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LightYagami245

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Thinking Outside of the Box

I have just recently bought The Orange Box. I must say that the game deserves all the hype it gets. I have started Half Life 2 and Portal, with the latter being my main interest now. Portal must of been a killer to program, but whatever engine they used for it(I assume the Havok or The Source engine) it paid off in the end. Both games force the player to manipulate the game's physics. As for Half Life 2, you can start the game without any previous knowledge of the first Half Life game and still know what's going on in the game. I have to say that Valve is a great gaming company without any flaws.

front cover
front cover

One of the games that I really want to get, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, is going to have its demo released on August 21. Even though Game Trailers shows all these gameplay vids of the game, I don't think all of that will be in the demo. So any Star Wars fans or interested gamers, get ready to download it. What is your guess on the size of the demo? I estimate 2 Gigs. I also think you will be playing the first level only. If the Blue Dragon demo taught us anything, don't show 40% of the game in the demo.

In other gaming news, I have finished the single player of Call of Duty 4. I did like the story unlike COD2(see previous blogs about my opinion on COD2). The multiplayer is very addicting. I'm level 23 now(haven't been caring about levels, just trying to do challenges), and I really like Domination and Headquarters the most. I'm also customizing my own classes. There is one I have that uses a sniper rifle with juggernaught. Overkill FTW!!!

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For anyone who is a programmer fluent in C++, I have a question for you. What book will help me learn the language quickly? I really want to learn the program, but I need a book to help me learn. I have tried the internet, but each is different and uses different programs than the one I have. I really like learning a program, so I do want to learn the right way. Can you tell what books you used or books that you recommend me buying.

I was at Borders bookstore the other day and I saw a guide to game design. It covers nearly everything that goes through the development of a game. I looked at the designer part of it, and it's pretty accurate(it better be it's $50). A designer must do the concept(duh), level design(crap, I can't draw), music(that I can do), and a few more. I think that I have a ways to go to be a alright designer, but I'm glad I started trying to write my game ideas down now. I have started one that I will enter into Gamespot's Developer 4 a Day next year(I'm almost done), and after, I will start on another, just for myself to see, not for any contests. I wonder if Giantbomb will have a contest like that. I would enter it instead of GS'.

Also, another question. How much of an impact does music play into games in your opinion? Do you think some game scores could be on the Billboard Top 100?
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7 Comments

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LightYagami245

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Edited By LightYagami245

I have just recently bought The Orange Box. I must say that the game deserves all the hype it gets. I have started Half Life 2 and Portal, with the latter being my main interest now. Portal must of been a killer to program, but whatever engine they used for it(I assume the Havok or The Source engine) it paid off in the end. Both games force the player to manipulate the game's physics. As for Half Life 2, you can start the game without any previous knowledge of the first Half Life game and still know what's going on in the game. I have to say that Valve is a great gaming company without any flaws.

front cover
front cover

One of the games that I really want to get, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, is going to have its demo released on August 21. Even though Game Trailers shows all these gameplay vids of the game, I don't think all of that will be in the demo. So any Star Wars fans or interested gamers, get ready to download it. What is your guess on the size of the demo? I estimate 2 Gigs. I also think you will be playing the first level only. If the Blue Dragon demo taught us anything, don't show 40% of the game in the demo.

In other gaming news, I have finished the single player of Call of Duty 4. I did like the story unlike COD2(see previous blogs about my opinion on COD2). The multiplayer is very addicting. I'm level 23 now(haven't been caring about levels, just trying to do challenges), and I really like Domination and Headquarters the most. I'm also customizing my own classes. There is one I have that uses a sniper rifle with juggernaught. Overkill FTW!!!

caption
caption










For anyone who is a programmer fluent in C++, I have a question for you. What book will help me learn the language quickly? I really want to learn the program, but I need a book to help me learn. I have tried the internet, but each is different and uses different programs than the one I have. I really like learning a program, so I do want to learn the right way. Can you tell what books you used or books that you recommend me buying.

I was at Borders bookstore the other day and I saw a guide to game design. It covers nearly everything that goes through the development of a game. I looked at the designer part of it, and it's pretty accurate(it better be it's $50). A designer must do the concept(duh), level design(crap, I can't draw), music(that I can do), and a few more. I think that I have a ways to go to be a alright designer, but I'm glad I started trying to write my game ideas down now. I have started one that I will enter into Gamespot's Developer 4 a Day next year(I'm almost done), and after, I will start on another, just for myself to see, not for any contests. I wonder if Giantbomb will have a contest like that. I would enter it instead of GS'.

Also, another question. How much of an impact does music play into games in your opinion? Do you think some game scores could be on the Billboard Top 100?
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lightwarrior179

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Edited By lightwarrior179

Told you that Valve was a kickass company. Haven't got Orange Box yet,but might do so someday. I have heard a LOT of good things about HL2 Episode 2 in particular,be sure to try that one. As for HL2,it is my favorite FPS after the original. Of course,haven't played any Halo or BioShock,so my opinion on that might change soon.

I usually used to consult a Rapid Course's C++ programming book along with the reference book which our school provided in the IXth grade. Of course,I can't help you much since I don't know what kind of C++ books are available there in the States.
You really do seem intent on chasing after your dream of becoming a game developer? I am not too sure right now. I am keeping my options open for a couple of things right now.
If you are keen on developing your game developing as well as the basics of programming you should try some "user-game development programs" like DarkBasic, if you haven't tried them already. They not only help to translate your gaming ideas into a full-fledged 3D game,but also use C++ as the programming language.
I began developing a game on that,but it is FAR from completion.
I don't think a game score ever entered Billboard Top 100,though I might be wrong.

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LightYagami245

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Edited By LightYagami245

Lightwarrior: I think HL2 will remain at the top. Bioshock may come close, but not Halo. Yeah, I'm positive that being a game designer is what I want to do. I'm sure about it, and will do anything to help me get there. I might try DARKBasic, but I wanted to learn from one that uses C++ since programmers learn from either C++ or Javascript.

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Jayge_

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Edited By Jayge_

For all of the hate I like to pour on Halo 3, I think it has one of the greatest soundtracks in the world.

If you're looking for C++ tutorials, anything will really do. It doesn't matter really if they use a different compiler- all that is, is a different template for you to program on. The act of programming itself doesn't change. I can't recommend any books specifically though :-/

Enjoy CoD4 multiplayer for now- it'll last you a fun couple of months :-P

And thanks for commenting on my article.

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LightYagami245

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Edited By LightYagami245

Jayge: No prob man. It's not the compilers, but the inputting. One resource says one way, and when I try it, it doesn't work. I go back and find out(from experience, not from the resource) how it will work.

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Jayge_

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Edited By Jayge_

Oh. The places you're trying to learn from use different libraries? (Libraries are collections of pre-made tools you can use and import into programs that let you do certain things automatically, like input). That could always be a problem. I would use Visual Studio 2005 (that comes with a ton of pre-packaged libraries already) as a writer and buy yourself a beginner's tutorial. Any book will most likely use the most popular library, so that shouldn't be a problem.

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LightYagami245

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Edited By LightYagami245

Jayge: Thanks for the help, but I have Windows 2000, so will that be a problem with VS 2005?