   Languages
  I know VB6 fairly well, and am currently creating a tile based RPG. I eventually want to make a 3D game, possibly an MMO (long-term goal) once I am done with my current project. My question is, should I stick with VB6, which I already know fairly well, or should I switch to something more powerful, such as C++ or Java, and start over? How hard would it be to transfer from VB6 to C++/Java/Python/some other langauge? Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated.   
  I do not want to tell you what language to use, but from my understanding transitioning from VB to C# will be much easier than learning Java or C++.If VB will do everything you want the way you want it as fast as you want it, don't switch languages just because someone tells you it's a better language.   ;  I think that Python would present many of the same problems as VB for developing a 3D game. I have zero experience in Python but I haven't heard of a lot of 3D games being developed in it.Quote:How hard would it be to transfer from VB6 to C++/JavaDo you mean how easily can you learn C++ and Java or how easily can you port VB6 code to C++/Java?If you mean learn, I've found that I can usually look at code in most languges even stuff I'm not slightly familiar with, and be able to grasp what it does roughly. Once you get into a programming mindset you can pick up most languages pretty easily. Well except maybe  BrainF*** And I'm not saying you need to switch there have certainly been 3D games made in VB. But good development tools are pretty much in the C++ domain. And the bigger your projects get the more you have to consider things like that.Also there aren't exactly hordes of 3D experienced VB coders out there and if you want to do an MMO in any language you're going to need help.Learing a new language can be frustrating while you're inexperienced at it, but its pretty rewarding once you've got it down[smile].[Edited by - Ranger50000 on August 30, 2006 12:43:45 AM];  I'd recommend C#. It has much of the high-level potency of VB6, without a lot of the crufty language features that make the Basic family vulnerable to bad coding habits. C# Express is available for free, of course, which is a hard deal to beat.The main bonus of C# is that it will give you access to Managed DirectX, which is hands-down the most convenient way to make a full 3D game, assuming you want to write the engine yourself. Alternately you could take a look at Torque or other similar off-the-shelf 3D engines that will let you get good 3D graphics without requiring in-depth C++ knowledge (Torque lets you write game logic in TorqueScript, for example).Of course there's also VB.Net, which will be closer to VB6 in terms of syntax; however, I'd lean towards C# for a handful of reasons: migrating to VB.Net syntax when all you know is VB6 can be very, very confusing (speaking from experience); VB.Net and C# are basically equivalent languages with different syntax anyways; and learning C# will get you used to the "curly braces" family of languages (which includes C, C++, Java, Perl, PHP, and a host of others).Learning your second language will be slightly sticky, but much easier than learning your first. I'd recommend picking up a third language as quickly as possible as well - try L# for a Lisp dialect that can use the .Net framework. The third language usually goes pretty easy. After that, picking up additional languages is pretty much a cinch.;  I'd have to agree with all thats been said,I started with VB (and absolutly hated it), then switched to c# (like the launguage but wanted more detailed controll) so switched to c++ (love it).However from what youve said id recommend c# beacuase it hides alot of the rough stuff from you but still lets u get to it when u really need to.   ;  I'm mainly thinking of what will have the most power, flexibility, and ease, for creating 3D games. I have heard that OpenGL is one of the best ways to go about 3D, however I don't know of any tutorials for it for VB, or if it is even possible/worth it with VB.Also, what are the differences between C/C#/C++? What are the advantages/disadvantages for each of them? I have also heard that is exactly like C++ in many ways. I don't really care how similar it is to VB, as long as it has good 3D support and isn't TOO difficult to learn."The main bonus of C# is that it will give you access to Managed DirectX, which is hands-down the most convenient way to make a full 3D game, assuming you want to write the engine yourself."Yes, I would like to write the engine myself. I'm only in highschool right now (freshman), but in the future I would like to pursue a career in programming, and I think creating the engine myself would benefit me a lot more than using one someone else has made."Also there aren't exactly hordes of 3D experienced VB coders out there and if you want to do an MMO in any language you're going to need help."I know I will need lots of help. Once I get to that point, I am going to start VERY small, I'm not going to create a full MMORPG. I just want to learn how to do it, mainly. Then maybe I'll consider making a full MMORPG, if I can get some good help.I have already looked into a little bit of C++, and learned the basic syntax for if statements, loops, etc. But thats about as far as I got. I have heard of http://www.cprogramming.com, which is supposedly a good site for learning C++, and it looks like it has some OpenGL tutorials. If I decide to go with C++, I will probably try this site to start with, and see how good it is. Does anyone have any opinions on it, or any other good sites for learning C++?   ;  At the very least, you might as well upgrade to VB.net 2005. Visual Studios 2005 is free now, so it's not even going to cost you anything. VB 6 is pretty ancient as far as compuers go.   ;Quote:Original post by Eddy999999I know VB6 fairly well, and am currently creating a tile based RPG. I eventually want to make a 3D game, possibly an MMO (long-term goal) once I am done with my current project. My question is, should I stick with VB6, which I already know fairly well, or should I switch to something more powerful, such as C++ or Java, and start over? How hard would it be to transfer from VB6 to C++/Java/Python/some other langauge? Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated.Maybe C++, if you want to know what's most used today in game development, or Java. I think no matter what language you use you will need to retool your mind from VB.Some suggested C#, but that offers no advantage over Java. The language is getting more and more complex at each new version, it's going to be more complex than C++ soon, and runs only on Windows.With Java you can easily switch to many platforms without any code change or recompilation.;Quote:Original post by Anonymous PosterSome suggested C#, but that offers no advantage over Java. The language is getting more and more complex at each new version, it's going to be more complex than C++ soon, and runs only on Windows.C# has many desirable language features that Java does not; C# will probably never be as complex as C++; C# does run on many platforms (see Mono)   ;  VB net can also do managed directx like C#.