Gaming Programming

[johnc445]

I know this might be a half ass question but, I need to learn some stuff for game engines, and just plain game programming. I want to make a game like "I see you" (Basically just a easy short pix-elated game). I already have a program for the art, just I want to learn how to make hallways, doors, then a monster kill the player. But again I need to learn everything about basic programming in C++. Some basic examples of programming would be much appreciated.Like:
Code:
Something
something
/Code
Then what it does, thank you.
And also if you could list some terminology that would also be very appreciated.

[giblit]

I don't think you would use a game engine for something like that.. game engines are for like 3d games or big games I believe you could use SDL for simple graphics or even just make a simple console game like snake where you don't even need graphics you can just use characters to get started with. If there is a will there is a way anything is possible in c++.

[agnophilo]

You have to crawl before you can walk/run. If you want to skip right to game design get a program that lets you design a game around a template. But if you want to build your own game you need to know enough about programming to work with a programming language. Do the tutorial on this site, it'll probably take a month or two. Then move on from there. Maybe in a year you could make a 3d game if you work at it every day and are good at math.

[zb0S216C]

johnc445 wrote:

"I need to learn some stuff for game engines"

2-D or 3-D engines? or engines in general? Based on the game you referenced, you're looking at a 3-D game engine, in which case, you're looking at a time-consuming project. I don't mean to sound demotivating, but it's the truth, especially when you know very little about C++. While games and their counterparts, engines, are normally implemented in C++, other languages can be used too such as C# (XNA) or Java.

johnc445 wrote:

"just plain game programming."

Define "plain game programming."

gitblit wrote:

"I don't think you would use a game engine for something like that.. game engines are for like 3d games or big games"

I wouldn't go so far as to disregard an engine as the base of a basic 2-D game. Naturally, a commercial 3-D game-engine like Unreal, CryENGINE and id Tech, are more complex from an architectural stand-point in comparison to a 2-D game-engine.

agnophilo wrote:

"and are good at math."

Not necessarily. There are libraries out there, like Direct-X, that have mathematical utilities for graphic artists -- one could use those utilities until they are proficient with mathematics enough to implement their own maybe.

_Wazzak

[Irishfitz]

You have to crawl before you can walk

^^^^


get a book on programming basics in C++. also the new boston C++ tutorial on youtube is great if you need a visual on how to do things. and the tutorial on this site is an excellent reference to C++.

[johnc445]

Ok thank you for all the responses! But I want to build an engine, I don't want to use a program, I want to do this from the ground up! So I will look around this site, but if you know a tut for building a game from the ground up that has the basics, please send it to me.

[johnc445]

Ok guys, I am using notepad plus plus and whenever I try to open the program it just brings up the coding. I save it as a .cpp but it doesn't work. Please help.

[zb0S216C]

You need to compile the source code to generate a working program. For this, you need a compiler. There are many compilers out there, but for now, I would suggest using the MinGW compiler which is shipped with Code::Blocks^[1].

^[1]http://www.codeblocks.org/

_Wazzak

[johnc445]

Ok I am back! Since I have went online, did some tutorials, forgot everything, then remembered this site, I just decided that I want to use code blocks, and gimp for one small game. If anyone could link me a tutorial, or direct to a certain forum thread that would be much appreciated!

[johnc445]

Ok I meant gimp by A 2d game, all the texturing will be from gimp, so all replays will be appreciated, thank you!

[Manga]

An example of a simple game...

#include <iostream>
#include <ctime>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

//a function that displays the results.
void results(string playerpick, string comppick, string a, string b, string c) {
	cout << endl;
	if(playerpick == "rock") {
		if(comppick == "rock") {
			cout << "It's a tie. " << endl;
		}
		if(comppick == "paper") {
			cout << b << "The computer wins. " << endl;
		}
		if(comppick == "scissors") {
			cout << a << "You win! " << endl;
		}
	}
	if(playerpick == "paper") {
		if(comppick == "paper") {
			cout << "It's a tie. " << endl;
		}
		if(comppick == "scissors") {
			cout << c << "The computer wins. " << endl;
		}
		if(comppick == "rock") {
			cout << b << "You win! " << endl;
		}
	}
    if(playerpick == "scissors") {
		if(comppick == "scissors") {
			cout << "It's a tie. " << endl;
		}
		if(comppick == "rock") {
			cout << a << "The computer wins. " << endl;
		}
		if(comppick == "paper") {
			cout << c << "You win! " << endl;
		}
	}
}

//The main part of the game. Note the function is outside of main.
int main() {

	srand ( time(NULL)); //This is needed for creating random events.

	string playerpick;  //A list of string variables.
	string comppick;
	string rock = "Rock breaks scissors. ";
	string paper = "Paper covers rock. ";
	string scissors = "Scissors cuts paper. ";
	string gameon = "yes";

	while (gameon == "yes") { //Starts the game loop.
		cout << "Choose 'rock', 'paper', or 'scissors'. ";
		cin >> playerpick;
		cout << endl;
		while(playerpick != "rock" && playerpick != "paper" && playerpick != "scissors") { //This enforces player options.
		    cout << "Type either 'rock', 'paper', or 'scissors'. ";   
		    cin >> playerpick;
			cout << endl;
	    }

	int randnum = rand() %3; //Here is the random draw.
	switch (randnum) {
	  case 0:
		  comppick = "rock";
		  cout << "The computer choose rock. " << endl;
		  break;
	  case 1:
		  comppick = "paper";
		  cout << "The computer choose paper. " << endl;
		  break;
	  case 2:
		  comppick = "scissors";
		  cout << "The computer choose scissors. " << endl;
		  break;
	  default:
		  cout << "Error";
	}
	
	results(playerpick, comppick, rock, paper, scissors);

	cout << endl << "Do you want to play again? yes/no? ";
	cin >> gameon;
	cout << endl;
	while(gameon != "yes" && gameon != "no") {
		    cout << "Enter either 'yes' or 'no'. ";   
		    cin >> gameon;
			cout << endl;
	    }
	
	system("cls"); //This clears the screen. Very bad form though.
	}
	
	return 0;
}

good luck to you johnc445. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it your own way.

[johnc445]

Ok is this text based? And also i need help with codeblocks, something about compiling? I don't know anything about it please help.

[N36fSL3A]

Obviously this game is text based.

Don't worry about game programming just yet, once you know C++ enough, start making text based games and then move on to graphical applications.

[giblit]

code blocks compiles just like any other IDE..press the build/run option.

[johnc445]

Now that I have done some research, looked up a herrendous amount of tutorials, I have a very basic understanding of cpp. But I don't know how to Clear Screen.
Is it system ("Cls")?
Just tell me what the command is.

[giblit]

That is for windows. However, it is not recommended to use system("anything"). You can use \b for a backspace and \r to clear a line.

[johnc445]

Do you think I could make a function so it will say "Press enter to continue" and it goes to the \r command? If you know any batch like:
:start
echo.
echo Press "Enter" to continue.
echo.
set /p Enter=
if %Enter% equ (Enter Key I guess?) goto \r
if %Enter% neq Enter goto start