Channel 9 Forums - Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? http://mschnlnine.vo.llnwd.net/d1/Dev/App_Themes/C9/images/feedimage.png Channel 9 Forums - Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums Channel 9 keeps you up to date with the latest news and behind the scenes info from Microsoft that developers love to keep up with. From LINQ to SilverLight – Watch videos and hear about all the cool technologies coming and the people behind them. http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums en Sat, 25 May 2013 18:50:35 GMT Sat, 25 May 2013 18:50:35 GMT Rev9 21 -21 -1 Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? I have no experience with programming or anything, my only experience is mapping in Source which wont help. It's very hard to know where to start as there is so much information out there but no real definitive guidelines on what you need to do. I'd really appreciate if someone helped me in knowing what I have to learn and what the best way is to go about it, where I can actively teach myself and not have to go to college.

Thanx. 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/33f146704f4547a886fea151000c42f7#33f146704f4547a886fea151000c42f7 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:44:38 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/33f146704f4547a886fea151000c42f7#33f146704f4547a886fea151000c42f7 Scaramoosh 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Scaramoosh/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? The first question would be, what kind of game do you want to create?

For example, if you want to create some RPG style ADV games, you may just buy one of the many scripting engine available in the world (some of them is even free and cross platform, you may need to buy or find your way to get the compiler though, and the one I point to is good for e-novel style of game. You need some other for building RPG like ones. I've seen some fans group made awesome game with these engines, but can't remember the name) and just focus on storyboard and arts.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/c586c1e6070d40ef8b74a151002cbcc7#c586c1e6070d40ef8b74a151002cbcc7 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 02:42:53 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/c586c1e6070d40ef8b74a151002cbcc7#c586c1e6070d40ef8b74a151002cbcc7 cheong 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/cheong/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? How about this?

http://channel9.msdn.com/coding4fun/articles/Fall-Fury-Part-1-Introduction

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/9a56e87b91c34c468eb4a151006a11b3#9a56e87b91c34c468eb4a151006a11b3 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 06:26:11 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/9a56e87b91c34c468eb4a151006a11b3#9a56e87b91c34c468eb4a151006a11b3 magicalclick 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/magicalclick/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? I wanna learn C from scratch, my friend went to uni and he said start there, don't bother with stuff like Python or Java as they suck and it all comes from C, so learn that. The problem is however I'm struggling to find any good guides for it, I feel like all the ones I've seen that exist, throw a dictionary at me and tell me to learn the language. There is never any context to any of it, what relevance it has to my end goal and where I even input it or how to get started. 

 

Edit:

 

Wont let me post?

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sams-Teach-Yourself-21-Days/dp/0672324482

Well my mate said the first book her ever read while starting Uni was this so I'm borrowing his. I'm not interested in college as I've never learnt much from school or college in the past. 

I thought I'd try watching these

 http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Windows-Phone-7-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners 

Sadly Visual Studio 2010 doesn't work on Windows 8 :\ Might have to upgrade to Windows 7 Big Smile Hate all this Metro crap anyways. 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/80148d83250945d7b047a15101011bf7#80148d83250945d7b047a15101011bf7 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:36:06 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/80148d83250945d7b047a15101011bf7#80148d83250945d7b047a15101011bf7 Scaramoosh 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Scaramoosh/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? Knowing C will be a good thing but given that you have no background in software it's a rough place to start from.  Honestly  I would see if you can do some part time college stuff to get a good set of basic things covered.

learning on your own can be done but it's not fast or easy.

a local community college will give you teachers and other students to talk to and learn from / with that will make some of the stuff much better to get started.

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/02e3b08c8b0c4a358b3aa151010a2b51#02e3b08c8b0c4a358b3aa151010a2b51 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:09:05 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/02e3b08c8b0c4a358b3aa151010a2b51#02e3b08c8b0c4a358b3aa151010a2b51 figuerres 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/figuerres/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? There is no easy answer for you. C was the third or fourth language that I studied. I read a book from cover to cover. That is a good start. It probably took me 6 months to learn C, then 6 months to learn how to program for windows, using the Windows SDK, then another 6 months to learn C++.

But the learning, the studying went on for years, seemingly never ending. New technologies come along: OLE / COM, C# and .NET, additions to C# such as lambda's and Linq. There was also WPF, Internet programming such as ASP. Direct X.

I read Microsoft System Journal articles, several years of monthly issues. Books such as "Algorithms and Data Structures in C++" , Object Orientated Programming, Code Complete, Writing Solid Code. Learning UML, Design Patterns.

Much of all this started for me when I started using the programming language built into Microsoft Access.

If you don't understand say for example what the "static" key word is used for, you may find as I did that you spend a lot of time just hacking your code just to get it to compile.

You are fortunate that the tooling is highly advanced compared to when I started. It took me a month before I found out what "DWORD" was. Today you can type that into the editor and find out in a matter of seconds.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/ccf85cab75c349af9d0ba151010a4de7#ccf85cab75c349af9d0ba151010a4de7 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:09:35 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/ccf85cab75c349af9d0ba151010a4de7#ccf85cab75c349af9d0ba151010a4de7 Proton2 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Proton2/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? Learn C++ or C# or Java, whatever it is, learn how to speak to computer first. Otherwise, you go with Unreal Engine middleware, which is while different world. My advice, making game can wait, learn how to speak first.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/bc894af61fcd4fec8ac3a15101106fbb#bc894af61fcd4fec8ac3a15101106fbb Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:31:54 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/bc894af61fcd4fec8ac3a15101106fbb#bc894af61fcd4fec8ac3a15101106fbb magicalclick 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/magicalclick/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? Never learn C or C++ first. For mainstream programs, learn either Java or C# first - they help you out by making the code about the what you are trying to program rather than the mechanics of how data moves around in the program. Once you understand Java or C# it's easier to move into C and C++.

If you start off in C or C++ you will find it difficult because there are lots of gotchas that they introduce (like pointers) are really unhelpful to battle if you're not entirely sure on your feet.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/02a5f3fa8d2e44eb81b1a151017640c2#02a5f3fa8d2e44eb81b1a151017640c2 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 22:42:36 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/02a5f3fa8d2e44eb81b1a151017640c2#02a5f3fa8d2e44eb81b1a151017640c2 evildictaitor 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/evildictaitor/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start?

, evildictait​or wrote

Never learn C or C++ first. For mainstream programs, learn either Java or C# first - they help you out by making the code about the what you are trying to program rather than the mechanics of how data moves around in the program. Once you understand Java or C# it's easier to move into C and C++.

If you start off in C or C++ you will find it difficult because there are lots of gotchas that they introduce (like pointers) are really unhelpful to battle if you're not entirely sure on your feet.

I recall in the time of DOS having C code that did video buffer writes and such to make the app display fast and such ... and if you got the pointers wrong or the index on an array wrong....

WHAM!  lockup the whole machine!!!!  them were the days ...  Smiley

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/084bb7ca60bc41cdb90da151017bfbed#084bb7ca60bc41cdb90da151017bfbed Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:03:28 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/084bb7ca60bc41cdb90da151017bfbed#084bb7ca60bc41cdb90da151017bfbed figuerres 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/figuerres/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? @figurres:

while(TRUE)
{
  ((char*)(0xb8000)) ++;
}

Spinning character in the top left Smiley 

 
]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/4c5b1d493c9e44bb8098a152000cfd2b#4c5b1d493c9e44bb8098a152000cfd2b Sat, 26 Jan 2013 00:47:17 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/4c5b1d493c9e44bb8098a152000cfd2b#4c5b1d493c9e44bb8098a152000cfd2b evildictaitor 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/evildictaitor/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? Man people say learning programming is like learning a language... it's not, it is like learning every single language along with maths. I had no idea it would be this in depth, I thought it was like html or something, that * was easy lol. Reading this book on C, it's 957 pages long and giving me a headache. 

I think I'll start with the C# stuff once I figure out how to install Visual Studio 2010 to Windows 8 as it says the Os isn't compatible. 

Oh you have to install the useless GFWL....... makes sense lol.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/6f45f614e8344928afc3a152001ab58e#6f45f614e8344928afc3a152001ab58e Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:37:14 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/6f45f614e8344928afc3a152001ab58e#6f45f614e8344928afc3a152001ab58e Scaramoosh 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Scaramoosh/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start?

, Scaramoosh wrote

Man people say learning programming is like learning a language... it's not, it is like learning every single language along with maths. I had no idea it would be this in depth, I thought it was like html or something, that * was easy lol. Reading this book on C, it's 957 pages long and giving me a headache. 

I think I'll start with the C# stuff once I figure out how to install Visual Studio 2010 to Windows 8 as it says the Os isn't compatible. 

On Windows8 use Visual Studio 2012. You can get a free express edition on the web to get you started.

Also without GFWL how do you expect Visual Studio achievements to turn into Xbox cheevos?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/ff11accac8a0409c8f39a152001b6760#ff11accac8a0409c8f39a152001b6760 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:39:46 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/ff11accac8a0409c8f39a152001b6760#ff11accac8a0409c8f39a152001b6760 evildictaitor 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/evildictaitor/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? Making a basic 2D game is pretty complicated for someone without programming experience. I'd recommend you try a text based game first.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/1bb92340ffec4dff9aa0a152002b94f0#1bb92340ffec4dff9aa0a152002b94f0 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:38:40 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/1bb92340ffec4dff9aa0a152002b94f0#1bb92340ffec4dff9aa0a152002b94f0 Bass 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bass/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? @Scaramoosh: Is there a reason why you don't take a class? You can't really learn English without a teacher. You end up getting worse for lack of basics and level progression. Self learning is great when you learn the basics

BTW, try Unreal Engine and CryEngine for free. If you are serious about making games, the industry is mostly center around those two engines, and that's where the jobs are at.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/7254269169b946c5bc37a1520030f3da#7254269169b946c5bc37a1520030f3da Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:58:13 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/7254269169b946c5bc37a1520030f3da#7254269169b946c5bc37a1520030f3da magicalclick 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/magicalclick/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? Yeh I know how to use Hammer and UDK, I like developing maps and stuff, I haven't really gotten into Kismet as I prefer Source over UDK. I've stopped making maps for the past few years though as I've been busy with life but why I'm looking to get back into it all, I'd just like to learn how to program this time around, which I'm doing now with this book I got.

I'm not in it to make money or join some developer, just want to do it as a hobby. I already have a job and am fine where I am in life, just see this as a side thing to do for a bit of fun. I'm not going to start spending money on college or wasting my time doing some college course as it will wear me down and I wont find it fun. Like do move at my own pace in my spare time.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/87c716bc16a0419b8ddfa154012c6136#87c716bc16a0419b8ddfa154012c6136 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:13:38 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/87c716bc16a0419b8ddfa154012c6136#87c716bc16a0419b8ddfa154012c6136 Scaramoosh 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Scaramoosh/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? @Scaramoosh: But will you do the fandango?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/ca36ee14cd3647cfb7c0a154012d64af#ca36ee14cd3647cfb7c0a154012d64af Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:17:20 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/ca36ee14cd3647cfb7c0a154012d64af#ca36ee14cd3647cfb7c0a154012d64af cbae 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/cbae/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? @Scaramoosh: ahhh... Now that makes a lot of sense. I recommend getting a 50 pages C# starter book. For fun, I think C# is easier to get started, and eventually you can use XNA to make games that you typically see on the Xbox Indie channel. Mostly get a C# starter book because you don't know how to program yet. After that, get a XNA book. That's what I would do.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/1cff7f0fbda44934a7e9a154014e9a4d#1cff7f0fbda44934a7e9a154014e9a4d Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:18:15 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/1cff7f0fbda44934a7e9a154014e9a4d#1cff7f0fbda44934a7e9a154014e9a4d magicalclick 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/magicalclick/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? it's not too bad, if you pick a good platform to start with... let me dig around, I'm due for some more game dev work

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/dd7f2857753041c7b594a15401827328#dd7f2857753041c7b594a15401827328 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:27:01 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/dd7f2857753041c7b594a15401827328#dd7f2857753041c7b594a15401827328 Minh 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Minh/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? First figure out what kind of game you are going to do. eg. Some 2D games may not need/involve any scrolling at all. If there's any elements that need scrolling then if you also care about very smooth/fluid scrolling at any speed, it's probably good idea to determine if whatever technology choices you are looking at are suitable for that. Smooth scrolling means graphics updates at a constant and high enough pace and if the game is done C#, that may turn out to be non-trivial after the game is otherwise finished if there were poor technology/algo choices somewhere along the line.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/568007bd7e094740b4e7a155001c3db4#568007bd7e094740b4e7a155001c3db4 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 01:42:49 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/568007bd7e094740b4e7a155001c3db4#568007bd7e094740b4e7a155001c3db4 androidi 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/androidi/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? start with algebra, seriously Smiley

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/a7c1156d23b84e278be7a15500a5d1bc#a7c1156d23b84e278be7a15500a5d1bc Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:03:43 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/a7c1156d23b84e278be7a15500a5d1bc#a7c1156d23b84e278be7a15500a5d1bc Ion Todirel 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Ion Todirel/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - So if I want to make a basic 2D game, where do I start? I have to say I've bought lots of books recommended and they all seem to require knowledge of any sort on programming. Even though people have said they've started with a certain book, they've always been at Uni or something first and had someone teaching them.

I know these books are looked down upon but I bought a Dummies book to C and it's amazing. I've been reading it on and off for a month, going over each page again and again, I'm only a quarter of the way through as there are exercises and I don't have unlimited time. However I must say it's the best out of all of them if you really have no clue, it really does teach you from the basics and helps you to understand C.

All the other books I've tried have been like French text books at school where they don't teach you to understand how to construct the language, they just give you phrases to repeat. Where as this one has really gotten me to understand, though I'm ashamed it took a Dummies book :\

It is very slow though, really moves at a snails pace, however maybe that's the key for me lol. 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/f4f1023bae3141d49634a17401773fa8#f4f1023bae3141d49634a17401773fa8 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:46:14 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/So-if-I-want-to-make-a-basic-2D-game-where-do-I-start/f4f1023bae3141d49634a17401773fa8#f4f1023bae3141d49634a17401773fa8 Scaramoosh 21 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Scaramoosh/Discussions/RSS