   SDL or OpenGL
  Hi, guys I'm beginner in game programming so I don't know which is better SDL or OpenGL, and which is book good for beginner in game programing.I hope that you understand me   
Quote:Hi, guys I'm beginner in game programming so I don't know which is better SDL or OpenGL, and which is book good for beginner in game programing.The question 'which is better, SDL or OpenGL' doesn't really mean anything (it's kind of like asking which is better, a hammer or a screwdriver). Maybe what you're meaning to ask is, 'which is better, SDL alone using software blitting, or SDL with hardware accelerated graphics via OpenGL?'. Before trying to answer that question though, I think it'd be helpful to know a little more about your situation. Have you already learned or started to learn a programming language? If so, which one? What platforms/OSs are you wanting to target? What types of games are you wanting to make?   ;  Typically, you only learn how to use OpenGL if you want to learn graphics programming. If you want to make games, start using a library of some type. Maybe Allegro, Ogre, etc. Later, if you are interested in graphics programming you can come back to the low-level stuff. But in the beginning, you want something that can give you faster results or you will be more likely to become frustrated and overwhelmed.   ;Quote:Original post by jykQuote:Hi, guys I'm beginner in game programming so I don't know which is better SDL or OpenGL, and which is book good for beginner in game programing.The question 'which is better, SDL or OpenGL' doesn't really mean anything (it's kind of like asking which is better, a hammer or a screwdriver). Maybe what you're meaning to ask is, 'which is better, SDL alone using software blitting, or SDL with hardware accelerated graphics via OpenGL?'. Before trying to answer that question though, I think it'd be helpful to know a little more about your situation. Have you already learned or started to learn a programming language? If so, which one? What platforms/OSs are you wanting to target? What types of games are you wanting to make?Well my situation I'm solid in C++ but.Windows and Linux.For beginning 2D games.Quote:Original post by jackolantern1Typically, you only learn how to use OpenGL if you want to learn graphics programming. If you want to make games, start using a library of some type. Maybe Allegro, Ogre, etc. Later, if you are interested in graphics programming you can come back to the low-level stuff. But in the beginning, you want something that can give you faster results or you will be more likely to become frustrated and overwhelmed.Yes I want to make games, and I want faster results.   ;  When you're starting out just stick with SDL's built in graphic API's, you can add in things like SDL_rotozoom if the base API doesn't do enough. You can then add in OpenGL graphics to your SDL code when the built in API either isn't fast enough or if you want to start doing 3D effects.   ;  Pick up XNA its fantasic for begginers, don't bother with 2D games, get going with 3D, its all 3D now these days, even 2D games.JonRambo   ;Quote:...don't bother with 2D games, get going with 3D, its all 3D now these days, even 2D games.Are you sure about that? I seem to recall playing quite a few games recently that were 'real' 2-d games.[Edit: I agree though that given that the OP is looking for fast results, there are probably better options than C+SDL (such as XNA, or even a game authoring tool such as Game Maker).]   ;  If you want to target Linux as well as Windows, I don't think that XNA supports Linux.  You might want to look into SFML instead of SDL.  It's based more directly on OpenGL as a rendering engine but produces excellent 2d results for beginning game programming.  The forums and wiki on the SFML website (linked above) will get you started really easily if you already know object-oriented C++.   ;Quote:Original post by jlwingPick up XNA its fantasic for begginers, don't bother with 2D games, get going with 3D, its all 3D now these days, even 2D games.JonRamboI didn't learn C#.Quote:Original post by samuraicrowIf you want to target Linux as well as Windows, I don't think that XNA supports Linux. You might want to look into SFML instead of SDL. It's based more directly on OpenGL as a rendering engine but produces excellent 2d results for beginning game programming. The forums and wiki on the SFML website (linked above) will get you started really easily if you already know object-oriented C++.It looks easy to learn, can you show me some game made in SFML   ;Quote:Original post by jlwingPick up XNA its fantasic for begginers, don't bother with 2D games, get going with 3D, its all 3D now these days, even 2D games.JonRamboBeginning game programmers learn so much by starting off with 2D. In the beginning, it is not about the end result, but learning through experience. Most people won't be making games with mass appeal as their first few projects. 3D is a monster compared to 2D, and it can stump new game programmers pretty quickly. 