Re: newbie here

[Steve Baker <sjbaker1@airmail.net>]

> Paul Berg wrote:


> (language choice,

Most games are written in C or C++.  I recommend C++ because several of the
more interesting game support libraries are written in C++.

> essential parts of linux to learn..

Depends on what kinds of game you want to write.  If it's 3D games, then
learning OpenGL and one of the many support libs (SDL, GLUT, etc) would be
essential.  Perhaps look at something like my own PLIB library suite (URL below).

If you are more interested in 2D games, then if you are a sucker for punishment
but like to learn from the ground up, you should learn raw X windows 2D operations.
More likely, look at a 2D graphics layer on top of that.  In *my* opinion, you
should consider writing 2D games in OpenGL also - that one API will work well
for 2D and 3D on Linux, Windoze, OS-X and just about any other OS you can think
of.

Eventually, you'll need to learn a sound API - and stuff to read keyboard,
mouse and perhaps joystick.  Your choice for those things may well depend
more on what game support libs you choose for graphics.

> stable kernal

Well, the changes from one kernel to the next are getting more and more obscure
from a game developer's point of view.  Just about any 2.2.x or 2.4.x kernel
will work OK.  Steer clear of 2.3.x and 2.5.x because these are the
unstable/experimental kernels.

> and x to start with...

Once again, any 4.x.x Xfree86 should be OK.  I'd pick a recent one.

> etc, etc, etc)

Yes - that too!

Look at www.happypenguin.org to see what games are out there.  That way
you can avoid writing something that's been done-to-death (there are now
nearly 60 versions/variations on the Tetris theme for example!)...but you
can also see how some of the better games are put together.  Remember, most
Linux games come with complete source code that you are welcome to copy
providing your game is also going to be OpenSourced.

If you are planning on enlisting help to build your game, you might want to
create a SourceForge project for it (www.sf.net) - they'll give you free
web space, easily administered version control, mailing lists, bug trackers,
etc.

> I'm known to be a fast learner(once im started off) so if someone could
> give me a little help that would be much appreciated.

There's plenty of help out there. Subscribe to a bunch of mailing lists
that seem relevent - then lurk for a few weeks until you see which lists
are most tolerent/helpful for beginners.  This one isn't too bad in that
respect.
 
----------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------------
Mail : <sjbaker1@airmail.net>   WorkMail: <sjbaker@link.com>
URLs : http://www.sjbaker.org
       http://plib.sf.net http://tuxaqfh.sf.net http://tuxkart.sf.net
       http://prettypoly.sf.net http://freeglut.sf.net
       http://toobular.sf.net   http://lodestone.sf.net