3D game programming and C++

[H-Zence]

That's right folks, time for another 'newbie' thread. Sorry if that bothers anyone

Basically the point of this thread is this: I know VB, and I also know VB is not at all good for the kind of stuff I want to be doing (being 3D RPG programming). I know C++ is more than capable of doing so, but I am a complete beginner. So I have a few questions. Keep in mind I don't know C.

1. Does anyone have any recommendations for tutorials for COMPLETE BEGINNERS about cpp programming in general for those that don't know C (not game programming, I know I have much to learn before going that far)
2. Does anyone have any recommendations for books for COMPLETE BEGINNERS about cpp programming in general for those that don't know C (again, not game programming)
3. Does anyone have any recommended cpp compilers?

Thanks everyone, much appreciated.

[H-Zence]

I did see the 'Tutorials' thread at the top but some answers to those questions could be helpful, thank you.

[The Hobo]

Well, first, you're taking as if C is a prerequisit (sp?) for C++. It's not. Don't even bother with C. Forgot C exists. Just learn C++.

First thing I would do is build some console apps, get a grasp on the language, then start moving to some OOP concepts such as classes. Build a few applications. Come up with some problems and solve them.

You know all those dumb assignments programming teachers give? "Make a bank program to record deposits and withdrawals from a bank acount." Come up with some of them and make them.

Once you get good at that and have a good grasp on C++ syntax and ideas, then start asking about game programming and what not.

Start small and build. Take it one step at a time.

C++ compilers? Do a search. There have been discussions about them. You can find many, many opinions and compilers.

[Kings]

I'm currently reading http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/index.html. It's pretty good.

And I recommend VC++ as compiler, if you have it.

[H-Zence]

Thanks.

Well, I wasn't really taking it as though C was a prerequisite, however some people for some reason find it imperitive that you know C before even uttering the words "C PLUS PLUS". So thanks. I'll check it out.

Anymore ideas/suggestions are more than welcome.

[H-Zence]

By the way kings, this tutorial is good so far! I just went through the first bit, and it's excellent. I'm glad to find a tutorial that talks to me as if I litterally don't know anything at all

[parksie]

That tutorial is wrong. It's using the wrong iostream library.

[SteveCRM]

www.cprogramming.com

and don't expect any 3D RTS games soon

[H-Zence]

Originally posted by SteveCRM
www.cprogramming.com

and don't expect any 3D RTS games soon

Okay that's wonderful, I said RPGs, not real time strategy games. Also read the whole thing, I said I'm not planning on making 3D games or any games for that matter any time soon.

Thanks for the tutorial though.

[Arawn]

Also Thinking in C++ is free off the authors website. I honestly don't remember the url, but it's been posted in the forums a bunch. I found www.winprog.org FAQ/tutorial to be helpfull. Also Programming Microsoft Windows by Charles Petzold. But the book assumes knowledge of c/c++.

[CornedBee]

Petzold's book is not for learning C++, it's for learning using the windows API. That's the next step, but not necessary yet. And the book is completly in C, which shouldn't be a problem once you know C++ well.

As parksie said the tutorial at www.cplusplus.org is using the old deprecated libraries. This means you have to replace some includes:
The files
<iostream.h>
<fstream.h>
<string.h>
<vector.h>
<iomanip.h>
<list.h>
and quite a few others are to be replaced by
<iostream>
<fstream>
<string>
<vector>
<iomanip>
<list>
Basically you just take the old header name and remove the .h. There are some exceptions: the headers of the C library, which you replace using a different scheme:
<stdlib.h>
<stdio.h>
etc. become
<cstdlib>
<cstdio>
...
You remove the .h and insert a c at the beginning.

If you have any of these new headers you also have to add the line
using namespace std;
after all include directives. You can do a search on 'namespace' on this forum to find out more.

Most headers that don't belong to the core language (like windows.h) don't have an equivalent using the new convention.

[H-Zence]

Thanks everyone. If you have any more suggestions just keep posting them. Thanks again

[Technocrat]

These guys have some really good tuts
http://www.gametutorials.com/

Also
http://www.gamedev.net/
http://www.drunkenhyena.com/
Have good info