   Convert 2D game from using GDI+ to Direct3D
  Can someone tell me how hard it would be to convert the following game from using GDI+ for the graphics over to using Direct3D?My question is not whether you need to use Direct3D for such a game (my guess is Direct3D is overkill) but I want to start learning Direct3D anyway....so I might as well start now.My game is located at:http://www.knowltonfamily.com/release.zip(needs .NET and DirectX runtimes installed)If the game won''t work, here is a screenshot:http://www.knowltonfamily.com/robotz_screenshot.gifIt is a simple turn-based game.  I do want to be able to animate the game pieces. 
  One caveat:I want to run the Direct3D routines inside of a windows form, just like I am doing right now (where the game board is in the upper left corner of the window).This way I can still make use of the File menu and other controls that C# offers. ;  If you have the money I''d highly recommend Managed DX 9, Graphics and Game Programming, which covers Direct3D and DirectDraw rather well in C# and VB.NET. ;quote:Original post by Woodsman  If you have the money I''d highly recommend Managed DX 9, Graphics and Game Programming  , which covers Direct3D and DirectDraw rather well in C# and VB.NET.   I will consider doing this.  A few questions:1)  Do you personally own this book?2)  Does it explain DirectX in layman''s terms?;  Yes, I bought it a few days ago, and I''m already pretty much through a great part of it. I''d never recommend something I haven''t worked with. I do think that that it goes through what it has to offer in layman''s terms (there is some math but there are hundreds of DX general tutorials that should cover that wherever else you look), though I would make it clear that this is not meant to teach you the ins and outs of DX programming. Like most other areas of C#, you''ve probably noticed a lack of tutorials and such, and this is the best one I''ve found on the topic. This really gets your hands dirty quick and teaches you enough to be able to work with various aspects for some time on your own. Another one is scheduled for release by the same author, IIRC. In any event, I always consult the source before purchasing anything. All of the source is included on the cd for both C# and VB which can be helpful depending on your background. Cheers. ;  Thanks, Woodsman.All I am interested in (as far as DirectX goes) is doing the EXACT same thing I am doing in my game right now....and I assume that my game''s performance will improve dramatically doing the same thing under DirectX versus GDI+? ;  In response to your initial question. I'd actually recommend DirectDraw for your project, as it seems like a bit of work to basically just be rendering sprites in the end. I'm sure some will argue this point but I'll leave them to it. The above book also has about two chapters on that, which is about as much as you need. Again, it gets your feet wet and gives you enough of the technical terminology to know how and where to look for the rest when you're ready.quote:Original post by Tom Knowlton  One caveat:I want to run the Direct3D routines inside of a windows form, just like I am doing right now (where the game board is in the upper left corner of the window).This way I can still make use of the File menu and other controls that C# offers.   Are you using Visual Studio? If so you can launch the DX APP wizard and set the option to render a triangle in a picture control. That should give you something to look at.   [edited by - woodsman on February 11, 2004 5:37:54 PM];  I am fine using DirectDraw, except I have read that it is considered "legacy" now...and that I should use Direct3D instead.Your rebuttal? ;  I foundManaged DX 9, Graphics and Game Programmingonline for like $25.  Not too bad. ;quote:Original post by Tom Knowlton    Your rebuttal?   Haha, first I'd like to say that I am in no way a graphics guru so keep that in mind, and I'm sure that others better informed on the topic will chime in about this.Anyway, your application, in its present and conceivable future is basically only going to only ever be rendering static sprites. It would seem to me enough that GDI+ is in place. If you felt the need to crank it up a little then I'd see no problem with DDraw. A lot of beginners still use DDraw, though some don't because they want the best which is silly for most of their applications.What it really comes down to is that you want to learn D3D. And in response to this, I'd say knock yourself out because it's a blast, but make sure that you're ready in terms of how C# itself works.   [edited by - woodsman on February 11, 2004 5:42:34 PM]