What are some good game development programs?

[Warrior2089]

I am pursuing a career in game development. I have vast knowledge of C++. I don't know what programs to use to develop games, though. I wanted to use Adobe Flash to develop flash games as I get my grasp on games, however I can't afford Adobe Flash and could only use it until the trial ran out. I have a book on Iphone game development but I do not have a Mac so I cannot download the Iphone developer application. What other programs / IDEs can I use to develop games? I know Eclipse is used by the team at SWGEmu.com (an emulator of the pre-patch 18? Star Wars Galaxies), but I also know that it is Java-based so would it be usable?

[tummychow]

Eclipse can program a vast number of languages. It is capable of programming C++ although it is most known for its Java (it is, I believe, the predominant Java IDE). It would be a better idea, I think, to determine what language you should program your game in; C++ is powerful but it is only good for game programming (in most cases I can think of) with either a graphics library or (for ASCII games) curses. If you are going for a completely text-based game, only then would normal console be completely adequate. Scripting languages, Flash and Java are all potential options. Most "real" games are programmed in multiple languages, I think.

[Warrior2089]

Is Eclipse like Adobe Flash, where it has its own tools for the creation of applications / games? I'm confused on how I would use it for game development. Am I able to develop the game interface, things like collision, i.e. within Eclipse? In other words, is it self contained?

[tummychow]

Oh no, you misinterpret me, that was my fault. Eclipse is an IDE, one of the most powerful on the market, and completely free. It can handle several different languages. (Java being its most known but C++ is also on the list. I believe there are others.)

[Return 0]

I don't know what programs to use to develop games, though.

I think you're misunderstanding how games are made. Flash games are not made simply by using Flash, they utilize ActionScript. Furthermore, there is no "program" that will develop AAA games.

I have vast knowledge of C++.

That's silly... if this is true then you should know the answers to your question. All you need to start working on a game is an excellent knowledge of C++, Data Structures, Algorithms, and a 3D API (DirectX, OpenGL, etc...) with of course an understanding of 3d math. There are tools that can assist you in creating assets for games, but there is not Game Creator kit. For example for the Ogre3d API there are things such as speed tree that dramitically cut down on development time.

C++ is powerful but it is only good for game programming (in most cases I can think of)

What??!!

[tummychow]

Return 0, you misread. The entire line is

C++ is powerful but it is only good for game programming (in most cases I can think of) with either a graphics library or (for ASCII games) curses.

C++ console alone is inadequate for anything that is not entirely text-based. Console manipulation is better performed through curses and of course there is no graphics in core C++ and standard libraries.

[Warrior2089]

Yes I realize that Flash utilizes Actionscript to create its flash applications. I was pointing out that everything you need for a flash game is within Adobe Flash, including Actionscript. I am indeed confused of how games are made, that's why I asked this question. I know of the languages used to make games but obviously there must be a program it is all put into that compiles the game. What program is that? You don't just take c++ code, openGL code and put it together and vuala you have a game.

[Return 0]

I know of the languages used to make games but obviously there must be a program it is all put into that compiles the game. What program is that? You don't just take c++ code, openGL code and put it together and vuala you have a game.

Actually, yes you do. You write your code and compile. Obviously there are numerous game assets (models, meshes, sound, etc...) that are called... Just grab an IDE and start coding.

[Warrior2089]

So would you recommend learning OpenGL? What other popular languages are involved?

[tummychow]

I believe OpenGL is a library (hence GL - graphics library), I do not recall what language it is for. If you do not have graphics experience, you may want to start somewhere else. People have told me to start with SDL.

[helios]

do not recall what language it is for.

The "library" part is somewhat misleading. In reality it's a standard interface used to communicate with graphics hardware (OpenSIUTCWGH isn't as catchy). It's not like, say, Qt, which is compiled and linked to an executable. It's more like an operating system API. The interface is just there, and can be used by anyone who can adequately pass parameters to it. In the case of an OS API, it really is just there. In the case of OpenGL, it comes in the form of a dynamic link library provided by the hardware vendor that communicates with the device driver.

[blackcoder41]

@warrior2089
i totally agree with "Return 0" you still lack knowledge of c++. though i am beginner in c++ language, i have programming experience in java before including simple game programming.

i don't recommend you to go directly learning OpenGL. consider this steps in learning how to program games.

1. learn your preferred language (c++, java, c#, etc)
2. learn a game engine (SDL, Allegro for c++ -- JGame, JMonkey for java).
3. move to OpenGL and directx

the steps i mention above lets you focus more on game programming instead of programming graphics or sound.

i strongly recommend you go to youtube.com and find this people to get you started:
gyrovorbis, lusikkamage and trulystupidnewb
there's a lot of people in youtube that shows their works and tells the story how they made it.

-good luck

[DSL6b7Xj]

XNA Game Studio - http://creators.xna.com/en-US/

I recommend XNA. I've been using it for about 2 weeks and I really like it. Its very easy to use and also fast. You can't only make games for PC but also Xbox 360 & Zune.

[S6k9GNh0]

I recommend OpenGL with a nice open-source engine to help.

There is nothing wrong with going out and learning OpenGL. It does require a bit of knowledge to use properly but mostly common knowledge about a 3 dimensional environment.

[Return 0]

I agree with computerquip. OpenGL is the way to go, also look into Ogre3d.

[gcampton]

DarkGDK is another one you can look at, it plugs directly into Visual StudioC++...

I haven't used it myself, but I know it is fairly easy from what I've been told.

(Being MS driven though I would bet $100000000, the documentation is lacking)

[blackcoder41]

yeah DarkGDK is also an option..

[chupacabra]

I wanted to use Adobe Flash to develop flash games as I get my grasp on games, however I can't afford Adobe Flash and could only use it until the trial ran out.

Flash is really good if you want to create games for the web and you can make quite a bit of money off it (check mochiads.com). If you cant afford it, remember that there is a free version of the Flex API which contains most, if not all, of Flash's drawing API. Use this in conjunction with FlashDevelop, the free Flash IDE. I have used these tools to create a small game and I found them very easy to work with.
The only thing you will need the Flash authorware for is to create the game's assets (in swf format)

[Mythios]

http://unity3d.com/

Might be an option for you?