College!

I am also at highschool (2nd year) but what i suggest is learning C++ and then start learning an API, like OpenGL or DirectX. I think you will particulary need to learn OOP cause nearly every big project made today is OOP. As you learn 3D programming, you could learn like some 3D math.
I hope this helps...

Kirua*Gon

Deiten & Deitel: How to program c++

Have everything you need to know about c++... read that first.

Richter, Jeffrey.
Programming Applications for Microsoft Windows

old win32 book, but it covers alot of windows programming, wery recomended ideed.

After these 2 books, you can go straight to opengl or DX programming just from tutorials and artickels

like ... www.gamedev.net, www.flipcode.com etc...

..and if you are worrying about scool... I would rather take Computer Sience, w some hardcore application classes/course etc... avoid scools that are heavy into web and java in CS. c++ or c# is the future for gamedev

Because if the job market is though in gaming industry, then you might loose out on regular software dev jobs because you had to many silly game dev classes

...but you are in charge of the wind, not opposite...

My recomendation:

C++ AND C first (the reason I seperate these is because it''s important to know both not jsut one or the other, though C++ is easier and more robust C is faster, and when you get to the low level code that + assembly)

then learn assembly, inline C style.(the easiest of them but also the most complicated...)

if you want to make MMOGs recomendation is learn packet programming after getting the basics of C/C++ and ASM(start with streaming but remmeber that you can''t really make an MMOG withought UDP)

good books are the Gems books, and the Black and green books (thought AVOID the programming for teens book at all costs in my opinion it is a waste of time.)

If you''re making a game by yourself, I recomend using SDL(www.libsdl.org) and learning that once you have C/C++ down.

and make a friend with gamasutra/gamedev articles :-)

Yah the above is a long list, but hey if you wanna make games it''s well wroth it ;-)

~Alexei Andreyevitch Kozlenok

One thing to think about if you do start working at a larger or even smaller game company and want to work on a game on the side. A lot of them may have non-disclosure or non-compete forms you have to fill out. Which basically means any technology or game code you write will be theirs, whether it’s written on their time or not.

As far as what to take in school, I would recommend a strong background in math (including math theory). I would just pick a language that you have heard of C++, C, Java, etc. and that has a strong following at the school you are planning on attending. A lot of the code floating around the internet is in C++, however if you are going to be doing games for mobile devices java may be a better path. You have to think of a coding language like a tool like word or excel. Even now Microsoft would love to migrate everyone to the .net framework with C# and vb.net. I do not think C++ is going anywhere anytime soon but at the same time there is always a new technology being worked on. Also if you have some hours to fill up look for a marketing class or public speaking class, when you get out in the workforce that is exactly what you are going to be doing. Trying to sell yourself.

As far as old technology, an example that might amaze a few of our younger readers is Cobol. People have been saying its dead for a long time but if you pickup a newspaper in a major city, chances are you will find job posting looking for individuals with that experience or something similar to support legacy code that the companies do not want to upgrade or cant afford to upgrade.


Just something to think about

the deitel books are good, one of them (c or c++ can''t remeber) was bundled with a book called the C programing language by kernighan and ritchie. this bundle was like an extra 16 or 20 dollars, but the book is VERY small (easy to carry) while having LOTS of refrence info, as well as some screwy depth that most porgraming doesn''t cover. so umm if you see them together get it. i don''t think the book on its own is useful if you need to learn stuff. just on the note of college: you might want to get some headstart on non programing stuff so it doesn''t bog you down the first year . . . heh heh calculus is fun!

I just wanna get this done.

quote:

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Original post by Noyru
I was just wondering what is used for programming games (specifically MMORPGs) as far as programming languages. I''m a tad confused on what to take in college (I''m only a sophomore in highschool now but im starting my planning). My goal is to work for a gaming company, ie: Mythic Entertainment, Blizzard (doesn''t have to be so big just giving examples.), while at the same time being able to in my freetime make a simple 2d MMORPG from my home (Just something i''ve always wanted to do).I understand that this career is a competitive one and want to be fully prepared for it. Also what do you think i should do to prep for college (while in highschool)? Right now im going through "C++ for Dummies" but i saw this book in the bookstore the other day called "Game Progamming in C++" (go figure) and it seems just like "C++ for Dummies" but more gaming oriented so i think i might get that one.

Thank you!

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Most games are written in C++, so that''s a good place to start. You''re going to need a much deeper knowledge than you can get from "C++ for Dummies" - after all, you''re aspiring to be a game developer (not a dummy). You''re also going to need a lot of math (physics couldn''t hurt, either), and experience with graphics APIs. If you''re looking to get a job making games, rather than simply the tools for making them, you''d want to learn both Direct X AND OpenGL, since you don''t know which a potential employer might be looking for (and you probably won''t have a choice about which you''ll be using).

The nice thing about programming is that it''s relatively easy to teach yourself. The downside (well, depends on your perspective really) is the sheer volume of programming techniques to be learned. That means you can, and should, start as early as possible. Good luck!

if you dont know what language to use, your planning a bit far ahead....

Just make sure you take all the core computer science courses, as well as as many math and physics courses as you can. From my univ. the courses I would recommend for an aspiring game developer are:

Data Structures
Analysis of Algorithms (1 and 2)
Object Oriented Programming
Intro AI
Advanced AI
Machine Learning
Expert Systems
Graphics (1 and 2)
Software Engineering (1 and 2)
UI Design (1 and 2)
Scientific Computing (Includes stuff on Computational Geometry)
Automata Theory
Networking

Add to that as many physics and math courses as you are allowed to take, and it should give you a good foundation for developing games.

I just started college, and took tons of computer science courses in high school, but always learned the material before actually taking the class (because Im a nerd). Honestly, c++ is the way to go and will be for a long long time as far as games are concerned.

There is one thing you may want to look into however. Lots of colleges think that java is going to replace c++ and have discontinued teaching c++. I go to virginia tech and am in the last year of their c++ courses. Next year its ALL java. So my suggestion is to look at the possible colleges you may be going to and see what their curriculum offers.