2) Some people are of the opinion that VB 6 is not a good
platform for creating games. So the next best option is C++.

VB is a fine lanugauge to write hobby games in. As long as you are a hobby game
developer and have no interest or intention in becoming a proffessional. VB is
too high level and slow to make proffessional (AAA) games.

3) Make a transition to Windows programming with C++. This is
where my first doubt cropped up. Should I learn windows programming
with MFC or should I dig deeper and learn all the dirty details of
the language. Quite frankly, the programs on your web site scared the
hell out of me. This thing looks really tough.

You should probably avoid and ignore MFC. MFC is more for non-game
applications. For games your better off with DirctX and OpenGL.

4) Learn Direct X programming with C++. Is the Open GL platform
still evolving, or is it on its way out?

I don;t think OpenGL has been revised as recently as DirectX but both are stable
platforms. OpenGL is strictly geared towards 3D graphics. DirectX has various
components like Direct3D, DirectSound, DirectMusic, DirectDraw, DirectPlay, etc.

5) I read some where that in order to create a game I would need
to create a graphics engine. This includes physics engine, AI engine,
Scripting Language etc. I have absolutely no knowledge about any of
these things. Any good books that you can suggest?

It depends on what type of game your writing. An FPS that you would find in a
store would have physics, AI, and scripting. If you want to write a 2D platform
game (like the original super Mario Brothers) you don't need any of that. Also,
you don't need to make an engine yourself. There are several engines you can
buy and some that you can use for free. I think the original Quake engine is
now free. If it isn't, the Doom engine is.

6) If there is one thing I am really sure of, it's that I
absolutely suck at creating graphics and other artistic stuff. Is
there any place from where I can download textures, models etc for my
game? I won't be able to create a good looking model even if I
kept trying for the rest of my life.

You could buy a graphics library. If you use an engine, engines sometimes come
with a graphics library. You might need the help of an artistic friend. Just
be sure that any images you use you have the rights to use or you kind find
yourself getting a nasty letter from an intellectual property lawyer.

***On Sat 10:48a May 8 Vikram Hans <vikram_hans@...> wrote***
Hi!!
After visiting your web site I have decided to take up game
programming as a hobby. As a follow up to this decision, I dug around
looking for the best place to start. It turns out that I have a long
road ahead of me. I have chalked out a rough pathway, and I am
enumerating the steps involved in the metamorphosis of a person with
average programming skills into a games programmer. Please feel free
to make any corrections to the list:

1) Familiarize myself with a good (powerful) programming
language. Well I am already comfortable with programming in C/C++/VB
6.
2) Some people are of the opinion that VB 6 is not a good
platform for creating games. So the next best option is C++.
3) Make a transition to Windows programming with C++. This is
where my first doubt cropped up. Should I learn windows programming
with MFC or should I dig deeper and learn all the dirty details of
the language. Quite frankly, the programs on your web site scared the
hell out of me. This thing looks really tough.
4) Learn Direct X programming with C++. Is the Open GL platform
still evolving, or is it on its way out?
5) I read some where that in order to create a game I would need
to create a graphics engine. This includes physics engine, AI engine,
Scripting Language etc. I have absolutely no knowledge about any of
these things. Any good books that you can suggest?
6) If there is one thing I am really sure of, it's that I
absolutely suck at creating graphics and other artistic stuff. Is
there any place from where I can download textures, models etc for my
game? I won't be able to create a good looking model even if I
kept
trying for the rest of my life.

Thanks again for responding to my earlier queries. I know you have
your hands full, but try to respond as soon as you have some time to
spare. Also thanks a lot for being so patient.






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