To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: Games programming on Djgpp
Message-ID: <19961027.224846.8183.2.chambersb@juno.com>
References: <Pine DOT A32 DOT 3 DOT 91 DOT 961026090605 DOT 53667A-100000 AT academ07 DOT mty DOT itesm DOT mx>
From: chambersb AT juno DOT com (Benjamin D Chambers)
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 1996 01:48:01 EDT


On Sat, 26 Oct 1996 09:09:28 -0600 (CST) ARTURO RAFAEL LOPEZ CASTRO
<al535994 AT mail DOT mty DOT itesm DOT mx> writes:
>I am new in game programming, I know C, Pascal and Assembler.
>I've already have a djgpp compiler, source code  of old games,
>some graphics, sound, and games libraries 
>and utilities but I don't really know where to start programming.
>Could someone tell me where should I begin.
>
>Thanks.
>

OK, you need a LOT of stuff . . .
1.	You need a game to make.  Otherwise, you're doing nothing.
2.	You need input routines
3.	Sound/Music routines.
4.	Graphics routines.
5.	Game logic.

You can grab just about everything except 1 & 5 from libs.
Tips:
1.	If it works, don't break it.  Yeah, I know it's nifty to
squeeze 5-10% more speed out of a game, but remember that you might have
to rewrite all of your source code 3-4 times just to add a single
optimization (ok, that's pessimistic - but at least 1 rewrite usually
occurs).
2.	Think of your target audience.  Don't make a shoot-em-up game
like WOLF-3D (YES, I mention an ancient game, mostly because all the
others ((including DOOM and QUAKE)) are clones.  Personally, I grew sick
of those years ago) and expect to receive numerous awards for the plot. 
Chances are, the plot will be forgotten before the first level is beaten.
 On the other hand, don't write a little-kiddy happy-face interface with
smiles and balloons all over while expecting serious gamers to take it.
3.	You don't have to make the graphics realistic as long as they
LOOK like they're realistic.  Go ahead and fake 'em - they might even
look better using fake algorithms.
4.	Don't say it can't be done.  I gaurentee you, a twelve year old
will do it next week, simply because he doesn't REALIZE it can't be done.

==================================================================
I'm looking over
	my dead dog Rover,
Whom I ran over with my lawn mower!
One leg is missing,
	The second is gone.
The third leg is splattered
	all over the lawn.
There's no need explaining
	the one remaining -
it's down by the cellar door!
I'm looking over
	my dead dog Rover,
Whom I overlooked before!
==================================================================
If you haven't heard of the four-leaf clover, you'll have no clue(^^^^).