Making a 2D game with C++

Gremmie · Jan 27, 2003, 04:20 PM

For my Software Development class, me and a couple of other guys have to make a game with C++. I was wondering if anyone can point me in the direction for some good Directx tutorials online, or some good books. In my past programming classes, all we've programed under is Unix, so this is my first true experience of Windows programming. Also, I'm pretty decent at C++, but I'm no master of the language or anything like that. Thanks for any info.

Edit: I heard the book "Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus" by Andre Lamothe was a good book, and I was thinking about picking it up. Has anyone had any experience with this book?

UberLord · Jan 27, 2003, 04:30 PM

Why does it have to be graphical? Write a MUD using a server + client solution over TCP/IP. Or use the DirectPlay part of the DirectX suite.

This would demonstrate being able to program logic and a Human Interprator.

Graphics are nice and stuff, but then you need to be fairly artistic as well. I'm a programmer and can't do much artwork well.

ToshiroOC · Jan 27, 2003, 09:58 PM

I happen to have the Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus (second edition), and its hard to say really how useful it is.. You see, it doesn't start out at a beginner level - it assumes some familiarity with a lot of stuff, including C++ and some STL... it starts off with the relevant Windows API information, and then ramps up pretty quickly from there - I don't know enough C++ ATM to really understand whats going on in the later chapters. Good book from what I've read though - I just don't know the language well enough. If you aren't pretty good with C++ (as in you could, say, make this same game but with a text interface, and have nice, neat code), then I would suggest Bruno Miguel Teixeira de Sousa's book "Game programming all in one" (I have a copy of this too) - the series editor is again, LAmothe, and it starts out at a much simpler level. It uses some API interfacing thing called Mirus so you don't need to deal with anywhere near as much nitty gritty DirectX and COM stuffs, it starts out assuming you have at most some familiarity with some programming concepts and maybe some C or C++, no more - it takes you (not very well though) through polymorphism and advanced class/object stuff... It takes you through some text-only games also... Chapter 10 in the Sousa is the first one that deals with Windows programming, and Chapter 2 (and some of one) deals with Windows programming in the Lamothe... both are really good books, but which one you should get depends fully on how much C++ and Win32 API you already know, and how well you can handle steep and quick learning curves...

ToshiroOC

Hope this helps!

Gremmie · Jan 30, 2003, 04:54 AM

ToshiroOC, thanks for the info. I'm pretty familiar with C++. While I'm not even close to the best, I know the basics, and I'm pretty decent at working with Data Structures in C++, such as stacks, queues, and sorting algorithms. I've heard from a buddy of mine at school that the LaMothe book is great, but I'm going to check out the one you recommended.

ToshiroOC · Jan 30, 2003, 05:07 AM

Any time... if you can create any decent data processing program that is text only, then the Gurus book would be good for you.

Dalik · Apr 30, 2003, 11:02 PM

Why not use SDL for your programming API, on the windows platform it uses DX anyway but its all simple. The book on SDL is like $20 and covers everything you need. To get a basic game up like pacman without all the levels and other hard work, would take about 2 weeks for all of you guys to put together. You dont need a book on how to make a game, its very straight forward. goto www.gamedev.net and you can get more details from there.

The basic setup of your game is

main
init()
gameloop()
cleanup()

init()
setup SDL
load graphics and sounds

gameloop()
load level data
create objects

while(done != TRUE)
getInput()
playMusic()
Blit images

not very hard, with SDL it makes it a lot easier to use then DX
I wouldnt bother with a "game programming book" all the information you need
is on the internet at gamedev.net and if your lost ask.

UberLord · May 1, 2003, 03:45 PM

Good point Dalik - SDL is also cross platform. NWN Linux beta's use it

Jan 27, 2003, 04:20 PM	#1
Gremmie DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cincy, OH, USA Posts: 55 Rep Power: 0	Making a 2D game with C++ For my Software Development class, me and a couple of other guys have to make a game with C++. I was wondering if anyone can point me in the direction for some good Directx tutorials online, or some good books. In my past programming classes, all we've programed under is Unix, so this is my first true experience of Windows programming. Also, I'm pretty decent at C++, but I'm no master of the language or anything like that. Thanks for any info. Edit: I heard the book "Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus" by Andre Lamothe was a good book, and I was thinking about picking it up. Has anyone had any experience with this book? Last edited by Gremmie; Jan 27, 2003 at 04:32 PM.

Jan 27, 2003, 04:30 PM	#2
UberLord A Legend in Underwear Join Date: May 2002 Location: Unknown Posts: 5,255 Rep Power: 0	Why does it have to be graphical? Write a MUD using a server + client solution over TCP/IP. Or use the DirectPlay part of the DirectX suite. This would demonstrate being able to program logic and a Human Interprator. Graphics are nice and stuff, but then you need to be fairly artistic as well. I'm a programmer and can't do much artwork well. __________________ Gentoo Linux - Developer (baselayout) Read my blog "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Stephen Roberts

Jan 27, 2003, 09:58 PM	#3
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	I happen to have the Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus (second edition), and its hard to say really how useful it is.. You see, it doesn't start out at a beginner level - it assumes some familiarity with a lot of stuff, including C++ and some STL... it starts off with the relevant Windows API information, and then ramps up pretty quickly from there - I don't know enough C++ ATM to really understand whats going on in the later chapters. Good book from what I've read though - I just don't know the language well enough. If you aren't pretty good with C++ (as in you could, say, make this same game but with a text interface, and have nice, neat code), then I would suggest Bruno Miguel Teixeira de Sousa's book "Game programming all in one" (I have a copy of this too) - the series editor is again, LAmothe, and it starts out at a much simpler level. It uses some API interfacing thing called Mirus so you don't need to deal with anywhere near as much nitty gritty DirectX and COM stuffs, it starts out assuming you have at most some familiarity with some programming concepts and maybe some C or C++, no more - it takes you (not very well though) through polymorphism and advanced class/object stuff... It takes you through some text-only games also... Chapter 10 in the Sousa is the first one that deals with Windows programming, and Chapter 2 (and some of one) deals with Windows programming in the Lamothe... both are really good books, but which one you should get depends fully on how much C++ and Win32 API you already know, and how well you can handle steep and quick learning curves... ToshiroOC Hope this helps! __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Jan 30, 2003, 05:07 AM	#5
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Any time... if you can create any decent data processing program that is text only, then the Gurus book would be good for you. __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

May 1, 2003, 03:45 PM	#7
UberLord A Legend in Underwear Join Date: May 2002 Location: Unknown Posts: 5,255 Rep Power: 0	Good point Dalik - SDL is also cross platform. NWN Linux beta's use it __________________ Gentoo Linux - Developer (baselayout) Read my blog "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Stephen Roberts

Jan 30, 2003, 04:54 AM	Thread Starter #4
Gremmie DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cincy, OH, USA Posts: 55 Rep Power: 0	ToshiroOC, thanks for the info. I'm pretty familiar with C++. While I'm not even close to the best, I know the basics, and I'm pretty decent at working with Data Structures in C++, such as stacks, queues, and sorting algorithms. I've heard from a buddy of mine at school that the LaMothe book is great, but I'm going to check out the one you recommended.

Apr 30, 2003, 11:02 PM	#6
Dalik DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Midway City, California Posts: 22 Rep Power: 0	Why not use SDL for your programming API, on the windows platform it uses DX anyway but its all simple. The book on SDL is like $20 and covers everything you need. To get a basic game up like pacman without all the levels and other hard work, would take about 2 weeks for all of you guys to put together. You dont need a book on how to make a game, its very straight forward. goto www.gamedev.net and you can get more details from there. The basic setup of your game is main init() gameloop() cleanup() init() setup SDL load graphics and sounds gameloop() load level data create objects while(done != TRUE) getInput() playMusic() Blit images not very hard, with SDL it makes it a lot easier to use then DX I wouldnt bother with a "game programming book" all the information you need is on the internet at gamedev.net and if your lost ask.