   uber n00b needs help
  Im still sort of a newbie. I know C++, but i dont know anything about windows API programming nor linux GUI programming. in essence, i have no experience in gui programming. I want to learn OpenGL and DirectX but i have no idea where to start. should i learn how to use visualC++ first? or should i just jump into the newest DX or OGL book that i can find. 
  http://nehe.gamedev.net ;  Well first, you have to learn at least a little Win32 (or equivalent).  The definative book on the subject is Charles Petzold's Programming Windows (5th ed), but if you don't want to invest money in that you can find some good tutorials through google.  And keep the sdk documentation handy.  The sdk comes with Visual C++ (or Visual Studio), but you can download it also.  I haven't done any programming on linux, so I can't help you there.As for directx and opengl.  The directx sdk (which you can get here) comes with quite a lot of documentation, including some beginer tutorials.  Nehe (as SirKnight suggested) is a good place to learn opengl.  And if you run into any trouble, feel free to ask on gamedev.  [edited by - Rayno on February 2, 2004 3:51:00 AM];  Depends in my opinion. I started off with OpenGL and the OpenGL Super Bible 2nd Edition.It starts off with the glut libs, so you don''t necessarily have to know a lot about windows programming. And once you understood the OpenGL basics it moves on to the windows specific stuff.I liked this approach, but that''s dependent on the individual.NeHe is also a good place to learn Direct X from. It''s then called NeXe though ;  If you do go DirectX, be sure to get the SDK... it may be absolutely huge, but it is a great resource for everything you can think of (or... everything that Microsoft can think of).   Yes... VB6 is here to steal your minds. Very slowly. ;  Try the DirectX sample. Chances are if you are writing a game you are going to have the most minimal of Windows, assuming we are on a Wintel box, enviornment setup. You aren''t going to be checking the application state, menus, or buttons. Your game would probably be full screen as well. If you are going to start with DirectX look through the samples included with the SDK it gives you a chance to see how DX uses it, and the rest you can look up through the internet.Good luck!   Sam--Tread Wars - Tank Battle gamePowered by SKEnginehttp://www.highendgaming.com ;  I recommend going through the first 4 tutorials here: http://www.winprog.org/tutorial/.Then go through the tutorials in the DX SDK and try www.drunkenhyena.com too.   ___________________________________________________________Proceeding on a brutal rampage is the obvious choice.Where to find the intensity  (Updated Jan 23, 2004) ;  Defenately start with windows first, because you need to create a window before direct X can take it over (note, this takes about 100 lines with my coding style in C++). Alternativly you can use SDL www.sdlLib.org , which is a much easier (and cross-platform) graphics API.   The true general first seeks victory, then seeks battle- Sun Tzu ;  Thanks guys for the help.Im probably going to dive into a VC++ book i can probably borrow from school. Im probably going to start off with DX8 (or 9) because i hear its a bit easier then openGL is. ;  http://www.ultimategameprogramming.com/index2.phphas some good tutorials on many differnet aspects fo game programming.  Been trying to work my way through them myself.   Nick Smolneynsmolney@eden.rutgers.edu 