Been a long time, all the posts are marked as unread...

Well from VB I have traveled into MASM, C++, and FreeBasic, having conquering them all(Yes I went backwards there.) Heck, I even created my own language to be
compiled into code to be ran in a faux emulator, which I did make the compiler, but never the emulator, got bored, imagine that.

Anyways, being bored and frankly just programmed out I decided to peak my interest by learning a new language, but which one, how obscure should it be?
I figured c# would be a good starting point, though I did try it before and the whole concept of managed code rubbed me the wrong way. I decided to go back
and give it another shot. Thank god I did, for I discovered this great little thing called XNA and HLSL(if this is wrong blame my dyslexia)...omg this stuff gives me a geek-on . No more fixed vertex pipeline for me anymore, wow, the stuff I can do with this, it has really rekindled my programming fire. As for the managed thing, once you acknowledge how much better it is to have the higher level language take care of the grunt work, the more you can actually concentrate on the good stuff. Besides, just because there is a garbage collector, doesn't mean you need to rely on it, if you aren't using a resource, dump it...heck I dispose of everything, even if i don't have to, just because. This and the fact the language is very similarly structured to c makes me very happy, for I love this syntax.

I can already hear from my c++ brethren, omg managed code how stupid is that, another failure on Micro$ofts part...well, I'll let you in on a secret, they're a bunch of elitists, divas even. They are so consumed with themselves they forgot what the purpose of game programming is for, making some games! And yes, I am still into 2D, 3D is alright to a point, but when it comes to programming, I am making the hardware do what it isn't supposed to do, basically making it my...well you get the picture.

I will from now on or until I at least get bored(let's not count this out, for I do tend to become bored with stuff), be programming XNA and C#. Will I create the long overdue sequel to DaBooda Turbo, maybe, who knows, for now it's just about the journey and creating shader techniques that do both wonderful and bizarre things!

Again I'm back baby!

DaBooda Out...

P.S. At the moment I am creating a shader technique that actually allows me to render an old-school video game console type map, onto a quad. I'm talking fully dynamically updating tiled code with mosaic, and even scanline effects on a quad! This uses two textures, one with the tiles and another with the actual map data, how freaky is this, god I love it!

_________________
Just getting freaky-deaky with shader programming.

Very cool. Welcome back.

Topic moved as requested.

_________________
10 PRINT "Bad Monkey ";
20 GOTO 10

if your interested in some good reading material languages have a go with Eiffel and erlang.

cxzuk

WB

Like you, i also came to love C# and managed code. It makes programming so frickin comfortable. Although i didn't like using XNA so i'm in league with OpenGL. But man, shader programming is truly so much fun

My next programming adventure will probably involve as3, and i've heard bad things about it. I hope i won't brainmelt from it

_________________
Long pork is people!

wzl's burrow

Whoa! Long time no see! Welcome back, Dude!

If you want a real challenge, try learning *proper* JavaScript. Hacking with it is easy, but becoming a true JS-Ninja takes some serious skill (and since HTML5 has become pretty much as capable as Flash).

_________________
What most people don't understand about "enlightenment" is that it is not an end-goal; but where you find yourself just before taking a new "first step."

Welcome back, dabooda!

The shader is stuff is very cool indeed, I'd like to give it some more attention some time in the future. Post any eye-candy you have so that the Featured Image can get updated

_________________
Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve

Holy crap, DaBooda! Welcome back! I didn't realize you visited this website!

I used your DaBooda Turbo engine to power my old space game(which i'l be remaking once my current project is finished), so you're somewhat of a rock star to me. Great engine! Thank you so much for it.

It's kindof ironic that you're here wondering what platform to start over in - you mentioned C#/XNA/HLSL - that's exactly what i'm working in right now. Love it! Very powerfull, very easy.

I'm looking forward to seeing what sortof things you can put together using C#/XNA.

_________________
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
"Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment." -Jonah Orion
http://tankzgame.blogspot.com

First: Thanks for moving this post to the appropriate forum

Second: I'm glad to be back, truly, forgot how energized this community is about game programming, this is what I need at the moment!


Thanks for this, was actually looking for some good material, for one I do most of my developing at work, yah great job that allows me to program all night. But unfortunately no internet access, and when you're learning a new language this is a must...argh!


I have dabbled a bit in JS, when i made my last website, used it to quickly update the news section as well as making certain containers collapsible. But this was when there was a big issue with IE and compatibility. This really drove me nuts, to have something work incredible on FireFox but look like garbage on IE, ARGH!! I don't think it's an issue anymore now that IE has finally become compliant, so I might look into it again. Although I will admit the variable structure being everything as the same type, this just feels bizarre to me, for a int is an int, a float a float, and a string a string...I'm just old I think.


I just started so xna is good for me at the moment, but I might end up moving to something more flexible, doubt it though, for it's doing exactly what I want at the moment. I did do some OpenGL programming in Freebasic considering there was no DirectX support, and I did like the flexibility of it. As far as the Shader programming goes, yah, that is a whole load of puppies, fun that is.


Holy cow, didn't realize anyone actual fulfilled a project using that engine. I knew of many in the works, but then the big .NET migration happened. Thanks for that, actually makes the work I put into that thing worth it. I must have grown as a programmer, because I took a look at the source to that engine the other day, and I cringed a bit lol. I'm looking and saying 'Why'd I do that like that?' and 'omg what was I thinking and how did that possibly work?'! btw...that source has traveled over at least six hard-drives since it's conception...holy cow that was 'EIGHT' years ago!!
'Rock Star'...nah..more like the roadie working behind the scenes, but thanks for that.



I just started, but give me a few weeks and I will definitely start posting stuff. That and I need to find some web space to claim as my own to allow me to post what I make, lol. I'm just hoping for technically impressive at the moment, as for visually, well I'm just hoping for aesthetically pleasing.

I am currently learning this stuff obviously, but once I am comfortable enough in it, I will start making games, yay! As far as library creation, maybe but first some games, I will then have some engine code to base the new library on. I am not looking forward to all that documentation, ugh, good thing c# actually makes this step easier!

DaBooda Out...

P.S. Ah, good to be back!

_________________
Just getting freaky-deaky with shader programming.

Use something like dropbox. It's free, easy to use, and well, just don't upload warez or private stuff and you should be fine It does a decent job of hosting files.

_________________
Long pork is people!

wzl's burrow

Thanks for that! I will definitely look into it, for one I simply loathe web development and suck at it...sounds good as a start anyways.

DaBooda Out...

P.S. Is freaky-german-techno-educational-purposes-only-porn warez?

_________________
Just getting freaky-deaky with shader programming.

Technically not; is it upped yet?

_________________
Long pork is people!

wzl's burrow

Yeah, unfortunately that's why I had to make the switch over to C#/XNA. I was running into alot of major portability/deployment issues with VB5 lol. I'm currently working on an engine that I'm calling "HyperDrive 2D Engine", or just "H2D". The whole point of my current project was to a) learn C#/XNA and b) develop an engine.. but the project got to the point where I started to care about it so I decided to finish it.

_________________
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
"Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment." -Jonah Orion
http://tankzgame.blogspot.com

Is that what your Tankz project is based upon? That screenshot makes me salivate and I'm looking forward to playing it. I'm curious what app are you using to create the graphics, 3dStudio or something similiar? Just curious, for I am using 3d Studio at the moment and was wondering if perhaps there where better alternatives...


Which is always the case, DaBooda Turbo started out as a library to create a Blaster Master clone, for it was supposed to be a render support only library. But the ideas started stirring and voila, an engine is born. The bitter irony is, Adventures of Lolo ended up being the only full game I made with it. VB just seemed to die all of a sudden, or maybe it happened slowly and I refused to notice. To be honest I'm kind of glad it did, it forced me to learn other languages which for a programmer is a good thing, which in turn makes for a better game and/or engine.

Which sort of brings me to my next point(not really for I ramble a lot). I am in the works of designing a new library. Unlike DaBooda Turbo though, this one will be strictly render only, for I am choosing to leave the game logic(collision, movment, etc..) up to the designer. For one thing XNA has so much functionality for this stuff already I would be reinventing the wheel. Mainly this lib is going to concentrate on rendering quads and sprites, mainly quads with what I hope to be the most awesome set of effect techniques ever. Also it will have a collection of texture functions, like blitting, primitive drawing, blending, masking, etc... The question being, would anyone developing in XNA find a use for this? And is leaving out logic a good idea, maybe I should include a few collision functions? I guess in my rambling way, I need some input from the people who know, game developers. And this forum is well populated with people with whom I respect.

Another question and I feel a bit stupid for asking this, where do I post this project status and updates? There is no forum specifically for XNA or even C# for that matter. I'm not going to develop this one like I did DaBooda Turbo, for I will announce as I create components, provide source snippets and even playable code as I develop, for I am hoping the input of the community will help me create a better library. Not to mention some of these effects are just begging to be seen, dynamic mapping, shadows, lighting, bump mapping, you get the picture!

DaBooda out...

P.S. If anything in this post makes absolutely no sense, I've been up for over 24 hours(had to work a double shift) and I will be happy to clarify tommorrow after a solid eight. Hell, even though when I'm well rested, I'm practically illiterate...lol. I'm more of a math and science guy, grammar just makes me cringe.

_________________
Just getting freaky-deaky with shader programming.

The "Announcements" forum? viewforum.php?f=9


The ".NET Game Programming" forum? viewforum.php?f=7

_________________
What most people don't understand about "enlightenment" is that it is not an end-goal; but where you find yourself just before taking a new "first step."

Yep, Tankz is based on H2D! The trees/grass were images I found on the web, they'l likely be replaced further down the development cycle. The actual tank graphics were drawn in Illustrator and colored/shaded in Photoshop. No 3d at all!

_________________
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
"Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment." -Jonah Orion
http://tankzgame.blogspot.com

Duh...


Double-Duh...

This is why I shouldn't post when I'm suffering from sleep deprivation and thank you.

DaBooda out...

_________________
Just getting freaky-deaky with shader programming.