Where to get started?

[Eif87]

Hey guys!

I am just now getting into C++ (only been at it for a few days) and instead of sitting through a book for a couple of months, I figure that I would want to just dive straight into the deep stuff (it makes it easier to learn for me). I decided to give Irrlicht a try and I think that its pretty cool! Although I am sometimes lost when it comes to some of the tutorials, I think I am beginning to understand some of the lines of code, etc. and what they mean. I showed my friend this engine (he has no experience with C++ as well) and we decided that we would want to make some sort of game using Irrlicht, no matter how hard it may be (we are determined :-p) My question is....where do we start? I have read many of the tutorials, but they seem to be geared toward people who are already working/creating a project. I can compile a simple Hello Program, etc. but other than that, I'm sort of at a loss as to what to do next. Are there any tutorials out there for Irrlicht that will show me the next step? could some of you tell me how you got started? Thanks guys!

sorry for bein such a noob

Eif

[Tyn]

Determination won't be enough I fear You are really going to have to read a C++ book, whether you understand it all or not. It may go over your head at first but use that determination to stick with it. Once you understand the basic principles and structure then I would look through all the Irrlicht examples, pick them apart, change them to stuff you think you may want to do in your game and get to know the API document. Then you will be in a position to start messing around and to start a project. I know it may seem like an endless process of learning stuff you won't use but trust me you will pretty much use all the stuff in beginners books as well as other things.

The most important things to get a very good understanding of are variables, pointers, IF statements and arrays. If you can master them then the rest should fall into place. There are other things that are important as well but it's a lot to take in at one time, you could probably wing the other things from other peoples source code.

If you don't understand the basics though you will never understand other peoples code to be able to learn the more advanced things. I know how frustrating it is to learn but if you are as determined as you say you are then you should be able to bear through it. Always keep that book with you as when the error messages start flooding in ( and they will ) you can use it as a reference to see what you have done wrong.

I also recommed spending the time while you are learning C++ to research the project you want to make ( stuff like story, art work, the genre of game you want and a something unique that your project will have ). It'll help you in the long run as you will know exactly what you want to do.