   starting directx
  if im starting to learn directx would it be better to learn directdraw or direct3d first. I already have expierence in SDL and C++ (obviously) 
  D3D.-Peter ;  << learn directdraw or direct3d first >>I would recommend DirectDraw since less set up required. A good GameDev article that covers DirectDraw 1.0 is thisDirectDraw Tutorial  Or the Microsoft documentation for DirectDraw DX 6.1If you are asking what to learn first  , I would suggest the Win GDI. Then DirectDraw. Then OpenGL. Then Direct3D. At least that''s the path I''m taking. For Win32, this path makes sense since it goes from the less complex to the more complex.Learn it all, and do a complete game or several games in each.VazGames.com  Phil P ;  Direct3DDirect3DDirect3DThere is no more initialization required than in DirectDraw. Direct3D really isn''t as hard as people make it out to be... ;  Actually id say d3d is much easier to set up (at least in 9) than any version of direct draw... i dunnno.... its pretty much filling out the present parameters then 2 function calls... ;  Only a fool would learn directdraw now. It''s difficult, uses no hardware acceleration and is unsupported. It''s much easier and faster to program direct3D with the ID3DXSprite interface. ;  ^^ said it perfectly ;  << Only a fool would learn directdraw now. >>Maybe I qualify. When I get there then I''ll know what a fool I was.  I was out of computers for most of the 1990s....so I''m going back in time a bit to see what I missed.Phil P ;  yeah with dx9 setting up is almost as easy as opengl now! LOL  If God played dice, He''d win.—Ian Stewart, Does God Play Dice? The Mathematics of Chaos ;  Noooooo!!! (Rants about how ID3DXSprite sucks go here)But anyways, d3d8/9 is much easier to set up than directdraw...   [edited by - curtmax_0 on February 14, 2004 12:52:59 AM]