nyder

Wondering if anyone here does some gaming/graphics programming and could recommend a good library?

I was considering using the SDL it's it appears to be the most portable between systems, but I'm also thinking that maybe I'm getting ahead of myself with that.
Since I don't have any experience with programming with graphics, I figured maybe I should start with something easier, maybe more geared to the idiot then the seasoned programmer.

Anyone have any ideas or good recommendations?

thanks

version2

I think SDL is as easy as it gets. Unless you want to start with some sort of 3d engine. Some of them are quite complex though.

Edit: You can try some simple OpenGL stuff first, through c++ or whatever.

nyder

I decided to check out MS's XNA & and a Game Studio beta thingy they have, for designing games for the PC & 360.

It's supposed to be easy to make games for, so I figured maybe it's a good way to get my feet wet, and start making basic games and working my way up.

I found this article that said to start with a simple game, like tetris. Then make a little harder type game, like pacman. Then do a little harder game, like Galaga, so on. I thought that was a really good idea, mainly since it has you doing the basics and sort of adding to it with new stuff. I know i'm explaining it badly, but i'm sure you get the gist of what I am saying.

I'm also going to have to update my programming skills (obviously) with this, as i'm mostly done C in the past. I'm familiar with C++ but haven't done alot with it. But then, I haven't programmed on a windows platform before, either. I'm probably better suited to do linux stuff since most my experience is with dos (malloc anyone?), but I figured I better start with what is giving me the best tools for now.

Then, hopefully I will be good enough to make the military madness (TG16) clone I've always wanted to make. And if it ends up decent enough, I had wanted, just for the fun of it, make it work on a dreamcast, amiga's, and possible even my GBA. But thats the dream, and the reality will hopefully be something.

Part of this is also, dang don't know what to call it. I guess part of me wants to prove that these learning disabilities I recently found out I have, can be overcome. I actually don't have a hard time learning anything, quite the opposite in fact. But my dyslexia causes some problems. I'm not the type that writes letters backwards, mine affects what I hear & what I see, and I guess what I say, though it seems to be a memory recall thingy more. Like I will be picturing a tomatoe in my head and call it an apple, but think I said tomatoe. So you'd say, "you said apple" and I say"huh? I said tomatoe".

sort of like that. As for the seeing stuff, I'd see words that aren't there, or the wrong numbers on the bus. Like I was going thru a list and swore I saw it say "Gaming Beta program", when in fact, it didn't. Or I'd see the bus 174 and think it said 142 or something. Or worse, I'd see the correct number, but my brain will be telling me it's the wrong bus, so I'd miss it.

Learning I had this explained most the confusion I had during my life. I've been able to get my stuff together more now then i had in the last 10 years.
I used to program before I had my breakdown, and enjoyed it, even though it was a crappy citadel bbs.

So now, since I have the time and the technology, I might as well do it. So I can flip off all my naysayers and tell the to F off and suck my penis. =)

Don't know why I went into all of that, I could erase it but maybe this will give someone a little better insight to why am I the way I am.

=)

Bean

I have a similar problem; tho its not quite as magnified...

I'll frequently read numbers backwards without realizing it; or swap several words and say them out of order... like 3 of them switched in a mirror...

I also have trouble hearing what people say, not because I can't hear it, because I can't always comprehend it. I didnt think that was a related problem though? I've always wondered. Sometimes I go batty and I can't think straight because my brain is thinking of something else completely different. I don't find it a learning disability, its more like a social disability.

This is interesting, I wonder if there's a way I can get it diagnosed?

kmb

I recommend starting with SDL (or Maybe allegro or something cheap) then get into some Open GL 3D Programming