   Require Help
    Im starting to get frustrated, I need help with my game but everywhere I look is either more complex than I need (like DirectX or OpenGL) or too basic(like if statements and for loops).   My game is 100% completey designed and we are starting the programming. It is a Massively Multiplayer Online game (Don''t tell me im over my head because I already have the server program done and I have the connection and computer for it.) You control cities and draft armies to conquer other players. The whole game is one giant map with lots of cities (like FFTactics world map but bigger) and you do most of the control with the menus. Thats where I need help:  I already know C++ and own Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 and I''m making a game with Win32 but considering the windows route. I need help, all the tutorials I read don''t tell me how to display a bmp or tell you how to do Fog of War, or make menus or have map scrolling. If someone could tell me about a book, an online tutorial or just post in the forum I would be much obliged. 
  so, yeah if you'r doing a graphics app you're going to need to learn a graphics API.  all of them are about the same difficulty to learn.  you can choose from:SDL (2-D stuff only with no 3D graphics acceleration support, i think but i could be wrong )OpenGLDirectXwithout one of those you'll be writing code that is a billion times harder than learning those APIs.so learn em.if you go the route of OpenGL, try:http://nehe.gamedev.netthere are great tutorials there.anwyay the things you say (menuing systems, fog of war, etc) are relatively advanced, from your standpoint, graphical & input related tasks.  So start by learning an API and then deal with menuing systems and fog of war.  for of war can be accomplished with a simple pixel shader btw, there was a great thread on is just the other day (search the graphics forum).-me   [edited by - Palidine on February 19, 2004 2:27:49 PM];  Thanks for the help.. I''ll check it out. ;  Thanks for the help.. I''ll check it out. 