My introduction/request
I've often thought to myself "What do I want to be when I grow up?" and I've never been able to provide an answer. It was two months ago when I finally was able to provide an answer. I want to be a game designer when I grow up, I will be happy doing it, and I will be able to support my family with a job in video game development. I'm now 13 years old, and after dabbling with a very simple language (GML) I've decided that after rapidly becoming almost fluent in that language, I should make the jump to C++. After consulting some members at the more casual gaming forum I frequent, I made my decision and downloaded Microsoft Visual C++ Express 2008. Immediately following the successful download of my compiler, I started writing this thread. That brings us up to speed on my life story, here's the request.
I want someone that can act as a sort of consultant for me while I learn the basics of C++; basically someone that I can bother via email when I find a problem i'm otherwise unable to solve, or simply have a question to ask. I understand that this is a rather selfish request, but I ask it nonetheless.
I'm 13 years old and have an overall IQ of 152. I would greatly appreciate your help, and I look forward to becoming an active member of this board and a programmer.
Hello and Welcome!
The purpose of these forums exactly corresponds to your request. If you have any question then simply post and we will do our best. Just remember: no one knows everything. Game programming in particular is one of the most demanding kinds of programming. To get started, I actually recommend you take a look at SDL.
http://www.libsdl.org/
Lazy Foo's SDL tutorials are a superb starting point
http://lazyfoo.net/SDL_tutorials/index.php
It may also be worth your time to peruse the PyGame (Python SDL) game development site
http://www.pygame.org/news.html
I am glad you are committed to this, because it will take a lot of work, but you are still young. Enjoy it. There is nothing that says you can't change your mind and do other things in your life (professionally, I mean) than just game programming. ;-)
Hope this helps.
The purpose of these forums exactly corresponds to your request. If you have any question then simply post and we will do our best. Just remember: no one knows everything. Game programming in particular is one of the most demanding kinds of programming. To get started, I actually recommend you take a look at SDL.
http://www.libsdl.org/
Lazy Foo's SDL tutorials are a superb starting point
http://lazyfoo.net/SDL_tutorials/index.php
It may also be worth your time to peruse the PyGame (Python SDL) game development site
http://www.pygame.org/news.html
I am glad you are committed to this, because it will take a lot of work, but you are still young. Enjoy it. There is nothing that says you can't change your mind and do other things in your life (professionally, I mean) than just game programming. ;-)
Hope this helps.
Although being somewhat older (3 decades older) than Tomservo
and somewhat more worldywise, I would suggest the following:
"When asking for help/advice from someone, don't start by telling them how smart (or for that matter how stupid) you are" :-)
and somewhat more worldywise, I would suggest the following:
"When asking for help/advice from someone, don't start by telling them how smart (or for that matter how stupid) you are" :-)
It seems Duoas skipped a step entirely.
I'll recommend this book, since it's the one I learnt C++ from: Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days http://newdata.box.sk/bx/c/index.htm
Some parts are out-of-date, which is understandable, considering it's at least ten years old, but it's not bad for learning the basics. Don't be fooled. Any language that can actually be learnt in 21 days is probably not worth learning. Even if you do finish the book in 21 days, there's a lot you have to learn by yourself.
Other books I've heard are, or know to be, good: The C++ Language by Bjarne Stroustrup (the designer of C++), and The C++ Primer.
Personally, I found Stroustrup's book more useful as a syntax reference than a tutorial.
Other material very useful to learn C++ other than books: a good language reference (the one on this site is more than adequate), a good C++ compiler*. The Standard is handy once in a while to check whether something you're doing will have the same effect everywhere. Too bad it's written more like a legal document than something a programmer could easily understand.
I definitely agree with guestgulkan. This is something comparable to going up to some random person on the street and telling them how much you make. Giving information of this nature when people didn't ask is usually considered showing off, and therefore rude.
*Read: not Borland. By now, most C++ compilers don't suck. Borland is the exception.
I'll recommend this book, since it's the one I learnt C++ from: Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days http://newdata.box.sk/bx/c/index.htm
Some parts are out-of-date, which is understandable, considering it's at least ten years old, but it's not bad for learning the basics. Don't be fooled. Any language that can actually be learnt in 21 days is probably not worth learning. Even if you do finish the book in 21 days, there's a lot you have to learn by yourself.
Other books I've heard are, or know to be, good: The C++ Language by Bjarne Stroustrup (the designer of C++), and The C++ Primer.
Personally, I found Stroustrup's book more useful as a syntax reference than a tutorial.
Other material very useful to learn C++ other than books: a good language reference (the one on this site is more than adequate), a good C++ compiler*. The Standard is handy once in a while to check whether something you're doing will have the same effect everywhere. Too bad it's written more like a legal document than something a programmer could easily understand.
I definitely agree with guestgulkan. This is something comparable to going up to some random person on the street and telling them how much you make. Giving information of this nature when people didn't ask is usually considered showing off, and therefore rude.
*Read: not Borland. By now, most C++ compilers don't suck. Borland is the exception.
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