ReggaetonKing

I heard a lot of people saying C++ is mainly for game programming. Though I also heard Java is rapidly becoming a standard for game programming as well. I wanted to heard options about what you think of game programming and how to choose the language for it. Would C++ be the best solution for game programming? What other languages are great for developing games?

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Booooze

It depends on what you want to do, and how much power you need. I think a big mistake people make these days is blindly picking a language. The language you choose should be subject to ask why you are choosing it.

C++ is ideal for high end game programming, such as 3d effects and great graphics (all top of the line stuff).

VB would be ok if your writing a 10 line game to keep yourself occupied at work :p (keep in mind efficency)

Java- I personally would only use it to code a applet to put a game online. Even at that I would probably use Flash.

If you posted this question because you are planning on making a game, ask yourself which langauge is ideal for you.

It's like buying a computer. If all you need it for is to go to webpages, and check email, then you don't need a dual core processor and 512mb - 1gig top of the line video card

bl00dninja

i wouldn't say that it'a mainly for game programming, but that (high-end) game programming is done mainly in c++. depending on the game you want, like boooze said, you may want to use different approaches. for class last semester i made a whack-a-mole game and a pong game in VB 6.0, to get the same results in C++ it would have been a lot harder. if i were to write the next splinter cell it would probably be done in C++ or java.

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nnxion

I'd probably ask here. Yes that's another forum, especially for games. They will know much on game development and which language it's best to take, I've seen C++ been used there at least. Your programming choice will probably be decided by what kind of game and performance you want. For performance C++, but developing will take you long. For a little less performance but fast development C#. I'm thinking Java is slower, plus it doesn't build an executable. But if you want cross platform then Java would be a good choice. You can also choose Python, of which you can even make a standalone exe. (without needing the virtual machine.) I heard it was fast too. Probably better ask Arevos or Sane for more information.

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Lich

Java has a big market for games, but not the Quake, Oblivion, or Civilization type games. The market lies in the mobile device arena, Elf Bowling on your cell phone and stuff like that. For console or PC gaming, it's all done in C++. In hardcore gaming, even the slighest pause can be a big pain, and C++ delievers the performance that the gamers demand. There's a growing community for python game creators, but it'll be a while before we see big commercial gains with python gaming engines.

(on a side note, this is something I thought of the other day, since Nintendo games that are played only on nintendo products are never ported to other platforms (stuff like mario and metroit that is nintendo only), do you think they write in ASM to help with the speed of the game?)

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Dameon

@Lich, if you ever work with a dev kit for the current consoles or even those of yesteryear, they tend to be very, very console-specific. A port is a big deal. Everything from file access on the HD (What's that? I'm porting to one without an HD?) to memory card access to online play to 3D graphics can be entirely different. But it has been done. A lot. Consider, though, multiplatform engines such as Unreal.

In the case of Nintendo, I would say that the big N is just keeping its major IP assets on its home turf to boost sales. Metroid and Mario are akin to Halo in how they can influence people on which console to buy.

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Lich

Oh definately, but the IO stuff and graphics rendering aren't bad to re-do considering the vast majority of the game will just need to be tweaked a little and re-compiled. A port is still definately a big deal and that's why we see many games only appearing on one platform. The point I was making was that C++ would be better to use for it than anything else, unless you were in the mobile device arena.

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Indigno

Java has a knack for being a bit slow. And every second counts in game programming.

JavaMan

Java is strong for online gaming, while C++ still has the more speed for just gaming in general.

mrynit

if you want to make dos games QBASIC is the best. anything above that i would say FreeBASIC. it is portable can use many libraries. but keep in minde the only games i have made are text based...