PC game programming

ColinP · 09-03-2010, 08:50

Back in the mists of time, I coded a few basic Atari ST games. Having recently found a couple of them online I thought it'd be cool to have a go at updating one of them for the PC but I don't really have any idea where to start.

I used STOS Basic back in the Atari days, so really I guess I'm after the modern equivalent of that. I don't mind learning, but don't want a huge steep learning curve!

Anyone have any recommendations/suggestions?

neilalford · 09-03-2010, 09:04

Microsoft have a game development system available, XNA, believe it's a bit more complex than something like STOS but does include a lot of stuff to deal with all the complex DirectX stuff, rather than having to get right down into that.

Though you will need a reasonable knowledge of programming to get anywhere, think it supports C#, VB and C++, plus you can develop for the XBox and with a subscription even share your games with other developers.

edit - http://creators.xna.com/en-GB/

ColinP · 09-03-2010, 09:07

May give XNA a go - have some C# and VB experience (albeit now rusty) so shouldn't be too much of a problem

neilalford · 09-03-2010, 09:32

I keep meaning to give it a look myself, admittedly have plenty of experience of proper DirectX programming etc. but would be nice to mess about with something a bit simpler and just try knocking up some little games. Used to do lots of AMOS (the Amiga version of STOS) programming back when I was younger.

Don't think you'll anything much simpler really, well, without getting into very basic games creation programs.

ColinP · 09-03-2010, 09:39

I'm happy to dig in and learn. It'll be a nice to do something new and exciting again

allan175 · 09-03-2010, 09:54

There are things like Blitz Basic or Dark Basic if you want to stick with a similar language.

degeneration · 09-03-2010, 14:22

We teach first years to code and design games in Flash before moving them into stuff like Unreal.

I would check out Unity which has a free indy version and will create executables for Mac and PC as well as embeddable web pages. With additional licences the next version will cover Wii, PS3, iPhone, iPad, Android.

www.unity3d.com

Oh Unity uses a hacked version of Javascript, C# or Boo depending on what you like the most.

Jim989 · 09-03-2010, 16:00

Or you could try Python and use Panda3D which is completely open sourced and free to use.
I would say that Python is not a big step-up from BASIC to learn.

09-03-2010, 09:04	#2
neilalford I angered a crow Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bristol Posts: 6,435 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Microsoft have a game development system available, XNA, believe it's a bit more complex than something like STOS but does include a lot of stuff to deal with all the complex DirectX stuff, rather than having to get right down into that. Though you will need a reasonable knowledge of programming to get anywhere, think it supports C#, VB and C++, plus you can develop for the XBox and with a subscription even share your games with other developers. edit - http://creators.xna.com/en-GB/ Last edited by neilalford; 09-03-2010 at 09:15.

09-03-2010, 09:32	#4
neilalford I angered a crow Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bristol Posts: 6,435 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I keep meaning to give it a look myself, admittedly have plenty of experience of proper DirectX programming etc. but would be nice to mess about with something a bit simpler and just try knocking up some little games. Used to do lots of AMOS (the Amiga version of STOS) programming back when I was younger. Don't think you'll anything much simpler really, well, without getting into very basic games creation programs. Last edited by neilalford; 09-03-2010 at 09:33.

09-03-2010, 09:54	#6
allan175 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Warrington Posts: 2,447 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	There are things like Blitz Basic or Dark Basic if you want to stick with a similar language. __________________ Allan

09-03-2010, 14:22	#7
degeneration Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 9,361 Thanks: 45 Thanked 16 Times in 9 Posts	We teach first years to code and design games in Flash before moving them into stuff like Unreal. I would check out Unity which has a free indy version and will create executables for Mac and PC as well as embeddable web pages. With additional licences the next version will cover Wii, PS3, iPhone, iPad, Android. www.unity3d.com Oh Unity uses a hacked version of Javascript, C# or Boo depending on what you like the most. Last edited by degeneration; 09-03-2010 at 14:23.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-03-2010, 16:00	#8
Jim989 GoldMember Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: In front of a PC Posts: 4,196 Thanks: 15 Thanked 22 Times in 13 Posts	Or you could try Python and use Panda3D which is completely open sourced and free to use. I would say that Python is not a big step-up from BASIC to learn.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
C#/XNA programming	BungleNutter	Computing Forum	2	21-04-2008 19:06
php / sessions / my bad programming?	Lagerlout	Computing Forum	3	06-07-2007 15:53
Sky Remote programming	icklesimba	Home Entertainment Hardware forum	1	17-02-2007 18:26
Windows Programming Forum	Jack Spratt	Computing Forum	4	26-05-2005 06:12
Programming - Where to start?	jnms	Computing Forum	7	08-05-2004 17:01