Learn DirectX9?

**ProgrammerJon** · Feb 19th, 2003, 02:58 PM

How hard is it to learn DirectX9?
I've heard that it's pretty hard.
I've only done Grade 8 math(just finished it), dose DX use alot of math?(do you think it would be to complex for me?)
I'm using Visual Basic.NET.

**Sastraxi** · Feb 19th, 2003, 05:28 PM

You will find it challenging, especially if you aren't that good in math. Personally I wouldn't go near 3D until you have a Gr.9 (at least) math credit.

**ProgrammerJon** · Feb 19th, 2003, 05:43 PM

Originally posted by Sastraxi
You will find it challenging, especially if you aren't that good in math. Personally I wouldn't go near 3D until you have a Gr.9 (at least) math credit.

It's not so much that I'm not good in math, it's more that I'm still young(13 years old). I will probably wait until the summer because I will be done Gr. 9 by then.

**petrus** · Feb 19th, 2003, 06:13 PM

One of the big factors of why I learned C++ was because of Direct X, Direct X in VB is one of the most ugliest things on earth, in my oppinion

**ProgrammerJon** · Feb 19th, 2003, 06:15 PM

Why is DirectX in Visual Basic ugly?

**petrus** · Feb 19th, 2003, 06:19 PM

I don't know really, but in C++ it feels "Heavy".

**ProgrammerJon** · Feb 19th, 2003, 06:27 PM

What do you mean by "Heavy"?

**petrus** · Feb 19th, 2003, 06:34 PM

I think VB messes everything up..
It's pretty late, so I don't really know why I like it better in C++ than in VB.

**dafhi** · Feb 20th, 2003, 02:57 AM

one of the ugly things about vb programming is this:

Player1.x = Player1.x + Player1.dx

where other languages have

Player1.x += Player1.dx

or

Add Player1.x, Player1.dx

**petrus** · Feb 20th, 2003, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by dafhi
one of the ugly things about vb programming is this:

Player1.x = Player1.x + Player1.dx

where other languages have

Player1.x += Player1.dx

or

Add Player1.x, Player1.dx

That's one of them, and Player1.X = Player1.X + 1 instead of Player1.X++
And Pointers doesn't exist in VB, aaaaahhhh what I love pointers!

**ProgrammerJon** · Feb 20th, 2003, 01:47 PM

So basicly DirectX with Visual Basic(.NET) is a bit harder than with C++ because it's missing some functions and it using I bit more typing?

It dosen't really mater if C++ is better for DX programming than VB because I'm not going to be learning C++ for atleast anther year.(I want to get good at VB.NET before I start another language and I have no $$)

**Hu Flung Dung** · Feb 20th, 2003, 04:26 PM

Hmm, With old VB, I would agree. DX isn't so great for that (VB sux for any heavy API use).

But with VB.NET and managed extensions for DirectX9, I dont think it really matters so much anymore which language you choose (although I wouldn't want to even try to write Unreal2 in VB.NET). DirectX9 so easily integrates with the rest of the .NET framework.

Keep in mind that VB.NET is an entirely different beast than old VB (vb6 and earilier).

**ProgrammerJon** · Feb 20th, 2003, 04:29 PM

What is Unreal2?

**petrus** · Feb 20th, 2003, 04:31 PM

Originally posted by ProgrammerJon
What is Unreal2?

A 3D game.

**Hu Flung Dung** · Feb 20th, 2003, 04:33 PM

Originally posted by ProgrammerJon
What is Unreal2?

Just a REALLY AWESOME computer game that came out early this month.

www.unreal2.com
Yeh, this site sux, but it has some nice screenshots to give you an idea.

If your planning on making anything like that, go get a CS degree and apply for a job at Epic Games.

**ProgrammerJon** · Feb 20th, 2003, 05:13 PM

I'm not planning on getting anything close to that, I just want to learn how to do some simple DX programming.

**Pirate** · Feb 20th, 2003, 05:49 PM

(Managed C++ , C# , VB) .NET are all the same . In .Net framework no one is better since they are using the same classes . I don't know if MS integrated DX into the framework but they should do it sooner or later .

**Hu Flung Dung** · Feb 20th, 2003, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by Pirate
(Managed C++ , C# , VB) .NET are all the same . In .Net framework no one is better since they are using the same classes . I don't know if MS integrated DX into the framework but they should do it sooner or later .

The DirectX9 SDK integrates with the .NET framework as soon as you install it. You can download the DX9 SDK from msdn.microsoft.com (Those 56k'ers can order a free cd of the SDK, I believe).

**Pirate** · Feb 20th, 2003, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by Hu Flung Dung
The DirectX9 SDK integrates with the .NET framework as soon as you install it. You can download the DX9 SDK from msdn.microsoft.com

Is it included in the .netframework in VS.NET2003?

**Hu Flung Dung** · Feb 20th, 2003, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by Pirate
Is it included in the .netframework in VS.NET2003?

I'm not 100% sure, but I wouldn't imagine so. The DX9 SDK is, depending on which one you get, about 200 megs. The majority of .NET programmers wouldn't even use DirectX, so it would probably be a waste to them and to MS.

As I said before, its automatically integrated into the .NET framework when you install it. You just need to add a reference to it before you use it.

**CornedBee** · Feb 22nd, 2003, 09:13 AM

Don't know if they by now improved it, but when I downloaded Managed DX9 one or two months ago it sucked. Lots of bugs and nearly no documentation.

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