🔒 Locked

API alternatives for 2D game programming

Started by Ivyn Apr 28, 2003 at 8:37 PM 10 replies 750+ views

Original Post

Apr 28, 2003 at 8:37 PM

I''m working on some 2D games and I was wondering there are any other APIs out there besides DirectDraw. Two reasons I have for not wanting to use DirectDraw are... 1. It requires the user to have DirectX, since we target casual and computer illiterate users I don''t want to force them to download a huge DirectX 8/9 when I won''t even be using most of those features. (Yes I know Win2k and XP come with DirectX) 2. Microsoft has made DirectDraw obsolete.

It can be independant or whatever, just there has to be some other API out there suited for 2D games.

Sneftel

Apr 28, 2003 at 8:41 PM

Microsoft has NOT made DirectDraw obsolete. What made you think that?

Anyways, if for some reason you don''t want to use it, try SDL. I''m pretty sure it uses DirectDraw on the back end.

How appropriate. You fight like a cow.

Ivyn

Apr 28, 2003 at 8:46 PM

SDL still uses DirectDraw. I want a custom API that I can release with my applications. If something of the such exists.

tj963

Apr 28, 2003 at 8:50 PM

When you release your application, you can include the DirectX runtime libraries which the user can install on their computer. Basically, any API you use has either OpenGL or DirectX at it''s core.

tj963

programering

Apr 29, 2003 at 3:39 AM

other sdl libraries

Anton Karlsson
Klingis Entertainment
Games with silly humor

Prefect

Apr 29, 2003 at 8:44 AM

Yes, you can use OpenGL for 2D rendering. In fact, it''s probably the best route if you want to use some "advanced" stuff like alpha blending excessively.

cu,
Prefect

drslush

Apr 29, 2003 at 9:31 AM

Allegro is a great, very easy to use library. And I wouldn''t call it bloated, since you aren''t forced to link everything. Just compile it without the added options.

And actually DirectDraw is somewhat obslolete, since there is no directdraw interface for version 9.0. In order to get a directdraw objet, you have to use a lower version, which is available in every higher version since it is COM.

quack

Apr 29, 2003 at 10:40 AM

GDI, it can be sped up for resonable stuff.(Iike just drawing to bitmap memory directly yourself. Also you should prob get the users to download DX if you absolutely need the speed. it's starting to be like having shockwaveflash or something.

[edited by - quack on April 29, 2003 11:41:16 AM]

wizard341

Apr 29, 2003 at 2:39 PM

I would use open gl exclusivly, all you have to do is specify you want to draw in 2DOrthogonal mode, and then you start drawing what you want. 1 pixel corresponds to 1 xy point, so it makes collision detection that much easier.

But you could cheat and use one of those game devlopment libraries.. but how fun is that? Build your own!

Topic Locked

This topic has been locked by a moderator. New replies are not allowed.