   3d mmorpg, where do i start?
  HiI am very new to game programming, I am a experianced VB programmer, and I want to learn c and expand to other languages, and basically I really want to create a mmorpg game, I know that this is very advanced, but basically I play other games and I always say that I wish I could do this, I can make it better by doing this, and I just think it is time i stoped talking and did something, so I want to create my own. Basically I was wondering does anyone know if there is anywhere that i can a basic mmorpg that is fully built and ready to go, but allows me to complety configure it, so I can make it as if it was my own.also, there is probably other topics for this, but anyway, I can usually learn most things by quickly adapting, if i am thrown in the deep end! basically give me soem code, and I will study and try and learn it and make my own, so can anyone recomend some advanced books that will teach me about 3d prgramming, network game programming e.t.c.sorry if this post is very vague, annd if it has a lot of errors or sounds weird, I am very new to this, and I am bound to make a few mistakes!Thanks   >wilhil< 
  I will flame you before someone else does.Ok.. Commercial MMORPGs take year to create and are made by 50+ experienced people.If you''ve never done C, you are years away from a MMORPG..Start small... 1) Learn C/C++ console programming.2) The move to Windows programming...3) Pick up an API (DirectX or OpenGL) and learn it4) Create a little game (Tetris/Breakout)5) Learn more stuff like good input and network programming6) Make a bigger ORIGINAL game.7) Continue to learn a few year.8) Start thinking about a MMORPG concept for a few years and start.Man someone''s gotta make that thread sticky.;Start HereBefore you even begin thinking about game programming you have to learn C or C++. So I would suggest going and buying a copy of Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days. That link I gave you should answer the rest. ;quote:Original post by xMcBaiNx  I will flame you before someone else does. I was expecting a flame, and basically i know it will take ages, and as i said it is something i dont mind doing, I like learning by example so I just wanted to know if anyone had a link to a open source mmorpg so that I could try and tach myself. I udnerstand fully what you are saying, I said it will soudn like a noob thing, but basically I love games, I always think i would like to do this, so i just want to create my own no matter how long it will take   >wilhil< ;  I doubt you''ll ever find a link to an open source MMORPG. Those take hard work and not many people will just give away their code for something like that... ;  It's not really just that it will take ages. If you look at the source for a MMORPG without knowing much about game programming, you simply won't learn anything. (Case in point: Just try teaching yourself to make a 3D FPS, right now, by downloading the source code of Quake 2 from id's website. It just isn't going to happen, because source code is not meant to be a teaching tool). Unfortunately, It is not possible (at least, it has never been done, and probably never will be), to make a good 3D MMORPG as your first game. It is much more reasonable to try a smaller project first, and it will help you a lot when you actually begin to make a MMO game.   [edited by - twix on August 1, 2003 1:37:07 PM];  wilhil: as you MAY have noticed.. (at least I hope..) I did NOT flame you, I was merely pointing at what usually happen when another guy comes in and ask this question on the beginner forum (3/4 times a week).  A 3D MMORPG is a daunting task for every programmer in the world, I firmly say that a good MMORPG NEVER have been done by a single programmer (or a team of less than 10 people for that matter)I've been programming in VB for 6 years, in C++ for 3 years, game programming for about 6 months... and I'm not even near finishing a simple terrain engine (which would be a SMALL part of a 3D mmorpg, and even then they probably wouldn't take it cause its ugly.)If you want to speed up the process... you can skip C and just do games in VB with DirectX, (tough it wouldnt be a good idea for hardware intensive 3d game.)as for ressources... check the beginner section, check the articles section, and feel free to ask any other question on these boards.   [edited by - xmcbainx on August 1, 2003 1:43:28 PM];quote:Original post by DarkWhoppy  I doubt you''ll ever find a link to an open source MMORPG. Those take hard work and not many people will just give away their code for something like that...  http://www.planeshift.it;  Well how I see it is this, a MMOMG doesnt take years to make nor does it need a lot of people.  There are a few games out there that was made in a year by 1 or 2 people, mainly 1 programmer.  All I am saying is, many people give up because they bite off more then they can chew, but the concept behind a MMOG isnt that hard to make.  All you need to do is make a server that can handle many connections, which I would think is 200+ people at once time.  Make a system or self driven economy and its cake once you got the network system down.  For example enternal darkness I believe is the game, was made by 1 progarmmer and 1 artist.  They have the main concept down all they need is a quest system magic, and other combat system, and monsters.  Then they have the basics that they need.  So once you learn the basic such as what language to use, what API to use, networking, You also find a connection that can support that many then your all good.This is what I would do.  Learn C++ or C#If you do .NET then you dont need to learn basic windows programming, but doing the windows code isnt hard, not much you need to code for that.  Learn an API, which is your choice.  Make a test game to learn everything about 3d programming, then learn networking(which is fun) and put that in your test game and make the concept of your server.  I would do that for linux.  I have a book for the networking which I found really good.  It only covers TCP and UDP but you can learn the big ones over the net since you will have the experience after you read it.  The book is called "Developer''s guide to Multiplayer games"This book covers tcp/udp, along with sock programming for windows and linux, mysql to store your database information and how to talk to it, how to setup a login server.  In short tells you everything you need to know to get you up and going and more. Good luck ;  Oh and why don''t you program a MUD for a start, could be a good teaser. 