   Which book should I get next?
  I am currently reading 'Beggining C++ through game programming' which is very good as I have only just started C++. However I was wondering what books people would reccomend for the next step. I'm in the UK so it needs to be available here and I was hoping that the book would include some 2d graphical games as what im currently reading is all in DOS. I really appreciate any ideas as I'm only 13 and would like to get off to an early start with C++.Deaconedit: it's the second edition of the book[Edited by - DeaconLinkhorn on May 15, 2009 11:09:48 AM]
  C++ is rather hard to learn. I would recommend learning C# and XNA.e.g.Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0 Unleashed   ;  im sick of people telling someone to avoid c++.yes it can be difficult if you don't get a firm grasp on the logicbehind it, but its not impossible.anyways what edition of c++ through game programming do you have?because the one I have teaches some SDL and shows you how to make a 2D side scroller game.   ;  Since you are a far way into the book, you might as well stick with C++. A book I recommend reading is Thinking in C++ which is a free eBook and will teach you a lot about C++ in more detail then the book you are currently reading.Lazy Foo has a good set of tutorials for SDL which is a library that handles graphics, input and audio.   ;Quote:Original post by yaustarA book I recommend reading is Thinking in C++ I also totally recommend that book, don't think it can't be good if it is free. I bought printed versions of both tomes and I consider them one of most valuable books on C++ I own, and I own a lot of them.But I have to agree with Bunnz too, C++ is (very) hard to learn, and I would also recommend C# (with XNA) rather than C++ at this point too, it is super powerful and MUCH easier to start with.;  I was going to suggest my first book into Windows 2D gamedev with C++, Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus by Andre Lamothe, but then I realized it is about a decade old and I'm pretty sure DirectDraw has been dropped from DirectX, making it kinda obsolete.If you are set on using C++ and getting a book for graphics, might want to have a look at Focus On SDL. The linky leads to a review done by GameDev.net, and the price in USD seems to be approximately $20, if it hasn't changed. There is also a link to Amazon.co.uk from that, so it shouldn't be too much trouble to get.I myself haven't tried the book, but the member reviews seem to be fairly positive.   ;Quote:Original post by nerd_boyIf you are set on using C++ and getting a book for graphics, might want to have a look at Focus On SDL.I have that book. It is okay, more of a reference guide then anything else and is probably slightly outdated now. The LazyFoo tutorials are almost on the same level as this book.   ;  Get a good Allegro or SDL book next.;  I started learning C++ around the age of 12 or 13 (2 or 3 years ago), just as the OP. I found the website here: C++ Language Tutorial really helped me learn C++. (This is the kind of stuff I'm assuming you have just finished up. It makes a good reference if you ever forget the syntax for something simple). After this, I moved on to NeHe Nowadays, people suggest staying away from NeHe due to its horrid coding structure, but I personally liked it, mainly due to its simplicity. Those tutorials made it simpler to begin coding graphics than other OpenGL tutorials I found. Compared to DirectX tutorials I had read, it seemed like a cakewalk. Obviously, the path I have provided is not the only way to go (And probably won't give you the best standards for coding), but it worked for me.   ;  The book you have is one ive used as well. I would recommend going over the c++ tutorial as the previous poster suggested, as it covers some important concepts of c++ that you will not find in the beginning game programming one.