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Asked: 2026-05-11T23:29:08+00:00

I am a hobbyist console C++ developer. I have worked with pointers, arrays, std::vectors,

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I am a hobbyist console C++ developer. I have worked with pointers, arrays, std::vectors, std::strings, classes, and several data structures, including stacks and binary trees. I have some experience in linear algebra and geometry, and know the basics of physics. I do NOT have experience with win32, QT, openGL, DX9, OGRE, etc. I am still learning about the more valuable parts of OOP, like polymorphism.

I started C++ as a first language, and do not have experience with other languages. I could probably work with C, but I’d need to get used to manipulating char*’s and regular arrays (and not initing variables).

My question is, with my experience, when should I break into the development of GUI applications/game applications? Do I need to ground myself more firmly in certain areas of math, become comfortable with win32, get used to SDK?

If this question is too subjective for you to comfortably give advice, then when did you break into GUI/game development, and what steps did you take to make yourself comfortable with it?

Editing this so it will get bumped. Does anyone else have any opinions?

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Caveat: I am a very “learn-by-doing” type of person, so take this with a grain of salt.

    Sounds like you know enough programming basics to jump into something more realistic, and have enough background to justify that realistic project being a game.

    I’d recommend downloading Visual C# Express and Microsoft’s XNA Game Studio 3.0.

    XNA is a game framework that has a lot of stuff done for you (sound, sprites, 3D support, etc.) built on a professional-quality C# platform and it would be a good starting point. Create a new XNA project and play around. Get some stuff to appear on the screen, then learn to manipulate it with user input. If you are interested in 3D, make a 3D shape such as a triangle. Then, make it spin. Then, make it spin based on user input. Then, add other objects and collisions.

    Surely, there will be things in the framework that you don’t understand. Tackle them as they come – use Google and ask questions here until you do understand them. Take it one step at a time and you should be just fine.

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