Which low-cost prog.lang. to use to create complex 2d manager games? (amateur)

The VB.Net Express Edition sounds like it would be a good fit for you if you're already familiar with VB 6.0. The language is a little different, but the syntax is quite similar so you shouldn't have too much trouble picking it up.

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Original post by markymarky I could not license that games or even to sell them.

Since when could VB applications not be sold or distributed? I know that back in the day under Windows (3.1? 95?) there was a ton of commercial and free applications, unmistakeably identified with vbrunXY.dll. There were so many that vbrun became part of OS.

Or maybe my memory is fuzzy, but I cannot remember distribution restrictions on this type of development.

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Original post by Antheus Quote: Original post by markymarky I could not license that games or even to sell them. Since when could VB applications not be sold or distributed? I know that back in the day under Windows (3.1? 95?) there was a ton of commercial and free applications, unmistakeably identified with vbrunXY.dll. There were so many that vbrun became part of OS. Or maybe my memory is fuzzy, but I cannot remember distribution restrictions on this type of development.

Yeah... that doesn't jive with my memory either. You've been able to sell anything you make with microsoft's IDEs since forever and that's just as true with their current software as with their old software. There are also plenty of free compilers that can compile your code that also have zero restrictions.

The current Visual Basic tool is certainly free. as Oberon pointed out.

Are you sure you weren't maybe using some game making tool? I know that the UDK has restrictions, for instance.

-me

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Original post by Oberon_Command The VB.Net Express Edition sounds like it would be a good fit for you if you're already familiar with VB 6.0. The language is a little different, but the syntax is quite similar so you shouldn't have too much trouble picking it up.

If you're really set on VB syntax, then VB.Net might be a good choice, however there are significant differences from VB Classic (6.0 and before) syntax. Some of them are subtle enough that you'll either a) have no problem adapting, or b) keep making useless mistakes because you're in a "VB Classic" mindset.

It might be just as easy to make the leap to C# -- granted the syntax may be more different, but at least that will serve as a constant reminder that it is, indeed, a different programming language (just as VB.Net *is* a different language than VB Classic). VB.Net is a second-class citizen at best in Microsoft's programming family, so switching to it would offer other advantages, such as first-class support for XNA as well as the fact that it exposes more of the .Net CLR. As a language I find it more consistent than VB.Net as well.

Microsoft offers their Express Editions of both VB.Net and C# (as well as C++ and a web developer package) for free. You can even sell the software -- there are no additional licence restrictions to these free versions, just a less feature-rich IDE to write your code in (though still incredibly capable). The missing features are pretty much limited to stuff which applies only to development in a team environment, development for more esoteric platforms, and very advanced optimizations, such as the profiling optimizer for C++.

Thanks for replays.

I wan't troubles with Bill Gates ;)

Yes, it is illegal to sell products of VB 6.0 if you didn't buy MS Visual Studio.

I like idea of VB Express but does it have some limitations??? for example: number of code lines, using some data base, distribution of products made in VB Express?
Because i want everything to be legal and to look nice.

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Original post by markymarky does it have some limitations???

No restrictions or limitations. There are just a couple of features missing from the IDE itself (not language features) but they're extremely unlikely to be things that would affect you. You also have to ship with the redistributable package but that's trivially wrapped into your installer.

-me

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Original post by markymarky Thanks for replays. I wan't troubles with Bill Gates ;) Yes, it is illegal to sell products of VB 6.0 if you didn't buy MS Visual Studio.

Have you got a link to a reliable source which states this?

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Original post by GesterX Have you got a link to a reliable source which states this?

FAQ

edit: Oops, I for some reason thought GesterX was asking for a completely different thing. Still a useful FAQ.

I don't know if its directly illegal to sell the software you built with their software without a license. But if you don't have a license and you sell the software you make with it anyway it makes it pretty easy for Microsoft to argue to a court that you violated their copyright.

So what's the state on C# site? I'm developing a small application that uses the web API of a specific site [not mine], but it's free to use. The GUI is handled in WPF, and the data layers consist of the web API and C#. Under which circumstances am I allowed to sell my product? What if I develop a Setup using the Setup project from VisualStudio and supply my users with it?

Since I'm one of those who love their money and totally support projects like the Humble Indie Bundle ["pay what you want"], I plan to make it free, but provide a link for donations. This should be totally acceptable, right?

I own the Visual Studio 2010 Prof. through the MSDNAA. What about this?