I want to get started into programming games and simple applications for windows. I was trying to decide between c++, C#, and java but I just want to know what would be good to start with. Thanks.
C# if you ask me. Java is also a good starting language, but it's harder to make games in my opinion. C++ can get confusing.
Thank you! Should I use XNA or start from scratch?
[QUOTE=buster925;40774163]Thank you! Should I use XNA or start from scratch?[/QUOTE]
Take it from someone who is doing game development is C# from scratch, you're gonna want to start with an engine or lots of helper libraries unless you want to spend a very long time learning a whole lot of low-level subjects.
And don't forget that XNA is now deprecated so you should use it's multiplatform clone - MonoGame.
Another useful library that you can use is SFML.NET. It is very simple to learn and provides the basic functions that you need to start developing a game.
Personally I started off learning Visual C# using O'Rilleys Head First: C#, then after reading about 200 pages of that I started developing games using Unity. I can very much recommend doing that. I've tried to finish the book a good half year after I stopped, but there's such a big difference between Visual C# and Unity C# Script so I couldn't be bothered.
You learn how to teach yourself certain things on your own though, so don't worry about that too much. Good luck :)
Thank You! :smile:
If you're still in high school, I always recommend Java. You can learn a programming language, and also take the AP Computer Science exam for college credit. Kill two birds with one stone, sounds good to me.
[QUOTE=Doom;40794962]Personally I started off learning Visual C# using O'Rilleys Head First: C#, then after reading about 200 pages of that I started developing games using Unity. I can very much recommend doing that. I've tried to finish the book a good half year after I stopped, but there's such a big difference between Visual C# and Unity C# Script so I couldn't be bothered.
You learn how to teach yourself certain things on your own though, so don't worry about that too much. Good luck :)[/QUOTE]
I'm looking to get into programming and I see a lot of reviews about there being plenty of typo's and errors in the book. Is this true?
Unfortunately, it's the only "beginner" book I know of.
i'd suggest C# or Java. C++ can be daunting. that being said, poke around and find the languages you like using. there is no "best" language.
[QUOTE=LtKyle2;40806033]I'm looking to get into programming and I see a lot of reviews about there being plenty of typo's and errors in the book. Is this true?
Unfortunately, it's the only "beginner" book I know of.[/QUOTE]
I found it fine.
C/C++/x86ASM
Brainfuck. If that's too easy for you, Malbolge. If that's too impossible for you, then I'm not sure. Befunge? Other than that, Python is my personal favourite.
So sorry to bump an old thread but I thought it would be to much of an insignificant question to start a new one. I'm getting started with C# but what engine should I use? I'm trying to start XNA but it seems Microsoft isn't going to support it. I want to make 2d games so I don't really want to use Unity3d. Any suggestions?
Just because Microsoft doesn't support it anymore, doesn't mean it's bad.There is plenty of documentation and that's quite important too and it probably does everything you need to do.
With that said you may want to look at [url=http://www.monogame.net/]MonoGame[/url] which may be of interest.
[QUOTE=bunguer;41246111]Just because Microsoft doesn't support it anymore, doesn't mean it's bad.There is plenty of documentation and that's quite important too and it probably does everything you need to do.
With that said you may want to look at [url=http://www.monogame.net/]MonoGame[/url] which may be of interest.[/QUOTE]
I downloaded monogame yesterday and it seems really nice. I can even use it for Windows 8 apps. Thanks for the advice!
[QUOTE=buster925;41246419]I downloaded monogame yesterday and it seems really nice. I can even use it for Windows 8 apps. Thanks for the advice![/QUOTE]
There's also [URL="https://github.com/flibitijibibo/MonoGame"]this fork[/URL] (MonoGame SDL2#), which is apparently a version of MonoGame that's actually cross-platform.
(I haven't used it myself so far but it's been recommended here.)
I still recommend using XNA over monogame because for now the content pipeline in monogame can be a pain.
I suggest SFML2.NET or SDL.NET over XNA and MonoGame, simply because it's easier to use, or google for some 2D libraries for .NET, you can find good ones pretty quickly.
[QUOTE=buster925;41245596]So sorry to bump an old thread but I thought it would be to much of an insignificant question to start a new one. I'm getting started with C# but what engine should I use? I'm trying to start XNA but it seems Microsoft isn't going to support it. I want to make 2d games so I don't really want to use Unity3d. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]
Why don't you give [URL="http://slimdx.org/features.php"]SlimDX [/URL] a try? In my experience it's the fastest solution out there, but the learning curve is a tad steeper.
Honestly, C# has more graphics library choices then you can shake a stick at. Experiment with several :).
[QUOTE=Morgy;41269201]Why don't you give [URL="http://slimdx.org/features.php"]SlimDX [/URL] a try? In my experience it's the fastest solution out there, but the learning curve is a tad steeper.
Honestly, C# has more graphics library choices then you can shake a stick at. Experiment with several :).[/QUOTE]
If you want to go the OpenGL route, try OpenTK. Latest (unofficial) version is on GitHub: [url]https://github.com/andykorth/opentk[/url]
[QUOTE=robmaister12;41272033]If you want to go the OpenGL route, try OpenTK. Latest (unofficial) version is on GitHub: [url]https://github.com/andykorth/opentk[/url][/QUOTE]
Is it super hard to learn?
[QUOTE=buster925;41274793]Is it super hard to learn?[/QUOTE]
Relative to DirectX/SlimDX, it's about the same, however, both are probably a bit overkill for 2d and I would actually recommend using a 2d engine if your intention is to make a game.
If you want to learn about how graphics works at a lower level, then go for SlimDX/OpenTK. It's not THAT hard to learn, but if your focus is making the game itself, it's only going to waste your time.
I'd like to make games, so I'm installing Visual Studio so I can make apps as a side thing. I'm gonna install XNA, and on my Ubuntu 12.04 I want to get Monogame, but it just isn't fecken working.
I'm a beginner too, started with DarkBasic Pro. It's very easy to learn, and good for getting used to and grasping concepts of programming. Its great if you wanted to make games, because Darkbasic Pro can setup things quickly. The language also a little bit similar to C++, so maybe I can move to C++ more easily later. The editor is quite easy to use, with debugging feature and all. 2D, 3D games are equally easy to make.
The downside is that its somehow not very popular because people can create games with other popular game engine (Unity, Scource). There are certain limitations, such as you cant pass arrays into function, cant pass user-defined type into function, ect. So sometime we had to do some workaround.
But if you want to go far (as in getting jobs, making games for companies), better learn other standard language. Darkbasic Pro is great for new people, and to set a game up real quick, almost like rapid development tool. Its a complete language , so you can use it to make programs other than games just fine.
This good-looking horror game was made in 20 days using Darkbasic Pro. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnUrPE9nYZE[/url]
[QUOTE=Erasus;41282966]I'd like to make games, so I'm installing Visual Studio so I can make apps as a side thing. I'm gonna install XNA, and on my Ubuntu 12.04 I want to get Monogame, but it just isn't fecken working.[/QUOTE]
I think you're a bit mistaken about what these things actually do:
Visual Studio is a generic IDE, with it you can make apps [I]and[/I] games.
The same goes for Mono[U]Develop[/U].
XNA is a game [U]framework[/U]. You have to install [I]the integration with VS[/I] and it only runs on Windows. It's not a program you can run directly.
MonoGame is a framework too, but the version in the installer has problems (the multi-platform-support isn't actually that good, meaning you'd have to port your games between Windows, Linux and Mac OS).
The version you probably should use [I][U]does not have an installer[/U][/I]. It is the MonoGame SDL2# fork, the thing that you checked out with Git.
The project types showing up in VS are from the main branch, so you may not actually be able to use them.
To use MonoGame SDL2#, add it as reference to a normal (command line) project, using the MonoGame.Framework.SDL2.csproj project file or the resulting dll-library.
You can get rid of the command line window by changing the assembly type in the project options, but it's useful for debug messages.
I think HTML is a great starting language. It is fairly easy and you learn it pretty quick. I learned a lot by using codeacademy! But another good starting language I'd recommend is visual basic, the second word sums it up.
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