good learning language, in addition to being actually useful for real tasks. Just get the O'Reilly book on Python and start coding.
Dylan isn't exactly widely supported for games. On a Mac, you have these options right out of the box: C, C++, Objective-C (the preferred language for native apps), Python, Ruby.
TGB is also a cheap option. You need less code to do more, and some of the creating is dragging and dropping assets. Go 3D when you get real good.
#3
02/11/2009 (1:49 pm)
Hmm. TGB sounds, great, but at the moment, I am creating a 3d game using TGE. Thanks for the advice, though. Thanks for your replies. It seems like you both strongly prefer c++.
#4
02/11/2009 (7:05 pm)
It's more that I prefer fully compiled languages (script languages are in a strange twilight zone between interpreted and compiled these days :). 
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