DirectX, GDI+, or OpenGL?

[just_a_me]

I write all of my code in VB.NET these days. I am hoping to make a simple side scrolling game for fun. At one time I did some graphics using OpenGL in C++, but I'm not that familiar with it anymore. I tried doing some simple animations using GDI+, but I'm getting a lot of screen flicker even though I've tried to double buffer (I could be doing it wrong though). I figure maybe I should just learn DirectX in case I want to do something serious one day. I've heard that DirectX is harder than OpenGL to learn. Which one would be the best to learn?

[Jacob Roman]

DirectX9, since it was made for .NET. They are both very good API's, but DX9 seems to have more features, and does more than just graphics. There is no support for referencing OpenGL in VB.NET yet, but you can add all the API's and constants by hand. Here's a VB6 module you can convert to VB.NET.

[just_a_me]

I found an open source openGL wrapper class that allows it to be used with .NET, but I have already found that it has some oddities about it.

[Jacob Roman]

Then use my module.

[just_a_me]

Woops, I must be blind. I didn't see your module. I see it now. I'll take a look, thanks.

[just_a_me]

Sounds like you would suggest going with DirectX9 anyways though.

[Jacob Roman]

Might as well. Plus keep your eye out for DX10. It's coming real soon.

Unfortunately it can be only run on Windows Vista.

[Pino]

OpenGl in all honesty is fading out AFAIK I'ts not updated as much as DX.

I'm currently writing a 2d drawing class which wraps bitblt and GDI+ for .Net It will be a dll when finished so can be used in all .Net languages so keep ya eyes pealed

Pino