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[Billy Ninja]

Hello, folks.

The title is kinda self-explanatory but here it goes.

I don't want to learn how to use Unity3D, UDK or such. I want to learn how to program (simple) games from scratch using stuff like SDL and OpenGL. Yeah, I know it's tough stuff. That's why I believe that a good course that take me by the hand is the best way to kickstart a career. I'm from and I live in Brazil (sorry for my poor English, btw), that's why i need it online (there are no good courses 'round here).

I have some experience with programing but it's kinda fragmented, and a good theory background from my Information Systems graduation. I've professional experience with Web Developtment (server and client side). Have a good familiarity with OOP and stuff like MVC. I have some experience with simple 2D graphics in XNA, and know the basics on how 2D graphics works. I've played a little (gone through some tutorials) with Unity3D and UDK, although it's not kind the way I want to go, I believe it gives a good view on the high-level workflow.

Recently I've gone through some tutorials with SDL(from sdltutorials.com) for basics window creation, basic drawing and interaction. So far all I did was "monkey see, monkey do" but I pretty much understood everything that was going on, but didn't quite figured out how to build/structure a game or game tool from such basic foundation.

Here are some point's that I have in mind for my "career".

1. want to develop games and game tools from scratch.
2. want to develop cross platform, and in a platform independent environment (I'm a macfag, I'd have no problem in using PC/Windows to develop, if the stuff i'm going to develop is easily portable, non-MS dependant and all).
3. i'd like to get into 3D/OpenGL as soon as possible

I like 3DBuzz stuff, that's the ideal model for me. Excellent didactic, good format and a affordable price. Unfortunately they don't cover well all the subjects that I want, it's quite Windows oriented, and their stuff on C++ game programming/OpenGL looks kinda outdated. Are my assumptions correct?

Well, I believe that a course/program that actually attend my exigencies might not exist, but what would be the closest match?

Thanks in advance and sorry if the thread is stupid, repetitive/annoying or in the wrong section.

[William Laub]

The cone3D SDL tutorials cover some basic game structure. I started with those and pretty much proceeded on my own once I had some idea of how things should go to together. I don't know if they are the best, but I make pretty extensive use of the core concepts I learned from them.

As far as openGL and 3D graphics, I found the nehe tutorials very helpful. They don't target SDL by default, but there is some source provided in SDL tha can be correlated with the content of the tutorials to get most of the important stuff.

[include<Luka>]

I really must recommend that you check Lazy Foo's tutorials and articles, they are some of the best SDL tutorials you will find. The last tutorial covers how to add OpenGL to SDL. They you can check some glut tutorials for OpenGL code, and add that to you SDL/OpenGL game. Also check the Redbook for OpenGL.

[Billy Ninja]

Wow, excellent material that I didn't knew.

But what about online classes and video tutorial series? There's some sort of AnimationMentor(.com) for game programing?

I think I will follow along the LazyFoo series, while implement 5 simple (but gradually bigger) game 2D projects over the course of 3 months/4months. Then I will start to look into OpenGL with some more matured eyes, I hope.

[Serapth]

I have a tutorial series on creating a complete ( and massively over-engineered ) Pong game from scratch using C++ and SFML.  It goes into more depth than many/most game tutorials on the internet, so it may be a good place to start.  It's long at 10 chapter, and not quite finished, but it is relatively unique in approach.