From: The TapeWorm <tape_worm AT geocities DOT com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp,rec.games.programmer
Subject: Re: Check out my demo game!
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 1997 09:27:22 -0700
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland
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Andrew Ellem wrote:
> 
> In article <01bca11c$5384ce60$45025cc3 AT neverworks->, "Gareth Davies" <gareth AT spamguard DOT davies DOT discovery-net DOT co DOT uk (please remove the spamguard bit!)> wrote:
> 
> >One other point. I would be interested in everyone's opinion of Allegro. I
> >can't actually use it because I use Watcom, but is it really sensible to
> >use this library (as good as it might be). Aren't people missing out on the
> >learning experience which would otherwise be gained by doing these things
> >yourself ??? as well as a lost ability later on to optimise the codeto your
> >needs (I know you get the source, but if you don't understand it, you can't
> >optimise it). I'm not looking for flames, just genuine opinions.
> >
> >For what it's worth,
> >Gareth
> >
> 
> I'd say Allegro is probably one of best and easiest to use game libs out
> there, and very well documented and supported.  I do understand what you're
> saying about missing out on the experience of creating my own library, and I
> probably am to some extent.  I don't consider this a great loss, as I would
> rather develop a game than a graphics library.  As to optimizing the code,
> I've found it well documented and thought out, so I've had very little trouble
> understanding it.  When I did, the author of Allegro was always willing to
> lend a hand.
> 
> --
> Andrew Ellem
Well, I do know that game companies on average break apart their
programmers.  One set does the engine, the other does the game... No one
person can do all.  Just look at all the companies buying the license to
the quake engine.  If that's not using someone elses code, I don't know
what is.  Sure there are enhancements, but really the main underlying
code is still there.  There are people who like to program game engines
and those who like to program graphics engines.  Both rely on one
another.  To me, a game programmer who tries their hand at an engine
(and this is not true in all cases) will get pissed at all the time that
they've missed re-inventing the wheel when they could be doing the
actual game itself.  Let's not forget the golden rule of programming:
"NEVER RE-INVENT THE WHEEL."

Mike
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