Making a program/game

[wasupwidat]

Hey guys just asking what is the easiest freeware program to use to make a program/game?

 

[DamianBis]

give up already

Proper programming isn't as easy as it seems. When you ask a question like that giving no information you obviously have no background in programming.

What was the program/game you wanted to make?

 

[wasupwidat]

I'm thinking of one similar to Footy Star. I doing programming at school at the moment and know a bit about it.

 

[Kerrby]

I'm guessing the programming you're doing is in Flash? Well if so you're going to be needing more knowledge than that.

Try GameMaker, it's free.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

I'm thinking of one similar to Footy Star. I doing programming at school at the moment and know a bit about it.

What are you learning to use at school?

I'm currently learning Java and it's not exactly easy. Would take a while to build the skills and knowledge neccessary to design a game.

 

[wasupwidat]

What are you learning to use at school?

I'm currently learning Java and it's not exactly easy. Would take a while to build the skills and knowledge neccessary to design a game.

We're using Visual Studio 2005

 

[DamianBis]

ahh VB6...

VB6 would be fine to make a game like Footy star. but it'll take you many many many hours. and it's not free

 

[melbournemartin]

ahh VB6...

VB6 would be fine to make a game like Footy star. but it'll take you many many many hours. and it's not free

I wouldn't recommend using VB 6 given that you can use Visual Studio 2005 (express editions are free). I used to use VB 6 and I found the jump to VB.Net 2003 to be a great help. Going to 2005 didn't change too many things. I haven't tried 2008 yet.

I knew the Footy Star guy and it was made with either VB 6 or VB.Net 2003. He admitedly didn't have a huge knowledge of programming tools and syntax but that's not the whole story. It's even more important to be able to problem solve and "think outside the square". You have to be thinking 10 moves ahead and 10 moves behind at all times. He managed to pump out a pretty simple yet fun and addictive game because of it.

Learning the syntax is the easy part.

I know it sounds boring and cliche but start simple. That doesn't mean you can't make fun programs though. I did programming in IT at school and 90% of it was boring data manipulation because it was all based around a business context.

Learn about random numbers as soon as you can because they are the basis of all video games. Maybe make a simple cricket game (not sure if you like cricket but it's static so it's much easier to program than dynamic sports like football) where you press a button to bowl a ball and the computer determines whether it's a shit, good or great ball. Then, let the computer determine whether it's a dot ball, single, two, three, four, six etc based on what type of ball it was. There doesn't have to be any animation. Heck, even these days a lot of management games don't have much animation.

Little things like that are how all good games start. Maybe expand to simulate a whole over and then add in things like player attributes weighting certain outcomes (more likely for Hussey to hit a boundary than Hilfenhaus).

Now, as for programs, get a copy of VB.Net Express Editions. They are free and offer all the features you'd need. The only obvious limitation is you can't make commercially distributed games with it but that shouldn't be a pressing issue right now. I use the 2005 edition but I think that's not supported anymore so go for 2008. There is a 2010 beta out too I think.

You can also try C# but I'd recommend VB first. The B stands for BASIC not just because it's a clever accronym. Stay away from C++, despite people saying it's "the only language". I haven't tried any Java but I can gather that it's about at a C# standard which is inbetween VB and C++ but closer to C++.

PM me if you want any more information.

 

[Ant_]

What are you learning to use at school?

I'm currently learning Java and it's not exactly easy. Would take a while to build the skills and knowledge neccessary to design a game.

Compared to C++ I learnt at uni its easy.

 

[wasupwidat]

I wanna make one where you click simulate todays play and it comes up with random names for each position

 

[do you know george?]

i love your username

 

[giantroo]

Ah, now their teaching programming at school!! Saves time learning vb at Uni.

 

[melbournemartin]

I wanna make one where you click simulate todays play and it comes up with random names for each position

Create an array of first names and an array of last names. Let's say you have 100 of each.

Do a loop through the 22 positions and for each one use Cint(rnd*101) which should produce a random number between 1 and 101 (Remember that Cint rounds down always to an integer value). Select a name from the first name array using the random number as the index and then, randomize it again and select one from the last name array.

I'm not sure what exactly you are looking for but there is a way of getting completely random players in each position. If you wanted to use actual AFL players and position them based on where they usually play then it's a harder issue.

 

[James_Hutchy]

If you just want to start with small games such as space invaders you can make those on game maker which is free, theres also web sites with tutorials on how to make different games.

 

[melbournemartin]

Gamemaker is okay for beginner arcade games but, in my opinion, there are more important programming techniques that you could be learning instead of fiddling around with Gamemaker's somewhat fiddly interface (this may have improved since I used it). Programs like this were often used to get unenthusiastic kids into programming but if you are really into it, it shouldn't be required.

I actually learnt using QBasic....look that baby up (not that there weren't newer alternatives available.....)