Most Microsoft games are coded with the XNA enviroment. Gow series etc. It isn't for beginners.. it opens the door to beginners. The only reason you don't see many 3D games etc. Is because the skillset required is a step up from 2D. It can be done, and done well. Plus it is easily portable to xbox 360 with a few changes of code and to windows 7 as a mini app. The fact that it is tied to windows only isnt so bad. DirectX is the way to go, that's why all the good games are on windows platforms.
"portable code cannot be optimized" myth is a total bs, if you want cross platform, you go for opengl, and for every single target platform you optimize the base as the same, "render less, switch less" thats it.
xenol - it's true, if you want to be limited to the most common OS and most popular gaming machine, XNA is the way to go... if you couldn't tell by my sarcasm... I don't feel limited whatsoever. If you want visibility and ease of sharing your work - posting on Xbox Live is a dream. The fact that XNA is relatively easy yet very powerful and fast are bonuses (I guess to some the bonus is vice versa).
I'm talking about PS3 vs 360 because they're similar in purpose and ability. If you're going to include all video gaming machines then the Nintendo DS is the most popular
@vtastek they sure do. The uniform velocity field makes sense, since everything is (almost) standing still. The uniform depth must be a result of the demo room being much, much smaller than the front/back distance.
What's with the XNA bashing? XNA makes difficult things (like say, writing a deferred rendering system) very easy. It's a great way to learn and I'd recommend it to anyone that wants to get into rendering. It would take significantly longer to develop an equivalent system in C++ and there's just too many perks in XNA to pass it up.
The problem is is portability. There's a reason why people still use the C family, because almost every darned modern computer in the world has a compiler for it. It's like developing a language that's really easy to use, but only one kind of processor supports it.
So developing in XNA might be great if you're planning on making an Xbox game or a Window game (not sure if support is there), but if you want to extend your game on different platforms...
Right, but how many people learning graphics programming are going to be porting to multiple platforms? And the reality is that if you really want to optimize your code, it will NOT be portable. XNA is a great learning tool. The concepts are the same whether your programming for XNA, OpenGL, or DirectX. It's all the same basic ideas so why make it harder for yourself when you're learning?
I see your point, but you can make great playable games using XNA. Take for example Benjamin Nitschke games (exDream). I think that the answer to your question is: C# syntax is way more comfortable, simple and easier to learn than C++. Also, the XNA API is simpler than the raw DirectX 10 API. Besides, XNA runs over DirectX 9/10, so, at least in theory, there is no need to update your code to run on a newer DirectX release. But you are right: .NET will be always slower than native C++ binaries.
C# compiles into CLR, which is interpreted( or compiled by the JIT ) by the .Net runtime. C is generally compiled into objectcode, which varries on different processors.
This whole "XNA is used by starters" is crap. A lot of people are using it to port to the 360. The "OH BUT YOU CANT PORT UR ENGINE TO PS3" is irrelevent because we'd never acquire a developers license to the PS3. Plus, It really isn't that hard to port a C# engine to C++, just time consuming.
Hi. I'm thinking of making XNA games, hopefully making a little money, but I know absolutely NOTHING about C, C++, or C# coding. Can someone tell me what programs and applications I'll need to get a basic game running? I would like to know some things that let me do the building of characters and other content. If someone knows tutorials, please let me know.
Visual Studio 2008 Pro or at least C# edition (free), XNA 3 framework. Read the documentation. XNA is all in c#, an awesome language you should learn anyways
Game programming is an area where you need to have a broad range of skills and an ability to learn fast. First you need to learn C++ or C#. I recommend C++ because it is slightly lower-level and will help you get a better understanding of what you're doing.
Get Visual C++ Express 2008, it's free. My favorite tutorial book for C++ is "C++ Primer Plus" by Stephen Prata.
Of course, you could also just start with C#. Just look for tutorials on Google. Visual C# express is also free. Good luck.
i think the best thing to do is get a book on C++ or C# and go all the way through the examples, some books have sections where you have to complete the programs. once you get a basic understanding of a language its pretty easy to pick up another one. dont expect to make any money right away, you should do it for fun. :)
id recomend darkbasic ,is really basic like qbasic and can get a simple matrix and a few objects on the go with just 4 lines of code witch are functions that take away the nightmare of setting up and call directx though to get advanced with it you will need to learn c or at least vb to create a world builder unless you can map it all in your head though theres apps out there if you cant be bothered to learn but will cost you so is worth making the effort but yeah darkbasic i had great results
Hi. I'm thinking of making XNA games, hopefully making a little money, but I know absolutely NOTHING about C, C++, or C# coding. Can someone tell me what programs and applications I'll need to get a basic game running? I would like to know some things that let me do the building of characters and other content. If someone knows tutorials, please let me know.
Most Microsoft games are coded with the XNA enviroment. Gow series etc. It isn't for beginners.. it opens the door to beginners. The only reason you don't see many 3D games etc. Is because the skillset required is a step up from 2D. It can be done, and done well. Plus it is easily portable to xbox 360 with a few changes of code and to windows 7 as a mini app. The fact that it is tied to windows only isnt so bad. DirectX is the way to go, that's why all the good games are on windows platforms.
capoeiranewbie 9 months ago
@capoeiranewbie
GoW based on Unreal Engine 3 (which writen completly using C++), but not XNA.
demiurghg 8 months ago
"portable code cannot be optimized" myth is a total bs, if you want cross platform, you go for opengl, and for every single target platform you optimize the base as the same, "render less, switch less" thats it.
utkua 1 year ago
xenol - it's true, if you want to be limited to the most common OS and most popular gaming machine, XNA is the way to go... if you couldn't tell by my sarcasm... I don't feel limited whatsoever. If you want visibility and ease of sharing your work - posting on Xbox Live is a dream. The fact that XNA is relatively easy yet very powerful and fast are bonuses (I guess to some the bonus is vice versa).
daarong3 2 years ago
I thought the Wii was the most popular console?
cyborgtroy 2 years ago
I'm talking about PS3 vs 360 because they're similar in purpose and ability. If you're going to include all video gaming machines then the Nintendo DS is the most popular
daarong3 2 years ago 3
@cyborgtroy HAHAHAHAHA that's hilarious
TheFXGuy 1 year ago
@TheFXGuy wii is for chumps
WONandDONE 1 year ago
Bottom buffers seems empty from here.
vtastek 2 years ago
@vtastek they sure do. The uniform velocity field makes sense, since everything is (almost) standing still. The uniform depth must be a result of the demo room being much, much smaller than the front/back distance.
InterTubeClogger 11 months ago
What's with the XNA bashing? XNA makes difficult things (like say, writing a deferred rendering system) very easy. It's a great way to learn and I'd recommend it to anyone that wants to get into rendering. It would take significantly longer to develop an equivalent system in C++ and there's just too many perks in XNA to pass it up.
0ChrisDickson0 2 years ago 2
The problem is is portability. There's a reason why people still use the C family, because almost every darned modern computer in the world has a compiler for it. It's like developing a language that's really easy to use, but only one kind of processor supports it.
So developing in XNA might be great if you're planning on making an Xbox game or a Window game (not sure if support is there), but if you want to extend your game on different platforms...
xenol 2 years ago
Right, but how many people learning graphics programming are going to be porting to multiple platforms? And the reality is that if you really want to optimize your code, it will NOT be portable. XNA is a great learning tool. The concepts are the same whether your programming for XNA, OpenGL, or DirectX. It's all the same basic ideas so why make it harder for yourself when you're learning?
0ChrisDickson0 2 years ago 8
I see your point, but you can make great playable games using XNA. Take for example Benjamin Nitschke games (exDream). I think that the answer to your question is: C# syntax is way more comfortable, simple and easier to learn than C++. Also, the XNA API is simpler than the raw DirectX 10 API. Besides, XNA runs over DirectX 9/10, so, at least in theory, there is no need to update your code to run on a newer DirectX release. But you are right: .NET will be always slower than native C++ binaries.
viniciusvbf22 1 year ago
@xenol
C# compiles into CLR, which is interpreted( or compiled by the JIT ) by the .Net runtime. C is generally compiled into objectcode, which varries on different processors.
This whole "XNA is used by starters" is crap. A lot of people are using it to port to the 360. The "OH BUT YOU CANT PORT UR ENGINE TO PS3" is irrelevent because we'd never acquire a developers license to the PS3. Plus, It really isn't that hard to port a C# engine to C++, just time consuming.
zachary6996 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Use OPENGL hifive MICROSHIT SUCKS!!!
darth0bush 2 years ago
Do you give me a source code? i made a deferred renderer in c++, but it's slow, and i want to see, how did you do it.
csisyfiu 2 years ago
to you g
kskid4life 3 years ago
Does this use tessellation or Displacement mapping?
podtech115 3 years ago
How Did you Create The Character
alston2reel 3 years ago
This is a doom3 model.
sonofaturdbucket 2 years ago
Hi. I'm thinking of making XNA games, hopefully making a little money, but I know absolutely NOTHING about C, C++, or C# coding. Can someone tell me what programs and applications I'll need to get a basic game running? I would like to know some things that let me do the building of characters and other content. If someone knows tutorials, please let me know.
thealbertwesker 3 years ago
Visual Studio 2008 Pro or at least C# edition (free), XNA 3 framework. Read the documentation. XNA is all in c#, an awesome language you should learn anyways
narfman0 3 years ago
Game programming is an area where you need to have a broad range of skills and an ability to learn fast. First you need to learn C++ or C#. I recommend C++ because it is slightly lower-level and will help you get a better understanding of what you're doing.
Get Visual C++ Express 2008, it's free. My favorite tutorial book for C++ is "C++ Primer Plus" by Stephen Prata.
Of course, you could also just start with C#. Just look for tutorials on Google. Visual C# express is also free. Good luck.
DrAsik100 3 years ago
i think the best thing to do is get a book on C++ or C# and go all the way through the examples, some books have sections where you have to complete the programs. once you get a basic understanding of a language its pretty easy to pick up another one. dont expect to make any money right away, you should do it for fun. :)
seepauliedie 3 years ago
id recomend darkbasic ,is really basic like qbasic and can get a simple matrix and a few objects on the go with just 4 lines of code witch are functions that take away the nightmare of setting up and call directx though to get advanced with it you will need to learn c or at least vb to create a world builder unless you can map it all in your head though theres apps out there if you cant be bothered to learn but will cost you so is worth making the effort but yeah darkbasic i had great results
TammyCore 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Learn C++ first, then don't use XNA.
Use OpenGL.
cyborgtroy 2 years ago
LOL he's asking how to use xna, telling him that he shouldn't use xna is not a good reply haha :D
geoffreyefloyd 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Hi. I'm thinking of making XNA games, hopefully making a little money, but I know absolutely NOTHING about C, C++, or C# coding. Can someone tell me what programs and applications I'll need to get a basic game running? I would like to know some things that let me do the building of characters and other content. If someone knows tutorials, please let me know.
Jaketheleopard 3 years ago