Advice Please?

Not to be rude, but theres a link up above: For Beginners.

I suggest you read that first. And then if you have any questions go ahead and post them in the beginners forum. Those usually get answered very quickly by many people.

I believe they have a "search" field

Quote:

Original post by Mr Jesus Hey everyone, I'm 15 years old and I'm new to these forums. I wish to someday become a game developer, but I realize that the most realistic way to reach this goal is to first become a programmer. Granted I know nothing about computers what so ever (I'm the classic newb, I truly don't know anything about computers), so I was wondering if someone would be so kind as to give me some references to some introduction to computers (like what a gigabyte is an shit) sites, and some beginner programming sites that I could work up to later. Any help would be greatly appreciated! -Andy Short P.S. Oh, and if someone would take me under there wing and teach me all they know that would be awesome. Somehow I find it easier to learn things from actual people other than computer tutorials.

Welcome to gamedev.

Firstly, I'd like to comment that I have no idea when I started learning about computers. It's all just meshed together in my mind and I really don't know when I started. Based on that, I have no idea where to start with a noob. So, just follow along and soak everything in. Nobody knows everything, especially here. [smile]

Bookmark this article from Geoff Howland. That's what really got me started. Really, just do well in school, and you'll be fine. At your age, that's all there is.

Thanx for the info ben. Keep it commin guys

You don't really need to learn to program. All you need to do is come to the GDnet lounge and post a lot. Eventually that will make you a game developer.

You don't need to know a lot about computers to start programming. I started programming just because I read a programming book and I just happen to have the program (BASICA), I had no clue about computers at all.

Quote:

Original post by Gameplayer You don't really need to learn to program. All you need to do is come to the GDnet lounge and post a lot. Eventually that will make you a game developer.

Methinks you found the lounge to soon.

Yes, it would be wise to concentrate on learning how to program first. I would start with something like C++.

Quote:

Original post by Caldus Yes, it would be wise to concentrate on learning how to program first. I would start with something like C++.

I did, but without going into too much detail (because we all love a good debate [rolleyes]), I think there are better options.

Andy, do you want to learn how to program?

It's not really something I think I will have a passion for, but I understand that it's probably necessary in order to become a Game Designer, why would you suggest another way?

-Andy

[Edited by - Mr Jesus on February 17, 2005 9:19:33 PM]

I would advise caution. You say you know nothing of computers or programming, and you probably won't be passionate about it. I see that as a big warning sign that it probably isn't right for you.

I actually did pretty much the same thing when I was your age. I wanted to make games, so I learned how to program. The thing is, I was pretty good at it; it came to me pretty easily. But I didn't enjoy it at all, but I wouldn't let myself think that. I kept saying that I wanted to make games so I had to be a programmer. I would try and start projects, but they never went anywhere because I couldn't focus on programming for more than a few hours every week. It took me until halfway through a CS major at college to realize that it just isn't for me. Now I'm 24 and basically starting over, hoping to get past the audition for the music education program.

Go ahead and pursue your interest in game development, but keep your interests open and don't limit your thinking to this one thing. There are other roads to game design, like writing, art or music. You may even find passion in something completely different like I did. Don't end up like me, hoping to have a Bachelor's degree by the time you're 30.

I can definitely second Naaga's post. I've always wanted to make games. They sound like the ultimate creative outlet - graphics, sound, story. All rolled up into one. It would be cool to have zillions of people playing with your creation and loving it, and perhaps become the next John Carmack or Shigeru Miyamoto.

But it's probably not going to happen if you don't *love* programming. I'm very computer literate, and I've worked hard to teach myself programming in C++ and work with GDI, SDK, DirectX, OpenGL -- anything that would let me put a dot on the screen. I've been doing it for years. I still haven't gotten anywhere because I hate it. I haven't touched a cpp document in months. I think I've finally had it. Somewhere in the middle of writing a sprite class, I just got tired of it.

I might pick it up again. But I'm lucky enough to realize at this stage that do not want to do this 8 hours a day (as if 8 hours per day was even a realistic number!). Perhaps someday I will work on some indie projects -- just some 2D RPGs or something. That would be fun to finish. But the process is going to bore my ass off.