2D Games in C++

ID:276545
 
Nov 18 2005, 5:53 pm
From what ive heard you are able to create 2D games using C++. Though what I have learnt from it it only really works in the compiler and only does text. Does anyone know of any recouses which would help me?
Nov 18 2005, 7:41 pm
Yes you can make 2D games in C++. And it doesnt only work in the compiler.
Nov 20 2005, 5:10 am
You can make text games and both 2D and 3D graphical games. If something can be done using a computer, it can be made in C++.

If you understand the C++ syntax well enough, you can broaden your abilities by looking into various APIs. The Windows API has a lot of functions that you will find useful for many things, and if you are serious about the graphic development you can try to learn to use the OpenGL API as well.

The site I like to go to for browsing around Windows API functions is allapi.net, as it has a straightforward list of all the functions and explains briefly what each function does. The examples are all for Visual Basic, so you should not take the code snippets as is, but you can still get a lot out of it. If you then want to read more in-depth on a particular function and see C++ code you can look it up at msdn.com.

If you want to be able to use Windows API functions in C++, all you have to do is include the windows header file.
#include <windows.h>


A good place to start looking in the Windows API functions for 2D graphic games is at the BitBlt function.
Nov 20 2005, 7:39 am
In response to Loduwijk
hmm, not sure if BitBlt is the easiest first place to start. I would have to say OpenGL or DirectX would be easier as they jump straight to graphics and manipulating graphics. Both OpenGL and DirectX (9+) are pretty simple and powerful. The DirectX SDK has plenty of tutorials/documentation to help you get started. Here are some sites to help you as well:

http://www.drunkenhyena.com/ (DirectX)
http://nehe.gamedev.net/ (OpenGL)

From personal experience, I have tried all graphical API's (BitBlt, OpenGL and DirectX). BitBlt won't get you very far (unless you want to torture yourself), and OpenGL and DirecX are great but you have to find which API you're most comfortable with. Most beginners find OpenGL easier before they switch to DirectX. I personally find DirectX more organized and better. Neither API's (OpenGL and DirectX) are faster then each other, but both are faster then just using BitBlt.
Nov 20 2005, 1:42 pm
In response to Goten84
Another advantage of OpenGL: It's cross-platform, especially if you use a library like SDL to interface with it. (You do have to modify the source code slightly between operating systems if you just use straight OpenGL, I believe.)