How do I start in graphics programming???

Hey

I finally managed to sort my Visual C++ problem! Thanks for the
suggestion raoul_duke I didn’t know that you could specify the
libraries at the command prompt like that (I haven’t really used C
that much before, as I was taught to program in Java) I will try it
out next time I am on my own PC. Thanks as well to Shaderhacker, but
rest assured this is exactly what I have done, it is only after lots
of studying of shader programming that this problem has come up. I
was only trying to learn how to get my C applications to use Cg
shaders with this very simple example, so that I could then apply what
I have learned. The studying is still ongoing as this is part of my
dissertation project at uni, as well as reading about animation
techniques etc, so thanks to 201 as well, the 3D game programming
gurus book arrived a few days ago, it looks to be quite useful, so
thanks for that recommendation!

Thanks guys
Twib

I think there is something to be gained from starting from first principles and implementing your own basic 3D engine with at least back face removal, basic texture mapping and say phong shading - including implementing your own scanline algorithms etc. You don’t need to take it any further (because you’ll spend the rest of your life doing it) but being able to have a couple of simple meshes spinning, drawn in solid, mapped and shaded without calling OpenGL, DirectX etc pays real dividends as you progress in your career. It’s a little like knowing enough assembly language when you’re faced with a crash and no PDBs (symbols), or the crash is down in OleAut32 and you don’t have the symbol server installed, you are able to cope.

There are zillions of books of the nature of “So You Want To Implement Your Own Game Engine” that don’t use DirectX or OpenGL. Spend some time in a book store with a coffee and find one you like and then, and work through it - don’t just build the code that comes on the CD.

I don’t know what level your C++ is but writing your own basic 3D engine is also a great excuse to practice your OO principles. I’d strongly suggest you use STL to implement any collections you need rather than going with whatever simple home grown “linked list” or whatever the book might suggest.

I guess this might sound scary but you can actually have this up and running within 3 to 4 months (less if you can put more hours in), and like I say, it’ll equip you for working with and debugging other peoples engines in the future.

hi

check out www.blitzmax.com for powerful but easy game oriented programing language It has power of c/c++ and easy to understand and use…

Also go take a look around http://www.gamedev.net . It is a forum dedicated to programming, and has sections on languages, DirectX, OpenGL, games in general, etc. Really good place for that sort of thing.

i would first start with 2d-programming, a good &easy lib is sdl (http://www.libsdl.org/index.php). you’ll have good results there soon…
good tutorials for sdl: http://cone3d.gamedev.net/cgi-bin/index.pl?page=tutorials/gfxsdl/index

This probably sounds extremely stupid, but I can across this forum through google. Lol. I know nothing about computer graphics. I’m prob. not even capable of DOING graphics. Ohs wells. See you around, ABBY

Hi…

Are you a programmer then? Or are you just wanting to have a look at vBulletin?

I’m confused…

I’m just looking around. Computer graphics interest me, I just don’t have the time/money (to buy programs) to do it. Looking at everyone elses stuff. :applause: Its amazing! Lol, thanks for replyin. I’ll try to start a different thread for me- its kinda rude to be posting all about me on someone else’s thread. :bounce: <—bouncin’ my way out…

Time you definitely need, but money you need very little of to get started. Check out
www.blender.org sometime.

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