Does anyone here know c++?

[argonaut05]

Javascript is actually a pretty versatile language that includes many OOP concepts like encapsulation, polymorphism, inheritance, etc. Objects can have private, public and protected members and methods just like any other OO language. With JS, I can tell you the voltage going through your northbridge -- so, it is more useful than just a HTML add-on.

Not quite. JavaScript does support something similar to normal OO style, but it's actually prototype based and it takes a bit of getting used to. It's closer to Lisp than Java.

And no, all members are public unless you're doing something really evil with closures. Which, while it works, isn't quite the same thing as true data protection.

As for "telling the voltage going through your northbridge" you're obviously using some third-party library, since you can't do that directly through JavaScript. (And if you're reading something from

/proc

, that still counts as "some third-party library:" in this case, the kernel.)

I have to disagree with a lot of this, or at most give you that you are splitting some fine hairs. I can't argue that class prototyping takes some getting used to, but most programming languages have some quirk that takes awhile to grok (for me it was indentation in Python).

There is nothing inherently "evil" about using closures to define the scope of members or methods to an object, since this is basically what is done in Java. There are tons of blogs over on MSDN addressing it.

As for using third-party software (in the northbridge case, operating system hooks), this is essentially the same thing C++ developers are doing by using DirectX or Allegro. If you were ambitious enough, you can use Jscript.NET to write low level libraries to take the place of the OS hooks.

My original point, however, was that JS is a lot more useful and powerful than an HTML plug-in used by kindergarden kids. That's turtle. We use a lot of JS in our company's enterprise level applications, where it buddies up nicely with our C++/C# code and in many cases is desirable because it allows us to deploy quickly.

 

[Xenoveritas]

My original point, however, was that JS is a lot more useful and powerful than an HTML plug-in used by kindergarden kids. That's turtle. We use a lot of JS in our company's enterprise level applications, where it buddies up nicely with our C++/C# code and in many cases is desirable because it allows us to deploy quickly.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that JavaScript is a very nice scripting language saddled by some very stupid API decisions. I freaking hate the W3C DOM, although that's not JavaScript's fault.

Some of the newer JavaScript things like XMLHttpRequest are actually really kind of cool and would be elegantly designed if Microsoft ever got over their magic number syndrome. (readyState == 4 means what, exactly?)

I actually think JavaScript makes a very good language to start learning on. Unfortunately thanks to the various different interpretations of the "standard web APIs" that each browser implements, it makes it a very difficult language to actually learn because even though things "work" when it comes to the JavaScript data model, they don't work due to broken implementations.

 

[stevesan]

I would recommend starting with Python and using PyGame. It's the easiest and most fun way to make games for a beginner, I think. Python is great for a number of reasons. You won't be making Crysis with it, but it's a great way to learn and make some 2D games.

Learning C++ is quite an under-taking. I've been programming for almost 10 years, and I still don't consider myself a master of it. If you want to design games, I think your efforts will be better spent elsewhere.

However, if you do want to become a programmer, then by all means start now! Get a book. There is no one single good book - get a few from the library and see which one works for you. Internet newsgroups and IRC chat rooms are also a great resource when you can't figure something out yourself - there are plenty of helpful people out there.

 

[klarax]

for anyone wishing to learn C++ though, check out http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/sv_dl_list.php?c=17
they have video tutorial/lessons. the first cd's worth is free too,, so you can get started.

I actually bought the whole cd package (4 cds, 1 dvd) containing all the lessons, in both C++ game dev and openGL. i found them most helpful in my first year of university.I think that package is around $80 or something, around that mark anyway, if your interessted in taking them further. You should download them a.s.a.p. They are very good.

I would also advise a book i found online called Beginning C++ Game Programming (Game Development Series) by Michale Dawson. Most helpful

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-C-Game-Programming-Development/dp/1592002056

 

[windfish]

Yes, I know C++. Unfortunately, I live in the US, so I'm kind of in the wrong Hemisphere. Sorry, sir/ma'am.

 

[smallharmlesskitten]

yeaaaah im a dude, check the profile even though i know u can lie on them, wait til we get virtual reality internets, not only will there be realistic cybersex but also no gender lying that comes with it...........what?........ im not crazy

 

[smallharmlesskitten]

meh anyway i found a group that can help me with the coding aspect of the game, they make free ware games and the like

www.agw.org.nz

 

[Jeroen Stout]

I know C++, went from Superlogo (children's version of Logo) via things like Javascript onto C++. It was a pride moment when my father, who introduced me to coding, had no clue what my code did.

The shotgun thing... with C you can shoot yourself in the foot. With C++ you can point the gun elsewhere and pull the trigger just the same.

 

[windfish]

Straight C isn't a game language. Gaming practically REQUIRES object oriented programming (which C++ focuses on), in my mind, and C doesn't have it. You might try Python - much less coding.

 

[Alex_P]

Straight C isn't a game language. Gaming practically REQUIRES object oriented programming (which C++ focuses on), in my mind, and C doesn't have it. You might try Python - much less coding.

C can be used in an object-oriented fashion. Take a look at the Linux kernel, for example.

Sure, it doesn't force you to be object-oriented, but neither does Python. (Hell, for me it's the bits that resemble "functional programming" that really make Python useful.)

-- Alex