I dont know what to do next

[jimi_hendrix]

i dont know where i should go next for learning how to program. I've read 2 books in C# and know my way around basic python. I dont know what i should do next though

i want to make simple games as a hobby but most game books seem to be very advanced and online tutorials are either out of date or unclear

any advice

[tuxxy]

Hve you thought about enrolling on a course, this would help you gain that job.

[jimi_hendrix]

uhhh thats out of the question

next :wink:

[pmasiar]

You need to program: solve little problems.

wiki in my sig has training tasks (links to many places on internet), see also "programming challenges" in this forum.

[jimi_hendrix]

which one

[dperfors]

I would say, start with some very basic games, quess games like hangman and others and then start with the more advanced things like Tetris(r), snake and pong.
For the first, you only need simple forms (which you probably can make in C#) For the later you need to work with graphics. That is for the gaming perspective.

A good thing to learn is how to apply Object Oriented programming in a good way. A book that halped me is "Applying UML and Patterns. An introduction in Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Iterative Development" from Craig Larman (it is a big book, but worth the money :))
You can apply this in both C# and Python (both OO languages)

In the opensource community you will see a lot of games written in C/C++ or Java and not so much in C#. (other languages I don't know I didn't need had the need to look for them.)If you want to help them out, or understand how they are doing things, it is worth to learn the basics of those languages as well.

I hope you can do something with this advice :)

Good luck,
David

[jimi_hendrix]

ive done pong...snake and tetris and snake seem good

my problem also comes from lack of good online help for this subject and the out of date books/tutorials available

[nvteighen]

Something that may seem "boring", but you'll appreciate afterwards is to reimplement data structures like trees, lists and those kind of things (in a language where those aren't built-in).

[Erdaron]

Have you worked your way through all of projecteuler.net? It's mostly mathematically based, but the later ones get pretty intense.

[days_of_ruin]

ive done pong...snake and tetris and snake seem good

my problem also comes from lack of good online help for this subject and the out of date books/tutorials available

Have you tried pygame?

[jimi_hendrix]

Have you tried pygame?

is there a good tutorial for this i can get...

to this day ive found 3 good tutorials about programming out of my many searchs (and then i post here and normally get a good answer...i love this forum)

[thornmastr]

is there a good tutorial for this i can get...

to this day ive found 3 good tutorials about programming out of my many searchs (and then i post here and normally get a good answer...i love this forum)

I understand that you are going to assume that we (the colective group of programmers) have more capacity to point you in a viable direction certainly in directions of learning. Probably we do. Will it help you; not really.

I have found that most serious programmers; whether professional or hobbyist; have an incredibly intense sense of curiosity and an absolute delight of the unknown and the unusual. Based on a number of your questions, I would say you have the curiosity; what you seem to lack is the discipline to follow a path (and no I am not criticizing; this is something I have surmised which might be totally in error).

You have mentioned that you are currently working in Python. It is a delightful language. It is comparatively easily learned (be careful of its incredible nuances) and it lends itself to formulating a method to quickly solve a problem. Therefore, I suggest you become a tad more problem oriented. For example, using python, build a simulation program to trace the path of a feather falling from a twenty floor building with a breeze blowing at a variable rate of from 0 to a quarter mile intensity. At variable rates of velocity (from 0 to .25mph breeze) how long will it take for the feather to come to rest on the ground. It may never come to rest in a strong breeze; but think of what you learn as you attempt to build the model.
Or, even better, pursue gaming as you seem to have this bent, and concentrate on one particular aspect of a game, and build just that portion. I can't help you with games; that is not my area of interest or expertise, but there are a lot of people who can and will help you. But your first step is to build a written, relatively well detailed approach to solving a specific problem/task.

Good luck,

Robert

[spadewarrior]

I'm guessing you've looked here:

http://www.pygame.org/wiki/tutorials

[days_of_ruin]

http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7694

http://www.pygame.org/docs/

These are good too.And if you want to buy a book there is a pygame book on amazon.I have.Definitely worth the read.

[jimi_hendrix]

I understand that you are going to assume that we (the colective group of programmers) have more capacity to point you in a viable direction certainly in directions of learning. Probably we do. Will it help you; not really.

I have found that most serious programmers; whether professional or hobbyist; have an incredibly intense sense of curiosity and an absolute delight of the unknown and the unusual. Based on a number of your questions, I would say you have the curiosity; what you seem to lack is the discipline to follow a path (and no I am not criticizing; this is something I have surmised which might be totally in error).

You have mentioned that you are currently working in Python. It is a delightful language. It is comparatively easily learned (be careful of its incredible nuances) and it lends itself to formulating a method to quickly solve a problem. Therefore, I suggest you become a tad more problem oriented. For example, using python, build a simulation program to trace the path of a feather falling from a twenty floor building with a breeze blowing at a variable rate of from 0 to a quarter mile intensity. At variable rates of velocity (from 0 to .25mph breeze) how long will it take for the feather to come to rest on the ground. It may never come to rest in a strong breeze; but think of what you learn as you attempt to build the model.
Or, even better, pursue gaming as you seem to have this bent, and concentrate on one particular aspect of a game, and build just that portion. I can't help you with games; that is not my area of interest or expertise, but there are a lot of people who can and will help you. But your first step is to build a written, relatively well detailed approach to solving a specific problem/task.

Good luck,

Robert

acually i was going to the bookstore tomorrow to get another programming book

[lisati]

Most of the tech books I have in my personal collection I picked up for next to nothing at libraries and second-hand shops in my area. A couple of years ago I picked up one on Visual Basic in near-new condition for a bargain prices. Sadly it was missing its CD. I also picked up a Turbo Assembler (TASM) book from a second-hand shop which specialises in recycling stuff near my local rubbish dump.

[jimi_hendrix]

I also picked up a Turbo Assembler (TASM) book from a second-hand shop which specialises in recycling stuff near my local rubbish dump.

heh i recently pulled turbo assembler out of my basement the other day because i was curious on how assembler works

my dad has enough C++ books to start a library and other then pygame my only option seems to be to learn C++ so...

[Kadrus]

I feel like this thread has been posted before:p,but meh.
I don't think anyone can tell you what to program,if you have an idea,motivation,skills to drive you through the creation of a game or a program than go for it.
C++ is used a lot in game dev and you will find a lot of resources on game programming with C++.
You've read a couple of book of C# which means(I suppose)that you are good at the language and shouldn't have any problems doing game programming with C#.
Beginning .NET Game Programming in C# (http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-NET-Game-Programming-C/dp/1590593197)
Beginning C# Game programming (http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-C-Game-Programming-Development/dp/1592005179)
C# and Game Programming: A Beginner's Guide, Second Edition (http://www.amazon.com/Game-Programming-Beginners-Second-CD-ROM/dp/1568812361/ref=pd_sim_b_4)
Begin game programming by doing simple games at first:
Tetris-Pacman-breakout-etc.(the clones)
Then create a game based on an idea of your own.