Programming tutor wanted

Hey all,

I really want to become a better B+ programmer, but I suck, and the tutorials I find only cover basic stuff. I want to make my very complex, SNES-quality games, as well as finally form my game studio. I want to overcome the obstacles, ridicule, rejection and neglect that newcomer developers often encounter. I don't want to be a perpetual n00b.

I'm looking for an expert Blitz programmer to help me with making various projects, prefuerably communicating using AIM. If you want, I might pay you, but that depends on how much you'll be charging.

Here's my contact information.

Email:

phat_Cormy3@... (it's such a lame address, it embarrasses me every time I look at it :()

AIM:

Davinfeive

Please respond, and no degrading posts please.

Not trying to pull your leg, and I'm certainly not claiming I'm very good (not entirely crap, but there are ppl around who're better), but I guess I'm at least more experienced than you are, and even *I* wouldn't just be able to do SNES-quality games.

Most game stuff is just dull programming work, like databases 'n such. I don't think there's much specific B+ to learn if you want to learn to do games (which, if you ask me, is just like ordinary programming anyway). After all, what's the diff between B+ and, say, Pascal with a gfx-lib? So, you prolly need generic programming experience, after which you can apply it in B+/max/3d, C#/C++/Delphi etc. It's just a matter of a new syntax to learn.

train yourself, use the forums, ask sensible questions (and you won't be ridiculed), check the code examples and FAQs, and keep on going ... for YEARS. that's how you get good.

Some people will probably disagree with this, but if you really want to become a professional programmer and form a studio then you should learn a mainstream programming language not a niche RAD tool like B+ .

I would suggest if your really serious about competing with all the other 2D games available (both free and comercial) many of which are done to a VERY high standard then choose a cross-platform language to broaden your audience.

Lastly, as has already been said there's no quick way to mastering any programming language; you just have to keep bashing away it over the course of numerous little projects getting better as you go. Tutoring could speed up this process but won't eliminate it.

Darkheart

Classic! There are always people who are better, but I'd definitely classify you as being an expert programmer.

Still the only way to get better is to practice. If you want to take Darkhearts advice and start with (say) Java, then Bruce Eckels Thinking in Java, is the only book you'll ever need. It teaches both the language and good programming practices in general. I thought I was a fairly accomplished programmer when I read it (I had been programming professionally for the better part of ten years) but it definitely improved my skills. It was also the book that finally made OOD and OOP finally click.

Hello.


Not exactly true; I might call him a turnip-eating butt-munch just for the sheer delight of doing so. Ha!

But yes, practice is the way to go. A good grounding in data structures, program structures, standard algorithms will benefit you in whatever language (generally speaking, guys) you choose. And, of course, vinegar on the fingertips :o)

Anyway, stop wasting our time, you rancid sack of toe-jam!

Goodbye.

Oh and you might find books useful, but then again they are becoming somewhat outmoded.

Learning another langauge like C++ (ooh sorry, showing my age, C#) is probably a good idea as bit's of it are simialr and bit's different from BMax so it'll get you thinking about those differences and understanding them more.

But C++ is faster and therefore better IMO - age doesn't come into it Jake. :-P

Assembly language, then I could understand.

Hello.

Ah, but assembly language is fun. Seriously, I so used to enjoy coding it.

Goodbye.

Why? Assembly is "faster" (thus better by your metric), more compact (thus better by my metric) and more productive (thus better by everyone elses metric) than C++.

Yes but assembly is an old low level language, C++ is not - you have to draw the line somewhere on speed against development time FlameDuck. ;-)

yeah I used to code assembly on several 8 bit platforms, on 680x0 (Amiga) and also 6800 (PC DOS) so I'm a teeny bit old skool.

The whole point of 'higher level' langauges like C++ (I will not class the .NET langauges, as technically they are interpreted) is that its easer to code and find bugs. And with todays hardware who would notice any real speed difference. But then I always did like a challenge, get the fasm out with the Intel x86 instruction reference books and lets get coding!

Does anyone even write ENTIRE programs in asm anymore, except for small specialized hardware control programs and small modules that need to be lightning fast.

I thought middle level languages had pretty much taken over full time. I reckon coding a full sized 'modern' game in nothing but assembler would be a slippery slope to instant insanity for most programmers.

LOL :P, I hated it with a vengeance. Its like having to write lines at school. 100 lines of code when one will do, and other forms of mental torture :)

I quite liked it just merely due to the speed increase over basic and the total control. But it was hard to debug, crashed a lot and took ages to get anything working.

@D2, I am guessing by all this talk about asm that nobody is really interested in tutoring you. I really recommend getting Learn to Program 2D Games in BlitzBasic plus the existing tutorials on this site and then posting for advice when you need it.

Hello.

I think assembly would be a viable option still IF we had single platforms to work on. Alas, the multiplicity of PC components and set up would tend to make it a little bit more tricky.

@tonyg: I think we've given the best advice we can. As usual, D2 is welcome to ask questions. The peanut-headed, mother-loving, trouser-soiler that he is ;o)

Goodbye.