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Good languages for game development?

1.3k views · started by Stapled ·
#1
Good languages for game development?
Does anyone have any recommendations on programming languages for game development? I'm interested in making some sort of chess/checkers type game but I'm not sure which language would be best.
#2
Stapled wrote:
Does anyone have any recommendations on programming languages for game development? I'm interested in making some sort of chess/checkers type game but I'm not sure which language would be best.


Depends on how complicated you want it to be or how compatible. Python has a few libraries that could be used for making games, but I honestly don't think Python is the best solution for this outside of a proof of concept. C# might work well if you plan for it to be strictly windows, with possible Mono support for Linux. Java or C++ if you want compatibility with all operating systems. I recommend making it in whatever language you need to learn or practice in the most, and also making it in your most used language.
#3
I guess I'll be using C# as it's what I'm using for school and it's what I've been coding with the most as of late.

One more thing. I've never made a game with graphics but I'm assuming Microsoft has some built in functions for handling them. Would you happen know anything about them?
#4
Stapled wrote:
I guess I'll be using C# as it's what I'm using for school and it's what I've been coding with the most as of late.

One more thing. I've never made a game with graphics but I'm assuming Microsoft has some built in functions for handling them. Would you happen know anything about them?


Nope, I know you can use OpenGL, and DirectX stuff, but I have no clue how it works. There's another method of displaying graphics, but I forgot what it's called, but I used it in one of my old Towns clients to create a mini map in the corner. Some googling might help you decide, unless someone here actually has more experience in that kind of stuff for recommendations. Python has Kivy, which I've heard good things about but I've never looked into.
#5
Tree wrote:
There's another method of displaying graphics, but I forgot what it's called, but I used it in one of my old Towns clients to create a mini map in the corner.


Is this GDI+ by chance? Minimalist graphics library that's convenient for smaller work.
#6
I would definitely say C++. It's the language of choice for professional game development (Whether it be PC or Xbox) except for dumb games like Minecraft that are written in Java, and take huge portions of system resources.
#7
Flareboy323 wrote:
I would definitely say C++. It's the language of choice for professional game development (Whether it be PC or Xbox) except for dumb games like Minecraft that are written in Java, and take huge portions of system resources.


C#/XNA is typically the language and framework used for Xbox game development, not C++.

Also Minecraft is a pretty successful/lucrative game. Another successful game written in Java is Runescape. I'm sure there are plenty others.
#8
The Unintelligible wrote:
C#/XNA is typically the language and framework used for Xbox game development, not C++.

Also Minecraft is a pretty successful/lucrative game. Another successful game written in Java is Runescape. I'm sure there are plenty others.


Yeah it was GDI+, it's really nice for simple things such as a checkers game. Really the language choice comes down to the user's decision on what is best.
#9
I'll look into GDI+ but I am tempted to try XNA as I'll be using it later on in college.
#10
Stapled wrote:
I'll look into GDI+ but I am tempted to try XNA as I'll be using it later on in college.


GDI+ should be relatively easy to implement, and most languages should be supporting it by now.
#11
Stapled wrote:
I'll look into GDI+ but I am tempted to try XNA as I'll be using it later on in college.


XNA is actually a very friendly game development environment, especially for beginners. You can also port your games to the Xbox platform, which is pretty cool.

Another note, Microsoft hosts the Imagine Cup every year. There is a game development category with XNA, that might be fun if you get a good group of students to work with you. I tried entering a couple of years ago, but I couldn't find any artists to participate with, only had 2 programmers in the team (including myself).
#12
Stapled wrote:
I'll look into GDI+ but I am tempted to try XNA as I'll be using it later on in college.


If you're making a basic checkers game, it should be more about the AI and functionality of the game rather than the graphics. System.Drawing in the .NET Framework works well for this.

This is how simple drawing is in .NET:
private void DrawBoard(Graphics g, Rectangle bounds)

{

	Brush[] tileColors = { Brushes.Gray, Brushes.Black };

	int size = Math.Min(bounds.Width, bounds.Height) / 8;

	for (int row = 0; row < 8; row++)

	{

		for (int col = 0; col < 8; col++)

		{

			g.FillRectangle(tileColors[(col + row) % 2], bounds.X + col * size, bounds.Y + row * size, size, size);

		}

	}

}
private void Form1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)

{

	using(Graphics g = e.Graphics)

	{

		game.Draw(g, new Rectangle(50,50,400,400));

	}

}
#13
I'll make a shout out for PyGame, and Piglet. :)

As mentioned, c#/xna is a popular method from well-known studios release for xbox if that is a target for you.

If you are looking for a multi-platform solution I would recommend java.

Also Unity 3D is worth checking out if you are interested in 3D games later on.

python books
#14
Zachafer wrote:
If you're making a basic checkers game, it should be more about the AI and functionality of the game rather than the graphics. System.Drawing in the .NET Framework works well for this.

This is how simple drawing is in .NET:
private void DrawBoard(Graphics g, Rectangle bounds)

{

	Brush[] tileColors = { Brushes.Gray, Brushes.Black };

	int size = Math.Min(bounds.Width, bounds.Height) / 8;

	for (int row = 0; row < 8; row++)

	{

		for (int col = 0; col < 8; col++)

		{

			g.FillRectangle(tileColors[(col + row) % 2], bounds.X + col * size, bounds.Y + row * size, size, size);

		}

	}

}
private void Form1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)

{

	using(Graphics g = e.Graphics)

	{

		game.Draw(g, new Rectangle(50,50,400,400));

	}

}

I figured the AI would be the hard part so I decided to look into the graphic end first just so I could get it out of the way. Unfortunately I've put this project on hold because I discovered a love for web programming and I've been trying to learn as much as I can while working on a "small" project.