MSVC++ windows programming?

There are two ways to code for the Win32 platform: plain SDK code and MFC. MFC is a C++ wrapper library that allows you easily to create full-blown apps like iE or MS Word. But it''s a bit useless for gamedev in my opinion. It mainly simplifies complex user interface design and common application tasks like printig, saving or clipboard stuff. I suggest that you learn MFC at a later point of your programmig career ;-) If you decide to do so, pick up Jeff Prosise''s book "Programming WIndows with MFC", it rox !

But for now, I would suggest you to learn the plain SDK style as used f.e. in NeHe''s tutorials. Without any doubt, the best book on the planet to get into it is "Charles Patzold''s Programming Widows 5th Edition". This book is a 1450p monster, but it goes unto very great detail to get you started with Win32. Sounds idiotic to read a 1.5K pages book just to "get started" with something, but that''s life ;-) This book simply rox ! It shows you all the basics, after that you should be ready to step into MSDN and teach yourself stuff like WinSock or the Shell lib''s...

Wow.. thanks for the info. I''ll be sure to check it out.

LaMonthe's 'Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus' will tell you everything you *need* to know to make a 2D DirectX 5 game. (It will not tell you everything you want to know :p)) DirectDraw 7 is not a whole lot different than directdraw5. Of course Dx8 is out now and its different enough that the stuff about dx5 doesn't entirely apply any more...

rumor is a volume 2 of that book is due out covering d3d & dx8.

AFAIK, the Petztold book covers all of the Win32 API, and is *the* Win32 reference. But it won't help you create a game any more than those C books will...

Edited by - Magmai Kai Holmlor on November 29, 2000 9:31:57 PM