C++ or C#...what should be my next step?

[Tom Sawyer]

Thats the problem, I dont know what the right tool is for my job.

Well, what's your job?

[MotoMan_Yz400]

Well, what's your job?

See thats the think, I really dont have one. I jump around on small home personal projects. Lately I've been trying to work on a media desktop so when windows boots, it goes right to my program and that way I can flip through movies, music, etc easily, and how I want it. Then at times I would like to make games. Ive been wanting to play around with 3D for years now, but always saw it as too difficult to wrap my head around. Plus I would like to start doing some micro controller experiments, but that requires me to write it in C, then compile into assembly. I'm mostly looking for something where I can have the power behind C, but not be so over-whelmed by it that it doesnt go anywhere.

[Atheist]

Then I suggest that you atleast start off with XNA. I wouldnt say its easy, but its defenitly not as hard as C++ and OpenGL/DirectX.
I can recommend this book if you're interested in learning it.

[MotoMan_Yz400]

Then I suggest that you atleast start off with XNA. I wouldnt say its easy, but its defenitly not as hard as C++ and OpenGL/DirectX.
I can recommend this book if you're interested in learning it.

Well pardon my ignorance, but is XNA stand-alone? or is it meant to be used in conjunction with anything? If the latter, what language does it support? Do I still need to get my hands on some C material? Could I use VB.NET? I'm picking the book up tonight (if they have it) and would like to begin looking into it a little more closely.

[Atheist]

Well pardon my ignorance, but is XNA stand-alone? or is it meant to be used in conjunction with anything? If the latter, what language does it support? Do I still need to get my hands on some C material? Could I use VB.NET? I'm picking the book up tonight (if they have it) and would like to begin looking into it a little more closely.

XNA is used along with either Visual C# express 2005, or Visual Studio 2005. It uses the C# language.

[brad jones]

I agree with many of the prior comment -

C# should be easier to learn and work with than C++. While I don't recommend the 24 hour books, I've heard that both the current C# and C++ 21 Days books are good .

XNA studio is a good way to go if you are wanting to do games for Windows. It is somewhat assumed that you do based on your starting with the comment about VB .NET. If you want to do games that might port to Linux or something else, then you should go straight to C++. It will take longer to get up to speed, but you'll have more power to work with when you get there.

Of course, if you want to use XNA, then that does push you to C#. That is a good way to go if you want to do Windows games, plus you can also target Xbox 360s if you are willing to pay a small yearly subscription fee.

All in all, you can do game programming with any of the languages you choose. If you want to balance power with effort, then C# with something like the XNA Studio Add-in is a good way to go.

Brad!

[Atheist]

I've heard that both the current C# and C++ 21 Days books are good .

Well yes, I heard those are the best ones you can find!