How can I make 3d games using vc++ 2008 ?
Hi Friends
I am quite well versed with c++ and am looking forward to make 3d games using c++.I have self learned some softwares for creating 3d objects like 3ds max and maya 2011. I would really appretiate if you could suggest me some books or websites which could help me and explain the concepts for making 3d games (Even better if they could teach me how to use the 3d objects created by the softwares I mentioned). I am using vc++ 2008 and am looking forward to make games running in windows.
Thanks in advance. :-)
I am quite well versed with c++ and am looking forward to make 3d games using c++.I have self learned some softwares for creating 3d objects like 3ds max and maya 2011. I would really appretiate if you could suggest me some books or websites which could help me and explain the concepts for making 3d games (Even better if they could teach me how to use the 3d objects created by the softwares I mentioned). I am using vc++ 2008 and am looking forward to make games running in windows.
Thanks in advance. :-)
Making a game is not necessarily easy. That said, if you're up to the challenge, I can suggest some rendering engines. Take your pick or go for something else: the ones below are all free! They also all include tutorials for their use.
Irrlicht: Ridiculously easy to use for beginners, but it has some poorly written internals that limit the engine for more advanced stuff and some simpler stuff. It includes XML parsing support out of the box. It's still ridiculously easy and can provide some nice results.
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/
Ogre3D: Much harder to use, however it offers tools for rendering using so many techniques and generating so many images it's almost ridiculous. It can (but may not be) slower on older systems, though.
http://www.ogre3d.org/
Crystal Space: I've heard some good things about this, but I've never used it. I've heard that it's harder to use for some things than OGRE, however it's quite a bit more than just a rendering engine (which I can verify; it includes audio). Combined with CEL from the same website, this provides according to them a complete game engine.
http://www.crystalspace3d.org/main/Main_Page
Pure Direct3D: I do not recommend this unless you have a LOT of skill programming. If you have tons, then you can make your own engine that's specifically tailored to your needs. It sucks up time, though!
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/directx/default.aspx
Pure OpenGL: Another disrecommended option, however like the above, you can tailor the engine to your exact needs, and this one is much more cross-platform! Plus I feel that it's a bit easier to use than Direct3D, but that's me.
http://www.opengl.org/sdk/
Game Maker: Mentioning Game Maker here is heresy simply because their IRC channel has more activity than ours, but I'm going to mention it anyway. This is a combined solution offering everything you'll be needing, but I wonder how customizable it is and how its graphics look.
http://www.yoyogames.com/make
For Audio:
SFML Fragment
You can steal the audio bits from SFML and use them in your own game. SFML has a reputation for being extremely easy to use, but I'm not sure how well the 3D audio rendering does; I haven't used SFML in some time.
http://www.sfml-dev.org/
IrrKlang
This one is not free if you're not making a game that won't be sold and so I've never used it. Apparently there are major similarities between this API and Irrlicht's AP in terms of the feel.
http://www.ambiera.com/irrklang/
Crystal Space
I wouldn't know, but maybe you can rip the audio section out of Crystal Space for use for your own ends. Just a thought.
Pure OpenAL: This one is fun, but not necessarily the easiest pick. It's a quite a bit like OpenGL.
http://connect.creativelabs.com/openal/default.aspx
Tutorials on game making:
http://www.stormthecastle.com/video-game-design/video-game-design-index.htm
(This one assumes you have certain game engines which are apparently free).
http://www.gamedev.net/reference/list.asp?categoryid=45
More unusual but useful topics are covered here
http://www.yoyogames.com/make/tutorials
For Game Maker.
EDIT: Expanded the list.
-Albatross
Irrlicht: Ridiculously easy to use for beginners, but it has some poorly written internals that limit the engine for more advanced stuff and some simpler stuff. It includes XML parsing support out of the box. It's still ridiculously easy and can provide some nice results.
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/
Ogre3D: Much harder to use, however it offers tools for rendering using so many techniques and generating so many images it's almost ridiculous. It can (but may not be) slower on older systems, though.
http://www.ogre3d.org/
Crystal Space: I've heard some good things about this, but I've never used it. I've heard that it's harder to use for some things than OGRE, however it's quite a bit more than just a rendering engine (which I can verify; it includes audio). Combined with CEL from the same website, this provides according to them a complete game engine.
http://www.crystalspace3d.org/main/Main_Page
Pure Direct3D: I do not recommend this unless you have a LOT of skill programming. If you have tons, then you can make your own engine that's specifically tailored to your needs. It sucks up time, though!
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/directx/default.aspx
Pure OpenGL: Another disrecommended option, however like the above, you can tailor the engine to your exact needs, and this one is much more cross-platform! Plus I feel that it's a bit easier to use than Direct3D, but that's me.
http://www.opengl.org/sdk/
Game Maker: Mentioning Game Maker here is heresy simply because their IRC channel has more activity than ours, but I'm going to mention it anyway. This is a combined solution offering everything you'll be needing, but I wonder how customizable it is and how its graphics look.
http://www.yoyogames.com/make
For Audio:
SFML Fragment
You can steal the audio bits from SFML and use them in your own game. SFML has a reputation for being extremely easy to use, but I'm not sure how well the 3D audio rendering does; I haven't used SFML in some time.
http://www.sfml-dev.org/
IrrKlang
This one is not free if you're not making a game that won't be sold and so I've never used it. Apparently there are major similarities between this API and Irrlicht's AP in terms of the feel.
http://www.ambiera.com/irrklang/
Crystal Space
I wouldn't know, but maybe you can rip the audio section out of Crystal Space for use for your own ends. Just a thought.
Pure OpenAL: This one is fun, but not necessarily the easiest pick. It's a quite a bit like OpenGL.
http://connect.creativelabs.com/openal/default.aspx
Tutorials on game making:
http://www.stormthecastle.com/video-game-design/video-game-design-index.htm
(This one assumes you have certain game engines which are apparently free).
http://www.gamedev.net/reference/list.asp?categoryid=45
More unusual but useful topics are covered here
http://www.yoyogames.com/make/tutorials
For Game Maker.
EDIT: Expanded the list.
-Albatross
Last edited on
| This is a combined solution offering everything you'll be needing, but I wonder how customizable it is and how its graphics look. |
I can shed some light on this as I used to use it.
For how customizable it is, it's very customizable in short. You can animate, add sound, add effects, create particle systems, make 3D games, and pretty much do anything. There are limitations to the GUI interface and you will probably try GML (Game Maker Language) which is GMers exclusive programming language. As for graphics, they are as good as you make them look.
I would probably suggest steering away from GMer depending on what your goal is. If it's simply to make games and learn design, then yes, if it's to make games while programming, then no.
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