Step about making a game

[DaoK]

Ok, Christmas break is coming and I have thought to learn DirectX7.0 programmation with VB.

I have take a look at http://64.23.12.52/ website and I think it give a nice base to start a game but I have many question but the question that I have to ask you before all others are : "What are steps that I need to follow ?" ( What I make first ? ... what is less important to make at beginning ? )

I have the idea of the game but after that, I have to make what ?

[CornedBee]

It's a bit much what you are asking for, but here are the steps I follow in writing the game:
1) Set up a project that suits my needs (I write C++ code, but it's the same for VB)
2) Create a skeleton app. It will start and immediatly exit, but it contains the structure of the game (game loop and such).
3) Add features:
a) Basic functionality. For example, in a pong type game you'll want a ball flying around and bouncing off at the edges. Then you'll add the bar the player moves. And so on. Note that you don't go into detail: use simplest graphics (like just rectangles), no sound...

b) Add more functionality, special things that can happen. Add graphics. Add "around" stuff like a menu, save game option, more functionality and so on.

c) Usually the last, add sound and music.

4) Debug, debug and debug. Then debug a little more. If your game is big and complicated, debug even more. You might search for beta-testers, maybe some friends of yours.

[DaoK]

Thx you

But lets said I want to make a little RPG, what do I have to do at first ( that my first DirectX game I know nothing for the moment )?
I have to build the environment, object, obstacle, heros ? What first ?

[CornedBee]

A character moving around in a plain area without obstacles. Then pathfinding, enemies etc.

[DaoK]

ok thx you, I was woundering if we can use Listbox to choose weapon for example... I didnt see any website who show how to do that ?

[DaoK]

Anyone here have a code example where I will be able to look how to move an object with directX I want a base to take as example but all code I found as to much code I just want something basic at beginning and than go more advanced

If you have any demo please attach it or give me the link

[CornedBee]

Any application that sets up DirectDraw and wants to move an object in a straight line will be at least two screens long.

[DaoK]

Well I want something like 100x100 and about all screen 10x10 about. But I would appreciate an example to see how can I move a Heros around all little screen and around all screen. I will maybe find something in psc.com

[DaoK]

I have done that part : http://64.23.12.52//Tutorials/Direct...Fullscreen.asp

But the picture take all the screen :\ So I think I have to do more, if anyone have a directX7 tutorial for game please give me the link.

[DaoK]

Debug.print do not work with DirectX ?

[MoMad]

Hehe!

Wow, Its been THAT long since my last post here at vbforums.com!

What you need to do is set yourself a Debuging class or function, that will either output to the screen or to a file, And I would like to suggest that you make a class that will print onto the screen. Like, it will load the letters from an image and just like ANY sprite it will be blitted to the screen one letter at a time...

If you dont understand me, please let me know. This should be the next thing you do after creating a Sprite class. A Sprite class is the class that will do all of your drawing and blitting to the screen! Good luck

Regards,
MoMad

[DaoK]

Thx you for the answer I was on the point to leave DirectX programming ! It so different of the normal VB! Like I can have a background now with 1 image who take all the screen. But I do not see how can I add a picuture ( like the heros ) without a Picture Box :\

I will try to make a code to have a Debug Print Thx for the idea

[MoMad]

Awww...

I see you are an absolute beginer into this! Listen to me, think outside of the box! Dont look back at VB for anything PAST the FULLSCREEN! Because when you get to the fullscreen, you will not be in VB any longer, you are in DirectX, you are subclassing your window to become a directX one. Dont think of picboxes, listboxes, etc... all that you will have to make your own! lol.

Anyways, the tutorials you have SHOULD have information about sprites and the basics of bliting. Are you also new to VB? Do you know how to make classes?? Classes make it so much easier to do Game programming because essentially you will end up copying/pasting the same piece of code for several objects, so why not save some time and make them all different instances of that class! OO makes life much easier, VB doesnt support it much but what it has is good enough for a basic game!

I think you can find a Sprite Class tutorial at Fox McCloud's website!

Regards,
MoMad

[MoMad]

PS: Download the fruitworld game and its source code at that website you are learning DX from and try to add/remove/modify it to ur needs... so that you can become compfortable with dx and for a debug.print, try what they are doing, make a log file!

[DaoK]

class = module ... i know that, well to put sib and fonction

I will take a look at Fox website for Fruit game

[DaoK]

Is it normal that I found nothing about the game you said in Fox website?

[MoMad]

No No...

That game is not in Fox's website.

Its right here:

> http://64.23.12.52/

[Evan]

One thing to keep in mind is to stay absolutly as organized as your possible can without going insain. It you dont, you will lose track of things while your programming in the latter steps. Use lots of UDT's.

[MoMad]

Yes! He is right.

ABSOLUTELY ORGANIZED! Including comments, UDT's or CLASSES, and "STICK TO ONE STANDARD"! Great, take care!

Regards,
MoMad

[bradley252]

Im alo new to game progrmming in vb. And ive just about got to grips with general vb coding. could someone give me a link to a good tuorial! that covers thevery basics. As i want to make a simple pacman game! cheers!

[DaoK]

Thx MoMad I will check that game

[vshammas]

i think the internet lacks a simple visual basic 6 game programming tutorial. maybe someone should write one ?

[DaoK]

Yes because I have only one reference and that not a lots

[Mman]

Hi all, take a look at my web site at

www.geocities.com/mman76dev

I have games in pure VB and DX. The new tutorials page is still unders construction so it only has 1 tutorial. But will have way more soon!

by the way, I'd be interested in writting a VB 6 game tutorial. What do you want it to cover? DX or pure VB with Win API?

Best regards

[DaoK]

Your racing game is weirdo here heyhey, when I press foward it take 3-4 seconds and than move fowards... I do not see why it do that

[vshammas]

hey, that would be great if you could write a game tutorial. i think it shouldn't cover directx, it becomes too confusing. just try to stick with "pure" visual basic and api stuff. a lot of people would appreciate it!

[bradley252]

i agree! most tutorial, although for beginers, are far to hard to comprehend! Keep it as simple as possible! for my sakes at least!

[Mman]

The 3D game runs slow becasue I believe it is the old version which only supports Software Rendering. I am kind of working on a new version which supports Direct 3D Graphic Cards.

About the tutorial, should it be a little game in bitblt? I have a game I made a while ago, I never put it up on any site becasue it uses a cheap way of blitting graphics to the screen. This means that if your resolution is different from mine, the game will look messed up. I was thinking that maybe I can re-make that game to use BitBlt API. (The game by the way is a little like PacMan. I called it GhostMaze)

What do you think?