Where to go

[MrDuskling]

I am currently taking a 2 week course in C++ and by the end of the week I hope to know basicly all the fundementals of C++. So far we are making some simple texted based games (hangman, blackjack) etc, but after 2 weeks, where will I be? Should I continue experimenting with console games? I have some books on allegro, when should I move onto that?

so far I know these basics:

input/output
methods
arrays
i've made a couple games/console apps
variables
switch statements
and a bit more


Bottom line is, What is the criterea that I should get started on basic graphics and sound in C++. What should I finish and what should I have learned?

[kbw]

If you want to do graphics, start on it immediately. But two weeks isn't long at all, it's more important to learn the language so you have a clear vocabulary. The language is surprisingly large and complicated for something with such humble goals.

[jsmith]

After 2 weeks you'll barely know anything about C++. (No offense -- it takes years and years of practice to become an expert, and not even the father of the language claims to know it all).

I'd skip things that require a lot of specific technical knowledge so that you can focus more energy on the language.

[TheMassiveChipmunk]

I am new to this forum and to C++ so if I say something stupid of wrong please forgive me. :)
Now to the question.

From what I have seen the pros like kbw and jsmith all say that C++ takes a very long time to learn and you never know C++ because there is so much to learn but from my experience in two weeks you can learn a little bit of C++ maybe pointers. Allegro is very easy you can learn a lot of it in a short amount of time but not in two weeks I would guess 4 months to start getting into game development but you must know a lot of math to get into games. Best of Luck and have fun Programming

[sohguanh]

There seems to be a phenomenon in this forum of new C/C++ newbies who are interested because they want to get involved in games development. I believe this could be attributed to the PC games they play and they wonder how it works internally and want to whip out their own game themselves.

So if the games are developed in Java, they will start to learn Java to whip out their own games. Think of Java applets galore back in the late 90's for example. There is nothing wrong in this interest but somehow I feel this is the wrong motivation to do development especially when you intend to make software development your life-long career.

[lnk2019]

sohguanh wrote:

new C/C++ newbies who are interested because they want to get involved in games development

A lot of Universities (in the U.K.) offer specialised Games Development courses. Infact my first stint at University I did a Games Development course.

Making video games was the reason why I wanted to be a Software Engineer.

[sohguanh]

Making video games was the reason why I wanted to be a Software Engineer.

Well every one has their own aspirations. For me, it is more like how I witness computer/IT systems play a major part in almost any encounters I have met in my daily life. I use ATM to withdraw cash, I pay cash at check-out counter in super-market, take public transport top up card, phone card etc etc.

I want to know internally how computer/IT works and that is where I take a course in Computer Science in my country Uni and later graduate to become a full-time programmer.