Learning game programming timescales

[the_philospher]

I am a beginner programmer learning c++. i have read some useful
information about programming games (which is my goal) on gamedev.net,
particularly "how do i program games"
http://www.gamedev.net/reference/design/features/makegames/.

the article suggests first programming a tetris clone, then moving on
to "breakout", "pacman", and a super mario style game..

My question is, how long should it realistically take me to be able to
complete these projects?

i am new to c++ but have been spending 6 hours a day, so at this
rate.. how long before i am a "game programmer"

thanks for your opinion.

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

I am a beginner programmer learning c++. i have read some useful
information about programming games (which is my goal) on gamedev.net,
particularly "how do i program games"
http://www.gamedev.net/reference/design/features/makegames/.

the article suggests first programming a tetris clone, then moving on
to "breakout", "pacman", and a super mario style game..

My question is, how long should it realistically take me to be able to
complete these projects?

i am new to c++ but have been spending 6 hours a day, so at this
rate.. how long before i am a "game programmer"

It take some time before you become a programmer. At first you have to
learn enough ISO C++, that is the language itself.


Then you have to learn some graphics framework like OpenGL or DirectX
(now part of .NET). But before this, perhaps you should also learn some
GUI stuff, how to create Windows, menus, etc.


Becoming a (real) programmer takes time. That's for sure. Be prepared
for that.

 

[Gernot Frisch]

I am a beginner programmer learning c++. i have read some useful
information about programming games (which is my goal) on
gamedev.net,
particularly "how do i program games"
http://www.gamedev.net/reference/design/features/makegames/.

the article suggests first programming a tetris clone, then moving
on
to "breakout", "pacman", and a super mario style game..

My question is, how long should it realistically take me to be able
to
complete these projects?

i am new to c++ but have been spending 6 hours a day, so at this
rate.. how long before i am a "game programmer"

thanks for your opinion.

it totally depends on you. See, I write a (working,but ugly) tetris,
breakout and pacman together in 10 h easily. I bet that's not how fast
you will start.
If you want to learn "game programming", there's 2 things you will
learn: C/C++ and Game Programming. Both are much to learn. Maybe you
want to try game programming first (www.glbasic.com) and C++ after
you're familiar with game design + programming concepts?
This way you don't have to bother with application setup, writing a
game engine (input/graphics/sound) and things. Plus: GLBasic offers
Linux + PocketPC executables on click.

Just my .02 ct
-Gernot

 

[SirMike]

i am new to c++ but have been spending 6 hours a day, so at this
rate.. how long before i am a "game programmer"

I can tell you what it looks/looked like in my case.
I've been programming for about 10 years (c++ for 5-6 years,
directx/opengl for 2-3 years) In this time i tried to learn as much as
could and now I can tell that it is enough to write a game

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

it totally depends on you. See, I write a (working,but ugly) tetris,
breakout and pacman together in 10 h easily. I bet that's not how fast
you will start.
If you want to learn "game programming", there's 2 things you will
learn: C/C++ and Game Programming. Both are much to learn. Maybe you
want to try game programming first (www.glbasic.com) and C++ after
you're familiar with game design + programming concepts?
This way you don't have to bother with application setup, writing a
game engine (input/graphics/sound) and things. Plus: GLBasic offers
Linux + PocketPC executables on click.

It is probably something like Avalon, the upcoming simple 3D managed API
(subset of WinFX) of Longhorn.


If you have enough bandwidth you can download a .wmv file from
http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=34528, where some of its
abilities are displayed with the use of a new compiled MS .net language
named XAML, which is aimed for GUI stuff only:

 

[the_philosopher]

Well, specifically if anyone could give me any ideas how much learning time
would enable me to write a simple 2d game like tetris.. and the others
mentioned. Obviously writing a professional game would take many years of
experience and couldnt be done by one single person.

 

[dumitru]

Well, specifically if anyone could give me any ideas how much learning time
would enable me to write a simple 2d game like tetris.. and the others
mentioned. Obviously writing a professional game would take many years of
experience and couldnt be done by one single person.

Well... I had the same problem... I knew I had to do a tetris clone
before I could go further... It took me ~ 1 week for algorithm design
back then....then one more week for code. It was written under DOS.
Then, it took me ~ 1 week to adapt it for win32. I must admit I didn't
know almost anything about win32...so I was writting the win32 code
simultaniously as reading a good tutorial about it (I think it was
Forgers Win32 Tutorial...I suppose...)...

Also, I knew C pretty well... and a bit of C++.

You can see those results at netrix.sf.net...

 

[SirMike]

Well, specifically if anyone could give me any ideas how much learning time
would enable me to write a simple 2d game like tetris.. and the others
mentioned. Obviously writing a professional game would take many years of
experience and couldnt be done by one single person.

I cannot say if you will do it in two days, two weeks or two months.
It's impossible. You say that you're spending 6 hours a day with c++.
OK, but what do you do/learn in this time ? Make loops and functions or
templates and advanced inheritance ??
Simple tetris game can be written in a few days. All depend on your skills.

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

Well, specifically if anyone could give me any ideas how much learning time
would enable me to write a simple 2d game like tetris.. and the others
mentioned. Obviously writing a professional game would take many years of
experience and couldnt be done by one single person.

Assuming you have no C++ knowledge and any programming experience at all.


Under normal circumstances, a couple of years to become enough fluent in
C++ and a couple of years to learn some graphics framework in a decent
level.

And then continue learning the rest of ISO C++ and more specialised things.

 

[the_philosopher]

Assuming you have no C++ knowledge and any programming experience at all.

Under normal circumstances, a couple of years to become enough fluent in
C++ and a couple of years to learn some graphics framework in a decent
level.

And then continue learning the rest of ISO C++ and more specialised things.

Ok now it is a bit clearer.
I can do any kind of textual and mathematical stuff , arrays and pointers,
OO classes, functions, loops, console input output, read/write text files...

So im gonna be delivering pizzas for a few more years .assuming i keep
trying to learn.