C++ with graphics?

[um0123]

i know its really hard to make a C++ code have graphics, but if its so hard, why do all the major game companies use it as there primary code? and what is the essential process of making a C++ game with graphics.

[PanGalactic]

Graphics in C++ is not that hard, save for the fact that C++ does not have a standard graphics library. It's generally not considered a beginners topic. However, if you would like, you can check out wxWidgets which is a cross-platform GUI library for C++.

http://www.wxwidgets.org/

[um0123]

im not intending to make anything with graphics anytime soon, i just started arrays in the tutorial page, but im asking why do the companies use C++ if graphics is hard to do (maybe this question is unvalid, when considering what you said), and what is the process of making a game with graphics (what do you normally type).

[PanGalactic]

It depends on the sort of game you want to make. Simple games like Freecell or Minesweeper are pretty easy to code with a little knowledge. You can see what some of the code might start out like by looking at this: http://zetcode.com/tutorials/wxwidgetstutorial/firstprograms/

But if you are talking World of Warcraft or something like that -- it can take a hundred or more very smart people, many with a decade or two of experience, just to get started, and with all sorts of specialities. You will have graphics programmers, physics programmers, UI programmers, tools programmers, network programmers, database programmers, level designers, 3D modellers, artists, voice actors, musicians, QA people, project managers, and more. What makes a game like that hard is managing all of the people involved.

[writetonsharma]

oooopsss.. did i hear World of Warcraft...
my favourite.. :)

[writetonsharma]

um0123:

if you really want to go in graphics then you need to learn opengl (games like Quake3) which can be used for cross platform code.
or DirectX/Direct3D (games like halo, flight stimulator) can be used if you only want to develop on windows.

you need some maths/physics background also.

[george135]

> i know its really hard to make a C++ code have graphics

Of course it's not "hard" !
It's even trivial on Windows (Win32 api or DX)

[Bazzy]

It's even trivial on Windows (Win32 api or DX)

Don't say that programming using Direct X is easy! Of course it is a good library but you need a lot of code for a good result

im asking why do the companies use C++ if graphics is hard to do

Because even if it isn't easy, you will get wonderful result and performances