   New to Game Programming, need some help please
  I have played video games since 6 year old until now (26), I have got my degree in Computer Science because I want to create my own game someday. I would like to study more about game programming now. I am pretty good in programming, visual basic, C, C++, Java, etc, but I have no experience in computer graphic at all. Which software I need to use? Maya? 3D Max? Beside directx, what else I need to learn? Where can I find the concept of 3D game programming (Direct3D)? what kinda of file extension directx use? Last question, let say I want to write a soccer character shoot a ball(with motion), how much effort I need? Again, I am quite new, thanks for your answer in advance. 
  To answer some of your questions. Maya and Max are both very good although on the expensive side. DirectX has all you need to develop a game so that will do, but if you don''t know the math you better start learning. 3D graphics are quite math intense subject. There are many tutorials about Direct3D and other DirectX components on this site alone and there are always books that teach you. Just click the Articles & Resources link.   "Life is very short, and there''s no time for fussing and fighting my friend..." ;  I highly reccomend Maya if that is what you wnat to do,  once you get the hang of it everything sort of fits into place and flows smoothly,  you can download maya personal learning addition from the alias wavefront page for free and it is not as good as the expensive version but is still very powerful. I am very new to game programming so i find 3d animation much easier to understand, but i will not judge until i understand both fully.   «—Ļĩŧŧłę–Ŗęđ–ЩдґґÎðr—» ;  There are also low-budget, simplified modellers like Milkshape or Blender.If you''re a half-decent programmer already, but have never done graphics, then I''d say you need a theory lesson or two more than you need SDKs and code samples.Try the ''Books and Software'' link at the top, and see if you can find a good book on Computer Graphics.   Superpig- saving pigs from untimely fates, and when he''s not doing that, runs The Binary Refinery.Enginuity1 | Enginuity2 | Enginuity3;  I would also suggest making a very simple game to start with just so you get the hang of how DirectX works.  That will also give you the satisfaction of actually finishing something rather than starting something to difficult and getting really discuraged with the project. ;quote:Original post by OneBitWonder  I would also suggest making a very simple game to start with just so you get the hang of how DirectX works.  That will also give you the satisfaction of actually finishing something rather than starting something to difficult and getting really discuraged with the project.   Also along with what he said, you should probably brush up on your math skills as well, because 3d games require a lot, from a graphics engine to a physics engine, depending on the complexity of the game, so I would recommend that you brush up on your Calc skills if you want to make something nice, graphics programming is very math intensive no theory` ;  Thank you for all the replys. Is there any step by step basic 3D game tutorial so I have the basic idea what I need to do in the future? Like some actual coding? I am not sure what I need to do with the Math too, what kinda of calcuation I need to do? ;quote:Original post by vegeta  Thank you for all the replys. Is there any step by step basic 3D game tutorial so I have the basic idea what I need to do in the future? Like some actual coding? I am not sure what I need to do with the Math too, what kinda of calcuation I need to do?   Well if you''re looking for math primer to get you started, i recommend you check out flipcode.com its got some nice intro to 3D math for programming starting with basic vectors and moving up. As for actual 3D code for 3D games, the resource tab on this site does do a decent job hehehe, check out Graphics Programming & Theory articles also check out the Math\Physics ones. A good place to start might be a good book, this site shows some sweet books that could come in handy for programming really nice 3D games. I recommend books too because usually tutorials are very brief, but they do give you a good overview of what you''ll be learning. Generally a lot of math is done i believe in either a graphics engine and a physics engine, but i''m not sure if you could get some code or even tutorials with code on programming engines...i''m not sure, but i''m sure that someone else will respond to this thread and give you more help then i did. Hopefully this response helps a bit more   no theory` ;  Some tutorials on programming games/graphics are:http://nehe.gamedev.net (OpenGL)http://nexe.gamedev.net (Direct3D)http://www.gametutorials.com (both)In terms of 3D graphics programs (like Maya or 3DS Max), I would suggest trying Amazon (http://amazon.souceforge.net).  It''s an open source 3-d modeller. ;quote:Original post by nickwinters  Some tutorials on programming games/graphics are:http://nehe.gamedev.net (OpenGL)http://nexe.gamedev.net (Direct3D)http://www.gametutorials.com (both)In terms of 3D graphics programs (like Maya or 3DS Max), I would suggest trying Amazon (http://amazon.souceforge.net).  It''s an open source 3-d modeller.   Oh yea i just remembered too...if you want to work with 3d modelers check out www.3dlinks.com they''ve got some sweet tutorials for many diff kind of 3d modelers. They have stuff on Maya, Truespace, 3D Studio Max and Milkshape. from my opinion i just suggest taking it a step at a time   no theory` 