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Newcomers DBPro Corner / How to begin...

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Venatusio
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Posted: 13th Mar 2012 12:30
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Hi all,

Okay I have downloaded DB Pro, read 2 books on it:

- Dark Basic Pro Game Programming 2nd Edition & The DB Pro Guide by Nicky Dude. (they overlap a bit but highly recommend both)

I have dabbled in programming in the past, assembler & basic on a ZX spectrum a long time ago. C, UNIX shell & Perl back in my UNIX days & more recently VB script during my MCSE years.

I will not have a problem with the language (especially with so many great online resources and these forums)

But I cannot seem to start a project, feel overwhelmed just thinking about it (because I know how much is involved)

Is there a common approach (or project plan) used for managing Games projects, or is there a particular way of approaching a new games project that works for others here.

Appreciate any feedback on how others approach the daunting task of starting a games project.

Thanks in advance for any hints, tips & feedback.

Cheers
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Webber
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Posted: 15th Mar 2012 04:44 Edited at: 15th Mar 2012 04:45
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The first thing you need to do in order to start any project is to simply have an idea on what you are going to make. Basically a big picture of what you want your project to become. If your project is very simple then this is probably all you will need to start. VERY IMPORTANT: Avoid setting up overwhelming goals that you couldn't accomplish in a million years, such as making Gears of Halo Theft Auto 12, its just not gonna happen. Make reachable goals, and build up from experience.

Then you need to create a layout of your project so that you have a more detailed view on everything that needs to be done. Basically writing down all of the little goals that will be needed in order to complete the entire project. The better your knowledge is on what your project is, the easier it will be to accomplish.

After that you can get to the actual creating of your project. Putting together the media, and programming everything one step at a time. Use the layout that you created, and just do one thing at a time. It does not have to be done in order, it just has to get done.

So basically having a detailed view on what your going to make, and as long as you are consistent, and don't give up you will eventually finish your project.

Good Luck!

I like games, and stuff.
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Hodgey
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Posted: 15th Mar 2012 07:00
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Quote: "But I cannot seem to start a project, feel overwhelmed just thinking about it (because I know how much is involved)"

In that case it's probably best to start off with something small such as pong, and then slowly build up as you learn new things.

As for documentation, it depends on how serious the project is. If it is a small, personal project then you would probably get away with just commenting code but to each his own.

Quote: "any feedback on how others approach the daunting task of starting a games project."

As zenassem, a respected member on these forums said, sometimes you just need to dive in.

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Venatusio
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Posted: 15th Mar 2012 09:58
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Thanks Guys, I appreciate your feedback.

I think your right, start simple and just dive in.

On my search I found a Word Template for Planning out on paper a video game project, it can be found here:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/video-game-design-document-template-TC030000466.aspx

I haven't got around to using it myself but it looks like it may be a good document to prompt you into thinking about all (most) of the steps/components on paper before you get to the coding stage.

Thanks again for your feedback

Pong here I come.
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DAEvo
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Posted: 19th Mar 2012 05:04
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How is Pong coming along?

Game Designer, NOT Game Programmer. Handle with Care!
Specs: Intel i7 2600k 3400 Mhz, 16 GB RAM, GeForce GTX 560 Ti, 64-Bit OS, 27" ASUS (x3)
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Venatusio
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Posted: 19th Mar 2012 10:43
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Done that, now on to scrolling game, went through a tutorial I found, I will revisit it the example I did was a bit basic, I set it so that each time you hit the ball it sped up but found that if it sped up to much it would not detect a paddle hit (basically the ball position moved to far and jumped the paddle).

Went through the tutorial on side scrolling, learned how to read in bitmap and rip sprites out of it and build a tiled map from a array.
Spent a few hours scratching my head wondering why my program ran but didn't display anything until I had a moment of clarity and realised I wasn't writing it to bitmap 0. Doh! Oh well I have 1001 more noob mistakes to make on my journey.

Now going through and doing it again but using dynamic approach so I do not have to preallocate memory for the whole map in one go. Then I am going to modify it to read the map layout in from a file.

Next I thought I might go through the Darkanoid tutorial.

There are so many great tutorials out there.

I had forgotten how rewarding programming can be, frustrating (atm) but with perseverance very rewarding
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fllwthewolves
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Posted: 19th Mar 2012 20:37
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the quickest way to learn is to make a mistake, and then figure out what you did wrong. you can read all the tutorials you want they dont top experience.

also you said you found a tutorial on side scrolling?
feel like posting a link? lol
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DAEvo
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Posted: 19th Mar 2012 22:03
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Great to hear -- sounds like you are coming along faster than I am! I'm struggling to get a parallax side-scroller off the ground. An all night session of Men of War: Vietnam fueled by Russian vodka didn't help my progress one bit this morning.

Quote: "also you said you found a tutorial on side scrolling?
feel like posting a link? lol "


I second that sentiment, fllwthewolves!

Game Designer, NOT Game Programmer. Handle with Care!
Specs: Intel i7 2600k 3400 Mhz, 16 GB RAM, GeForce GTX 560 Ti, 64-Bit OS, 27" ASUS (x3)
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Hodgey
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Posted: 19th Mar 2012 23:47
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Quote: "Quote: "also you said you found a tutorial on side scrolling?
feel like posting a link? lol "

I second that sentiment, fllwthewolves!"

That tutorial might be from the DarkBASIC Pro book.

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Venatusio
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Posted: 20th Mar 2012 03:03
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Yes Hodgey is right, it is from the Dark Basic Pro Game Programming Second Edition so can't post it here (that would be frowned on)

Great book though - I highly recommend it.


"the quickest way to learn is to make a mistake" - so true.

Reminds me of a definition of expert I heard a while back:
An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in their specialist field.
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