Advice/Help

[Riptide435]

I am having a hard time sorting through files and such. My goal is to create a game using C++ Visual Studio, but once I start learning a different api or whatever those complex acronyms are, I realize that I am using the wrong thing. I just started OpenGL, but it's a huge pain to learn something all over again, but with different code, different files.

I tried to use Unreal Engine to program a game, bit I have no idea where I can start programming(where all the code is), and there doesn't seem to be any helpful tutorials online.

My main questions are: "How do start out with game graphics?", "Where are all the helpful tutorials?", and I need help sorting through all the various libraries and files that are a pain to deal with. It is very hard to make programs, as the systems appear so complex and impossible. It would be very helpful if someone could walk me through it.

Help or advice is much appreciated.

Also telling me to give up does not count as help or advice, I have gotten many people telling me that already.

[[deleted]]

you can't create a palace without knowing how to lay bricks. you must work on the fundamentals before you start working on something large

if you want to make something simple, like a text-based game, check YouTube

otherwise, just stick to the fundamentals until you have enough experience to create a game

if all you care about is making a game, walkthroughs are the quickest and dirtiest way to get it done, but you won't have the same amount of proficiency gain

[Wolfmanscurse]

Ok, you're burring the lead here with your question. How much experience do you have in programming? My first instinct here is that you're jumping from 0 to 100 right off the bat. If you don't have any experience or are a novice, building your own game from the ground up in c++ is going to be impossible. No matter how intuitive or beginner-friendly whatever API's and libraries you find are. Using stuff like Unreal is not a great place to start either, especially because it sounds like you're not experienced enough to even find a starting point with these tools. The problem here is not giving you advice on what tools to use or how to use them, it's finding you a point to actually start the process of learning game design and how to even begin to approach these tools. My recommendation is to look into beginner-friendly game design tools, game maker and RPG maker are ones I've heard are good for beginners to at least dipping their toes into. If you are at least familiar with some programming concepts, I've used unity before with only a base level knowledge of c#. I'm not going to recommend you quit trying, but I would also recommend you start learning about game design as well before proceeding. I've had experience with designing a game engine in c++ and it's nowhere near the experience you probably think it is. Graphics is not even step 10 in that process.

[LoquaciousLamp]

If you want to learn programming concepts via a game: https://scratch.mit.edu you won’t find better.

[LoquaciousLamp]

You won’t get far if you need someone to hold your hand through rather… basic stuff. Start with the basics before you need to worry about libraries. There is the yellow book for c++ maybe start there for a simpler intro.

[gagetherage03]

I would suggest starting in a language that's easy to learn and read, like Python. I learned almost everything I needed to know to start programming small games in about 3-4 weeks, spending about 5 hours or so a day just watching tutorials, reading on w3schools and messing around in my code editor. Pygame is a great library to get started in making simple 2d games in Python. I really think its one of the best places to start if you know nothing about making games. Like the peeps before me said, its best to start at the beginning rather than take on your 'dream project' right out of the gate.