DX

I''d say learn enough C++ first. You don''t want to overwhelm yourself. If you''re starting both at the same time you''ll never quite be sure if it''s your C++ or your DirectX knowledge that''s faulty when you run into something not working.

After that, if you want to do 2D graphics, use DirectX 7. If you''re doing 3D graphics use DirectX 9. D3D9 is pretty much the same as D3D8, with some features added, and some features moved around. Direct3D before version 8 is supposed to be very different. A major overhaul was done between 7 and 8. Having never worked with 3D in 7 I can''t really comment on how different it is, but it''s something I''ve heard many times over.

DX8 and 9 don''t have very clear 2D support. You can do 2D, but it''s not clear how, to the novice programmer. It''s something Microsoft says they will address in the future, likely sometime around Longhorn''s release (2005) as it will be using a mix of 2D and 3D for the desktop.

And finally, since you''re just starting out, I''d recommend getting your head around games in 2D before trying 3D. It''s 10 times the work to do 3D, and not something you should jump into as a first programming endeavour.

Anyway, if "Tricks" is DX6 and C, I''d say stay away from it. The choices should be

1) the GameInstitute route, or
2) C++ book and a more recent DirectX/D3D book, DirectX samples and tutorials, and on the web tutorials. I can''t suggest a good and recent DX/D3D book, I learned from DX5 from an old book, then learned DX8 with just the SDK, samples, and experience.

Sorry my mistake in the previous post ... it''s DX 7, the book is mostly using C thought but do a little of C++ here and there ... (all the book is 2d, except some stuff on the cd)

So ? why 2d first ?

please take a look 2 secs on the contents of theses courses (to be taken in that order) :

1) Introduction to C and C++ Programming : https://www.gameinstitute.com/gi/courses/coursedescription.asp?courseID=2

2) Game Mathematics : https://www.gameinstitute.com/gi/courses/coursedescription.asp?courseID=1

3) 3D Game Programming with Direct3D : https://www.gameinstitute.com/gi/courses/coursedescription.asp?courseID=5

Thanks a lots =)

The C++ course scares me. It''s C++ AND Direct3D AND DirectSound. Either they''re assuming you already know some programming, and can skip the basics, or it''s going to be a very brief skim over C/C++.

The game courses seem okay. Though what the actual content is, I can''t say, but the overview covers plenty of important topics.

I say 2D first because, as I said, it''s 10 times (or more) easier than 3D. If you can''t make tetris, a good shoot-em up, or some other 2D game, then you have no chance of making a 3D game.

It also seperates the learning of 3D from the learning of programming games. Managing states of dozens or hundreds of objects, updating, drawing, handling collision, and other chores are things you''ll have to think out. Learning how to deal with these in a much simpler 2D application should make life easier. When you''ve botched your design (as you will, several times, as a beginner), it''s much less work to redesign a 2D game engine than a 3D one.

Writing games seems easier than it is, and I''m just advising that you don''t bite off more than you can chew at once. Learn C++ first, learn 2D game programming second, and then learn 3D.