that sounds a whole lot easier. if i remember that looks like ruby code, as i've seen the midi scripter that emanuel borsboom wrote in ruby, and to script midi uses lines like that. however, i didn't realise ruby could actually be coded in windows. i tried to download ruby but all i got was the interpreter. it didn't include any docs on how to script it or anything. and you say it can interface to dx? wow!
regards, damien ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nolan Darilek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Gamers Discussion list" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 6:11 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Another perspective on programming games > Hi, folks. > > Lots of you seem interested in learning how to program games. This is > great. Lots of you are also scurrying off and downloading the various > microsoft express IDES. If this is your chosen path then by all > means, knock yourselves out, but I wanted to toss out another path > that you may not have considered. > > C#, VB, Java, etc. are popular, powerful languages. They're also very > verbose when compared to languages like Ruby and Python that can, > say, write a simple "Hello, world" program in a single line rather > than half a dozen. > > If you're wanting to learn programming, consider a language like Ruby > or Python first. The syntax is much easier to grasp and, in my mind, > much closer to how we think than are languages like C#/VB. Try to > guess what this does: > > 3.times do > print "Hip hip, hooray!" > end > > vs.: > > for(int i = 0; i < 2; i++) { > Console.Out.Writeline("Hip hip, hooray!"); > } > > You can develop games easily in either of these using libraries like > RUDL, Rubygame, Pygame, etc. Not only do these have the advantage of > being cross-platform, but you can type a bit of code, run the game > instantly, add more, etc. in an evolutionary process so much faster > than would otherwise be possible with compilation. > > There are disadvantages to this path. These languages may spoil you. > I've coded for years, and after working with Ruby, coding in Java > feels like running under water. This may be circumventable, however. > I've written Torrent in Java and have just recently separated the > engine components into a separate project for other game development. > I'm finding that I can use my engine with JRuby, a Java-native > implementation of Ruby, and enjoy the ease and speed of Ruby plus the > power of the underlying Java engine. If you're a .net person, there's > a .net implementation of Ruby on the horizon and, if you find that > you prefer Python to Ruby, you can already use languages like > IronPython or Boo (http://boo.codehaus.org) with DirectX or whatever > your .net engine of choice might be. Actually, if Python is your pick > then you can already use either of these with existing DirectX > resources/tutorials to get up to speed that much quicker with skills > that you can keep. > > Also, if you pick the pure Ruby/Python route, your games' source will > almost always be visible, meaning others can copy what you've done > (albeit with the same restrictions.) This shouldn't be an issue at > first--my first three attempts at game programming weren't commercial- > grade, and I'd probably have been much more successful at learning if > I'd treated at least two of those as learning experiences instead of > trying to write the next GMA engine right out the gate. :) > > And, again, if you're still interested in the C#/VB.net route then > right on, and I wish you the best of luck. :) Just wanted to let > folks know that a) those aren't the only games in town, even if you > do want to stick with .net from start to finish (see notes about > IronPython/Boo above) and b) it may be best to focus on learning the > craft of game design during your first few efforts rather than on > producing something to sell. Language shapes how we think, and while > picking a non-conventional language might seem like a bad idea at > first glance, it just might help some of you who may find C#/VB > frightening. Hell, I'm a decent enough coder and *I* find them > frightening for various reasons. :) If given a choice, I'll almost > always pick an alternate language like JRuby/Nemerle/Boo for whatever > platform I'm constrained to rather than simply using C#, Java, etc. > > > _______________________________________________ > Gamers mailing list .. [email protected] > To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make > any subscription changes via the web. > > > _______________________________________________ Gamers mailing list .. [email protected] To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
