What to use to build a game with C++.

[caeKID]

Hello,

I have just recently tought myself C++, and the reason i did was to be able to write/program my own online game.
Now of course i know how to write in C++ but im not sure what i am suppose to use to actually get my writing onto the screen with tiles and all that.
This is a problem i have been facing for the past 5 months and i would really appreciate and hints, instructions, or links.

[strife]

I'm still a newb to C++, but from what I've read you want to check out SDL, DirectX9/10, and OpenGL probably. If you search the forums there is someone else asking the same type of question and someone linked an SDL tutorial site. I'm gonna check it out when I get home.

[RedSon]

Hello,

I have just recently tought myself C++, and the reason i did was to be able to write/program my own online game.
Now of course i know how to write in C++ but im not sure what i am suppose to use to actually get my writing onto the screen with tiles and all that.
This is a problem i have been facing for the past 5 months and i would really appreciate and hints, instructions, or links.

Ahh, video games, the reason every young boy becomes a programmer. First off you have to decide a few things. Do you want a console game? Do you want at graphical game? Do you want a MUD? etc., etc...

If you want a online game, you are looking at programming a server and a client, so you are going to need to learn network programming, so you should get yourself a TCP/IP or UDP book and learn them, probably both would be best. If you want a graphical game, first you have to decide if its 2D or 3D then you need to figure out if your game is also going to include some kind of dynamical physics engine. If so then you are going to have to learn either OpenGL or DirectX since those are pretty much the standard for 2D and 3D graphic engines, then you are going to learn a physics engine, there are a few opensource ones out there. Then you will have to create yourself a client and server, your client will probably have a fancy UI and several features that will need to be implemented. Your sever will have to communicate with each client and pass that information to the other clients. If you are going to do an RPG or something like that then you are going to need to build content for your server, so that means items, equipment, quests, NPCs, 3D maps, story lines, history, the list goes on and on and on.

So good luck, your task is a long, difficult, tedious and unrewarding I wish you success, when you have a working beta please feel free to repost so that we can all see your work!

[Studlyami]

Let me recommend first starting off with something small. I would take a look at 2d games first using SDL, or Allegro (i prefer allegro, but i learned it first). Once you do a 2d game and start to understand the importance of classes, handling bitmaps and resources i would move into a 3d environment. Then i would look into OpenGl or DirectX. You could also get into game mods. Look at mod tutorials for UT, or WC3. If you get really serious you can look into using a premade engine like the Torque engine. The Torque engine cost some money, but the license is loose and cheap for independent developers and is very robust.

Just don't try to run before you can walk.

Best of luck.