Visual Basic Express 2008

Illusion · Post by **Illusion** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:45 am

For a couple years, i've had a dream to create a really cool MP space shooter 3D game. I've invested in some languages, such as Dark Basic Professional and such...who then released something called DarkGDK, which allows it's programming ease inside of C++ Express Edition. I checked it out, but since my background is mainly BASIC oriented and I don't want to have to learn an entirely new language(especially one as complex as C++), I looked around and stumbled on this IRRLICHT engine. I have a team working on the design stages of this program, most are fluent in Visual Basic as well, but choose to use the TV3D engine. I researched it, though it has some great Rendering capabilities, it's not really game oriented and would take alot of work to put to use. I found this engine, and it shows promise though.

Here is my main question, will this engine work with Visual Basic Express Edition 2008? If so, can you guys point me in the right direction in regards to tutorials and samples to help me get used to using this engine in VB. Until i can answer this question, I haven't even downloaded it yet.

Any and all feedback will be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Avian · Post by **Avian** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:58 am

I would recomend learning c++ just for the power of the language when compared with visual basic. Unless you have an unreal computer, then it is unlikly that a VB orientated program will be able to handle the more complex tasks, which would mean less effects, less complex graphics and similar problems.

There is the .NET wrapper for irrlicht, and that should support VB express 08, but I think that the support for the .NET wrapper is being withdrawn.

Also if you use the .NET wrapper you dont have as much access to the additional features, like Newton or bullet.

Anyway, the cpp required to use irrlicht is not the complex, I managed to pick it up in a few days, and if you use microsofts VC++ then you keep a very similar enviroment, which hosts most of the VB functions anyway.

Illusion · Post by **Illusion** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 4:15 am

I'm quite good at PHP, in which the syntax is much like C++. I'm also aware that C++ is a better language, my team however seems to be afraid of it as I once was. As with the DarkGDK, which is also easy to use in C++....the side functions are what scare me. For example, accessing winsock controls, this is easy in VB, but i've found myself getting a headache in C++ which is basically a simple task in VB. I'm still open to C++, but in event i decide otherwise, does anyone know the location of this wrapper? I'm aware of the loss of features, but this game i have in mind isn't intended to be commercial, not at this time anyway. I'd like to know that if i should decide away from C++, that this engine will work with VB....and how well it will work with VB.

Avian · Post by **Avian** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:46 am

The .NET wrapper is included in the main irrlicht download. Look in the folder 'examples .NET'. If you cant find them in v1.4, try v1.3.

The good thing about c++ is that you can put the complex code into a class - giving you an environment more like VB, with simple functions and commands. Plus, there are explanations and examples for all the code and functions, so getting them to work would not be that difficult. Even if your program is not intended to be commercial, if you use .NET, you will not get as much support, which would really suck.

FuzzYspo0N · Post by **FuzzYspo0N** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:50 am

http://irrlichtnetcp.sourceforge.net/

This is where the .net wrapper is being kept now and maintained. stable release is 1.3.1 irrlicht compatible...\

Its good, try it