   Which is better for graphics
  I'm new and was just wondering if OpenGL or DirectX is better for graphics. I just started learning OpenGL. I would just like some opinions. Thank you.   
  They're equally suited for graphics, yet different. If you're developing solely on the win32 platform*, then it all comes down to personal preference - stick to what you enjoy most.*for a non-win32 environment, OpenGL is probably better suited, because D3D isn't very portable - it doesn't run on non-Windows OSes for the most part.   ;  What is a Win 32 Platform*? Another question I have is, can you make XBOX games with OpenGL, or is that a specific language that it understands?   ;  Mushu speaks wise words. Words that I agree with. Thor like words. Ungh.If you do a thread search for "Direct[3D][X] vs OpenGL" you'll find the same answers over and over again: pick whichever you prefer personally. Each API will always have its zealous evangelists, but both have been proven to be effective and impressive APIs that can equally get the job done*. [smile]* Sans non-Windows platforms. Nothing put rolling fields of OpenGL over there.Quote:Another question I have is, can you make XBOX games with OpenGL, or is that a specific language that it understands?XBox uses DirectX, so that's your only choice in that realm.   ;  Is programming with DirectX alittle / ALOT different than with OpenGL?   ;Quote:Original post by iomanipIs programming with DirectX alittle / ALOT different than with OpenGL?Both have the same concepts, but to many newer users they both appear pretty darn daunting. OpenGL is procedural Direct3D is object-oriented. But both accomplish the same things. OpenGL is arguably easier for beginners because of its immediate mode, which makes it pretty easy to get off the ground with.Do some Googling on OpenGL and Direct3D tutorials and compare some basic code. See which looks more to your liking, and dive in [head first]. [grin]   ;Quote:Original post by HopeDaggerQuote:Original post by iomanipIs programming with DirectX alittle / ALOT different than with OpenGL?Both have the same concepts, but to many newer users they both appear pretty darn daunting. OpenGL is procedural Direct3D is object-oriented. But both accomplish the same things. OpenGL is arguably easier for beginners because of its immediate mode, which makes it pretty easy to get off the ground with.[grin]I would agree that OpenGL makes introductory 3D graphics programming lots easier. I started with OpenGL on Mac OS X, but after getting my Windows machine, I've found that DirectX is much easier to progress into more intermediate and advanced topics (such as shaders, vertex buffers, etc). This is personal opinion, but having tried both, I'd say DirectX (if you're on Windows, obviously) is the way to go. The tutorials I used are at DrunkenHyena.com.   ;Quote:Original post by iomanipWhat is a Win 32 Platform*? Anything that's running the Windows operating system.Quote:Original post by iomanipAnother question I have is, can you make XBOX games with OpenGL, or is that a specific language that it understands?AFAIK, no. But unless you have a very firm grasp on programming principles and a good deal of experience, I highly doubt you'll be doing any work on any console systems, simply because learning a language AND a graphical API AND console-specific stuff is just too much to do at once.Quote:Original post by iomanipIs programming with DirectX alittle / ALOT different than with OpenGL?A lot. As HopeDagger mentioned, they each use a different programming paradigm - OpenGL uses a procedural (almost C-style) approach, while D3D takes a more Object-Oriented approach.My suggestion would be to just stick with OpenGL, simply because it's a lot less complicated in the beginning. From a performance viewpoint (which you, as a beginner, shouldn't even be worried about at this point), just about anything you could want to do with D3D can be accomplished with OpenGL.If you do attempt to go the D3D route, my money says one look at the code to set up a rendering context will make you want to go back to OpenGL, unless you use dirty SDL tricks [wink]Stay with OpenGL. It'll make your life easier in the long run.Quote:I've found that DirectX is much easier to progress into more intermediate and advanced topics (such as shaders, vertex buffers, etc). I'd agree with your point that with DirectX you don't have to deal with OpenGL's extension crap, and that it is easier to get down to the dirt. Its called DirectX for a reason.That said, from a beginner's viewpoint, I'd argue that its a pain in the ass to start using, especially compared to OpenGL. When you're first learning the language, its especially hard to have to deal with lots of different errors coming from everywhere. OpenGL has the benefit of being a little bit easier to set up (thanks to GLUT and SDL), and I would argue, is more user-friendly.This is just from my own personal experience, my first API was D3D, and I both loved and hated it.   