Dark Basic....

You're giving up some flexability and power, but most important of all (atleast to me) respect.

As sad as it is, no one is going to take you seriously for being able to make a game in DarkBasic. It certainly won't be a skill thats going to get you a job in the industry. Now, if you know an API (DirectX / OpenGL) and C++ and your DEMO is DarkBasic, that shouldn't really be a problem.

Just don't expect a job with only DarkBasic skills.

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Original post by TheNerdTk421 Hello, I have learned C++, WIN32 API, Hello, I havent posted in a WHILe, like in a few years.. wow....some DX, OpenGL, COBOL, FORTRAN, and tuns of other langs but, i was wondering about DarkBASIC... I downloaded the demo version and pretty much have the basics down... I was thinking about buying it becuase it was ALOT easier than C++, but is it worth the $40?? I hope I can get an answer... Thank you

Sorry if English is not your first language, but if it is, dear God please learn some basic writing skills! People will take you a lot more seriously (and be more willing to help you) if you have good communication skills.

That out of the way, DarkBasic is fine depending on what you want to do. If you want to make small 2D or 3D freeware/shareware games, nothing wrong with it. If you aren't looking for a professional job programming, you just want to focus on game design and/or content creation, there's nothing wrong with it. If you want to be a programmer, it will not help you. You'll have to learn some honest-to-God programming skills to be an effective professional programmer, and DarkBasic will not aid you there.

If you don't want to be a programmer (you want to be a designer or artist), DarkBasic might be a good option. You could also buy an existing game and mod it, if that interests you. An existing professional game will likely have much more capabilities and more solid tools than you could find in DarkBasic, but developers tend to not let you sell mods made ontop of their games (if you eventually want to go commercial with your creations).

It really depends on what you want to do, and what kind of games you want to make. If you want to make simple unintensive games, DarkBASIC would probably be worth it. If you plan on a complex RPG or FPS, DarkBASIC probably wouldn't be the best choice.

DarkBASIC is good for rapid prototyping and simple games.

I am so sorry about that post... I was in the process of posting somewhere else and got my windows mixed up... I do have other skills besides BASIC, I dont understand why a BASIC programmer would get less respect, It might only be a scripting language but it does have power, With DarkBASIC I have already had it connect to multiple computers and run a hearts game with dialog, i have made a simple 20 minute RPG w/ zelda 3ish graphics, It is a little less powerful than C++, but still a powerful language. If easy works, why not go with easy?

People aren't really trying to discourage DarkBasic. It can be a lot of fun to use, and it gets the job done quickly and easily. If that's what's right for you right now, then there's nothing wrong with it. You should just realize that inevitably you'll have to switch to something else. You may say that DarkBasic's good enough to be taken seriously, but in reality, someone who's considering hiring you won't take it seriously. There's no avoiding the fact that there are more powerful languages, and the truth is that professionals like to see c++ experience or API experience more than BASIC.

So use it if you think it's helping you, just don't think you can build a career from it.

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Original post by GroZZleR You're giving up some flexability and power, but most important of all (atleast to me) respect. As sad as it is, no one is going to take you seriously for being able to make a game in DarkBasic. It certainly won't be a skill thats going to get you a job in the industry. Now, if you know an API (DirectX / OpenGL) and C++ and your DEMO is DarkBasic, that shouldn't really be a problem. Just don't expect a job with only DarkBasic skills.

i think we all forget that making a game is not a contest of the ego. if he is able to create a game that works well, plays well, and looks good and it's in DB then why knock him for it???

Because it's not made in the (oh so holy) C language?! I think that's ridiculous. A programmer is a programmer, if DB is his tool to make games (bad, decent, great or otherwise) then we should judge him on the creation and execution of his game; not the language he programmed it in. should someone show you no respect if they build an entire game in pure ASM??

this language thing is almost as bad as racism ....

Thank you, All I asked is was it worth the $40 price tag, I never asked if it was the "Best" language, I know C++ and WIN32 API, Some DX and OGL, I know OTHER tools, im not just a 1 trick programmer

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Original post by Alpha_ProgDes Quote: Original post by GroZZleR You're giving up some flexability and power, but most important of all (atleast to me) respect. As sad as it is, no one is going to take you seriously for being able to make a game in DarkBasic. It certainly won't be a skill thats going to get you a job in the industry. Now, if you know an API (DirectX / OpenGL) and C++ and your DEMO is DarkBasic, that shouldn't really be a problem. Just don't expect a job with only DarkBasic skills. i think we all forget that making a game is not a contest of the ego. if he is able to create a game that works well, plays well, and looks good and it's in DB then why knock him for it??? Because it's not made in the (oh so holy) C language?! I think that's ridiculous. A programmer is a programmer, if DB is his tool to make games (bad, decent, great or otherwise) then we should judge him on the creation and execution of his game; not the language he programmed it in. should someone show you no respect if they build an entire game in pure ASM?? this language thing is almost as bad as racism ....

I think you misread my post. I said that the odds of you getting a job with skills in only DarkBasic are slim to none. I said that a knowledge of an API and C/C++ is going to get you a job faster than DarkBasic will. I also stated that a demo in DarkBasic, to show off your game logic skills, is fine.

A programmer adapts and uses whats most suited for the job. Its no different then VB. Everyone bashes VB, because it doesn't make great games. VB isn't meant for great games.

No, DarkBasic doesn't command much respect, no different then using a 3D engine is going to gain you respect for your game engine. When all the "hard work" is done for you, its not going to put you in a position where people are going to respect the hard work you've done to get where you are -- because you haven't done any.

System.Graphics.Load3DModelAndAnimateIt();

Not a very respect demanding thing ;)

So I apologize if I offended you, but I do believe you misunderstood me.

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Original post by Alpha_ProgDes this language thing is almost as bad as racism ....

Racism is bad because it is negative prejudice based upon something that cannot be changed.

I can't change from being black to being asian or from asian to being white. You can always learn different programming languages and that is something comendable about TheNerdTk421.

If you demonstrate game making skills using darkBASIC then you will be judged as a game designer rather than a programmer. This is, as GroZZleR says because a lot of the hard work is done for you and your job is piecing things together in a fun way.

So it may win you respect as a designer but not as a programmer.

Python would be a good in between decision as it is a language that is good for beginners and advanced users alike and garners a lot of respect from programmers. Used with PyGame you could do some nice things. And its all free.

Pete

I highly suggest the Professional version of DarkBasic because:
1. a REAL interface, not some stupid retard-mode 10 year old one
2. supports sooo much more (look on their website, too much stuff to list)