Guide to Game Development/Introduction/Where do I begin?
To use this page, go the section which best describes your skill level.
Complete Beginner to programming
[edit | edit source]When you've never done any sort of programming.
Select a beginner language to learn:
- Windows/Microsoft only
- Allows for creation of console applications, forms, Windows modern/metro apps and Windows Phone apps
- Mac only
- Console & Form design
- Windows, Mac and Linux
- Output streams, forms
- Windows, Mac and Linux
- Scripting language - Best suited for output stream only, but can have other capabilities.
Know basic programming, but have never made a game before
[edit | edit source]You have a few options:
- Learn C++, most games are made with this language
- C++ can be used on all desktop platforms and most mobile platforms.
- Can program on Windows, Mac and Linux!
- Once you know C++, try integrating it with OpenGL
- For this, I'd also recommend that you use Glut to help with you link the game to the OS (e.g. placing the graphics onto the form).
- If you know VB or C#, then you can use OpenTK (an OpenGL library for .Net) to create a 3D graphics.
- If you know C# or Javascript, then you can start learning how to use the Unity Engine.
- If you know Java, then you can use LWJGL (an OpenGL library for Java)
Made a game/simulation with a programming language, but not a game engine
[edit | edit source]For this, I'd recommend that you try out using a game engine like the Unreal Development Kit (UDK).
Alternatively, if you wish to mix your knowledge of programming with a light-weight engine, then try out: Unity
Made a game/simulation with a game engine, but not a pure programming language
[edit | edit source]For this, I'd recommend that you try making a game with programming language, if you don't know any programming languages, then see: Complete Beginner to programming
Else, if you know a programming language then see: Know basic programming, but have never made a game before
None of the above apply to me
[edit | edit source]In which case you can either ask about what to do in the discussion, or just have a look around the book and see what interests you.