Hey guys and gals,
I am looking to get started in game programming. I just don't really know where to start! I have a little bit of experience in VB6 (first language that I used), and I have a heavy amount of experience in PHP.
I am just wondering what language you think that would be best for me to start up game development! I would need it to have a 3D engine, although not going to get into that to start with, of course!
Thanks in advance for any hints & tips!
I would read this to start. It is a much more thorough answer than the one I can give you here, which is... it depends.
It depends mostly on you and you don't have the ability to answer the questions that it depends on until you know to ask them. Welcome to the catch-22 that is learning to program!
That said, you really can't make a bad decision at this point, unless you try really really really hard. I mean, yeah, you could start with QBasic or Brainf*k I suppose, but almost any other choice will lead to you learning what you need to know in one manner or another. Hell, even QBasic would get you there with a minimum amount of pain ( not so much brainf*k ). As to what choice works out best, again, that will come down to you. For example, Python is a very good starting language, with good tools and support and frankly I hate it. Not for any particularly good reason, I simply do, I hate it. Thats why, for me, it is a lousy choice, but for you might still be a very good one. Don't get me wrong, I *could* program in Python and frankly I would probably be quite productive, I would simply be miserable the whole time.
I like that you've put 3D off for the time being, this is good. Focus on the here and now and worry about the end game a little bit later. That you have prior programming experience is a very good thing, and will make the process much faster, but you still need to learn to program before you can learn to program games, which I believe you have already acknowledged.
Many recommend Unity right off the hop, but I think this is a mistake. I would recommend you start with one of the Unity supported langauges ( C#, Boo or Javascript ) and conquer them first
then switch to Unity. It's a very cool environment and hides a great deal of complexity from you... until it doesn't, then it takes an epic bite sized chunk out of your ass leaving you saying "wow, I really wish I listened to Serapth before jumping in with both feet first!". Then again, it's also a lot more fun the writing lame command line calculator apps for a month, so I very much get the appeal, I really do.
So, TL;DR, read the first link I posted, the rest of this post was mostly just the ramblings of a bitter twisted mind.
