Free game desighn/programing teaching

[Sir Yuck]

certain people will not let me get into game desighn or programming seriosly so if someone would tell me where i could get do it yourself learning or online teaching 4 FREE, it would be a big help. one thing is i would like to start modding x-com apocalypse, you can find it on my sig link.

[jediforce]

http://www.gamedev.net/

one of many if you google

[dudeking]

I got Beginning C# Game Programing a while back.
I was about £10 althought it says $29.99 on the back.
Its great, but not free sorry.

To start programing you can get all the visual Basics software free from Microsoft and they have loads of free guides online.

[Sir Yuck]

Sorry none would help i have looked at the microsoft things you mentioned. i need a start from scratch learning c++ language with game desighn. ty anyway

[dudeking]

Flash is great, you could make flash games.
I would learn C# over c++ it's a much better language for games.

[z1p]

Flash is great, you could make flash games.
I would learn C# over c++ it's a much better language for games.really? I'm not sure you can develop cross platform games for things like the playstation and gamecube in C#. For hacking around with PC games C# may work, but at least at this time C++ and C is still needed.

[dudeking]

Well this C# book says that games are at the moment written in C and C++ only because developers are wary of C# as its new. It goes on to say that in the future games for the Xbox 360 etc will be written in C# and this will make them cross compatible with the PC and that it will be able to handle graphics better and faster.

There's a whole 286 pages and in that it teaches you how to make a space shooter.
I believe its a better language.

[z1p]

Hey dk, I don't know if I agree with the books reason for why C# isn't used as much, but I do agree that C# does have a future. I guess I was looking at the question as being more immediate than you.

I think one thing that could benefit someone thinking of a future in game development, is looking at the job posting on a site like gamedev. It'll give you an idea of the various jobs in the field because there is a lot more than just software development.

[dudeking]

Well by the time I have learn C# it should be being used then :D

[oracle128]

I'm not going to say it's impossible to learn programming purely by utilizing free online resources; but it's definitely not the greatest idea to do so. It's like trying to become a nuclear physicist or rocket scientist based only on information gathered from the internet - theoretically possible to a degree, but certainly not the ideal way to go about it. Software development is a specialist field that, in practice, requires a proper education in software development or computer science - once you have that, then it's time to utilize external resources to expand your knowledge. At the very least, don't try jumping into a full programming language if you don't know basic command line or scripting languages. Even game modding wouldn't be the best place to start, though it's a good place to put your skills into practice without having to build a game engine of your own.

Perhaps a better idea would be to do some investigation, and let your parents know just what kind of salaries game developers/designers make...

[Sir Yuck]

At the very least, don't try jumping into a full programming language if you don't know basic command line or scripting languages. Even game modding wouldn't be the best place to start, though it's a good place to put your skills into practice without having to build a game engine of your own.

Perhaps a better idea would be to do some investigation, and let your parents know just what kind of salaries game developers/designers make...


I have let them know salaries game desighners make, I have a c++ book but they won't let me use it cause it cuts into school time. And to DK how could Playstation & gamecube games written in c# be windows compatible?

[dudeking]

It's what the book says, and it does say in theory, but I'm not sure...