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From the internet to games

I am a major web developer. I know PHP, a bit of Python and Ruby. JavaScript is also [some things]. I am not a hardcore developer. I know what it takes to develop most web corps.

Now I have a desire to go deeper and start developing games. I know this sounds like a huge leap, but that's why I ask here. I already have ideas for games. These would be simple 2D games with platinum formats, and I would like to know what is the best way to get started.

I do not want to start with Flash. I am looking for work with other things. I have already started inspecting the structure of Unity 3D and UDK, but I just don’t know how to start.

So, any hints, tips or suggestions?

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You must understand why you want to study. If you are interested in making money, developing small offline games is probably not a good idea. If you are only interested in the basics of learning, there are many good libraries.

Some examples:

Link

http://code.reddit.com/wiki/help/faqs/programming#WhatprogramminglanguageshouldIuseformynewgame

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Python Pygame is definitely a good choice, as others have said. If you want to do deep programming of video games, then ... go on to something like C ++ or another lower-level language. From experience, most higher-level languages ​​tend to create artificial obstacles to decent video games. Although for a simple 2nd game, you cannot go wrong with python.

Another suitable environment to use is Ogre3d, but you will need C ++ or PyOgre bindings (which are not updated, but I heard that they work fine).

The transition from web design to the game is really a worthy step if you have a good sense of design. physics and game logic can be studied, but so far no one can be seen who can correctly learn how to write a decent graphical interface. As can be seen in most cases these days, the final GUI schedule tends to be a process of elimination or beta testing with trial and error.

The only suggestion I have left is to keep your game logic as far away from your graphics as possible. Be modular.

-edit- oh and note. Stay away from Tkinter in python for something more than a simple tool. I found it the most frustrating to use. there are wxPython, GTK, pygame and PyQT .. and all of them (in my opinion) are much better graphic frames.

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A good starting point would be to try a turn-based game or two if PHP is currently your main strength. They work on HTTP, bounce requests and responses back and forth, while the action platformer is a completely different beast - you can make an HTTP request to register a high score or information of a level of definition, but the actual game process must be started by the client so that support any sense of action - either Javascript, or canvas, or Flash, if it's a web interface.

There are some (mostly dead, but) open source turn-based PHP games that are worth a look to understand some common concepts - the wittyly named phpMud and phpMMORPG come to mind, as well as several card and card games.

This is just a child’s step towards what you want to do, and it may not sound like fun, but a programming game of any kind involves a lot of knowledge and hard work. Designing maps and systems mechanics, animation and visual effects, physics, hitboxes, tons of maths around the world and the hardest part, making it all work fine is the struggle for something to work, and the total war to get it "to the right "

However, if you just want to get up on your elbows in the platformer to see what he likes and your Javascript is strong enough, this article set is a great starting point. Brent Silby made some neat shmups and platformers, which were also presented on canvas, also deserve attention.

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Looking at your tags, web games are mainly related to customers, and since you are not going to use flash, I would say that JavaScript will work for 2D. With all the libraries and plugins out there, JavaScript can handle this.

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A look at OpenGL cannot be a terrible idea. You can use the library in many languages ​​and be supported in HTML5 (WebGL). There are some great tutorials out there.

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If you want to learn more about Python, you can use PyGame or an equivalent program. However, PHP, Ruby and JavaScript will not help you in the video games section. All are connected to the Internet.

If you want to start very easily, try Genesis3D. You can create awesome 3D FPS games, and its pretty easy to get a hang too. Took me only 5 days: D

The unity made me hurt my stomach, and there was also a Blender3D engine, so I personally say that I have not used it. It scared me.

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