allegro@sunpix.UUCP ( SunVis) (07/19/89)
As I've posted before I'm a novice programmer and I'm writing a game
using smooth scrolling maps, ect...
Ok, I feel I'm pretty good at designing games (i.e. I'm an idea man)
but I have a lot of problems expressing my ideas into good, clean, code
(i.e. my algorithms suck!) and I was wondering if there are any books, mags,
or newsletters on game design/programming techniques, specifically: smooth
scrolling (already got some help on this one, thanks), fractal map
generation, and especially computer opponent algorithms?
I have been programming for several years but due to a lack of formal
training (in fact not even informal training) I feel pretty unknowledgeable
about proper techniques ( no self confidence I guess :^). I've thought
about getting a partner with more "coder-dog" skills to help with my "real"
game, but I wanna do all by myself :^).
BTW is putting some of my earlier games in the P.D. a good way to get
recognition by software companies for my "real" game, or do they even
look at that? Also can someone actually make some money selling games
to software houses or should I just be in it for the fun:^).
--
uucp: mcnc!rti!sunpix!steve or mcnc!rti!sunpix!allegro | Stephen McKay Matson
"FRODO LIVES!!" |
Dreams of Colorado keep me going another day. I'll come back to you someday.inb@creare.creare.UUCP (Ian Brown) (07/20/89)
In article <690@greens.UUCP> allegro@sunpix.UUCP ( SunVis) writes:
I've thought
about getting a partner with more "coder-dog" skills to help with my "real"
game, but I wanna do all by myself :^).
Something I've found (as a person who basically learned programming from
writing games); it is often very helpful to have another person involved
in working on the game. There are a couple of reasons for this: 1) the
other person will often think of things in a different way than you do,
and can help find solutions to problems that have you stumped, 2)
another person helping you will often keep you motivated to continue
working on the program.
Finding someone who has complimentary skills is also good in that you
can share tasks and accomplish more. I've always had problems finishing
things because I had trouble figuring out how to do something or from
losing interest in the game. If I'd had someone else to work with, I
think it would have been very helpful.
--
===============================================================================
Ian Brown
..!dartvax!creare!inballegro@sunpix.UUCP ( SunVis) (07/21/89)
Out of several responses I received, Two warned me about SW companies stealingprograms. Is this common? Realizing you can only copyright code and not ideas how can one get their package reviewed w/o a SW company taking the best of
the ideas from the program and coming out with basically the same thing?
Also based on what a few of you said I'm getting turned off of writing
anything for commercial purposes anyway.
note to those who sent me flames:
Just because I want to write a game for the ST does not mean I (or the world)
do not take my system seriously. Games are a fact of life. all computers,
cultures and even most animals have games. And besides the way I look at it
a good computer will produce a good game (some of the games on a Sun are
pretty hot!!!). Its not the fact that games out number productivity packages
for the ST that give it the "game machine" label its Atari's history as
a game console maker and the lack of vision from the top that gives it the
label. So come on folks lighten up on me willya?
--
uucp: mcnc!rti!sunpix!steve or mcnc!rti!sunpix!allegro | Stephen McKay Matson
"FRODO LIVES!!" |
Dreams of Colorado keep me going another day. I'll come back to you someday.cdixon@eagle.wesleyan.edu (10/05/89)
Thanx to all the people who responded to my question (help me pleeeze...). On a different note... Are there any ST game programmers out there? Ive been writing games for a while now, mostly in 68000 code and some in M Williams C. If anyone is interested in discussing technical topics realted to ST game prgramming drop me a line. Ive written some really efficient routines in machine code to handle sprites and do fast parallax scrolling that id be willing to share with anyone since I know how much of a bitch they can be to write. Im also looking for anyone how can draw video-game type objects on the ST to use in a game. xxx Chris Dixon