How easy is PureBasic to learn for game programming?

Haplo · Post by **Haplo** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 9:01 pm

Hi I am looking for a easy to learn development platform for 2D and eventually 3D games (simple puzzle games to start with). I am a beginner when it comes to programming but am eager to learn.

My question is how does PureBasic compare to the following platforms (I am looking for ease to learn as well as general compatibility for games)

Blitz3D
IBpro (I know it's just been released but I am hopeful someone has been testing it)

I understand that posting on the PureBasic forum invites heaps of praise towards PureBasic but I have noticed that quite a few of the seasoned users own quite a few different development packages and the general tone on this forum seems open.

Many thanks in advance.

Henrik · Post by **Henrik** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 11:04 pm

Haplo wrote: I understand that posting on the PureBasic forum invites heaps of praise towards PureBasic .. snip...

Not Really, we don't need to,

But
Forget about IBpro (.)
Games and only Games? The for now, Blitz3D (Not Blitz+)
Apps and games? then PureBasic, as 3Dstuff - Blitz3DLike- is comming soon to PureBasic.

Best Regards
Henrik

blueznl · Post by **blueznl** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 6:38 am

dunno, download the demo and play around a little

i've never done blitz (but i've never done pamela either

sorry, other thread) but i've heard good things about blitz

i came from gfabasic, and purebasic just felt a little more 'right' for the switch, and i like the community here, they're pretty good and responsive

purebasic is not there yet for 3d, and there is still quite some other stuff to be done, but it's slowly (well, not that slowly actually

) getting there...

Danilo · Post by **Danilo** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 7:34 am

Haplo wrote:How easy is PureBasic to learn for game programming?

The answer is: its easy, like BlitzBasic and any other Basic language.

You have to learn program structures (if..else..while..wend)
and the commands/functions you need for game programming
(commands for loading+playing sounds, creating and display
sprites etc..).

This stuff is easy in all languages, it doesnt matter if you want
to use PureBasic or BlitzBasic - both are easy to learn for game
programming.
Both are BASIC languages and the general stuff (keywords, program flow)
doesnt differ much, the commands are different - but easy to use on both systems.

But: Game programming in general isnt that easy (depends what
games you want to make). You need to learn algorithms, data
structures for games, write a storyline, create game data (sound,
pictures, animations, AI/scripts).

You use the programming language only as a tool for putting
your content and ideas together to an actual running game.

I say: It doesnt really matter for you (as a beginner) what
system you choose for learning game programming.
Try both and see yourself what you like most... or just buy PB
if the price counts too...

MadMax · Post by **MadMax** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 5:06 pm

PB is perfect for any kind of 2D game, Blitz3D is very good as well.

I prefer PureBasic for the following:

-nice small executables.
-wonderful "Linked Lists"
-easy to mix 2D with 3D.
-Static, Protected, Shared variables in procedures make it very easy to make reusable code.
-fun flexible language to use.
-great comunity, loads of source around, people like to help.
-a growing language that gets better with every update.
-I could go on and on.

But my advice is download demos and try before you buy. One man's food can be another one's poison.

The seperator · Post by **The seperator** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:14 pm

Well you can forget writing descent 3d games on your one. You'll have to
work in a team. And if you are going to use purebasic you are limited to
the OGRE egine, but you can write your one engine of course.

Not to forget that you'll have to learn how to create meshes and
terain and the most difficult and time-robing part: Artwork, specialFX,
Level design and storyline.

2d games are much easier to program. The usage of sprites are easy to
understand. If you realy want to check your programming skills try to write a boardgame like check or checkers (wich uses sprites and has AI).

Moonshine · Post by **Moonshine** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 10:46 pm

Personally I think PB is fantastic for 2d games (just look at Restricted Area for proof), it gives a lot more control over the aspects of the engine than things like Blitz. And is it not possible to use different 3d engines with Pure?

Haplo · Post by **Haplo** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 11:01 pm

Thanks for all the feedback all

I am not too worried regarding 3D atm. I think it's better to walk before you try to run

I would love to make a puzzle game like one of my all time fav retro games 'Columns'

Now back to learning 'hello world...'

nhokem · Post by **nhokem** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:10 am

I have and use both PureBasic and BlitzPlus, but I find I'm now using BlitzPlus less and less. At first glance, BlitzPlus is a little easier to get a 2d game going (once you get used to BlitzPlus' Type structure), but you have a LOT more control of the programming environment with PB. Not sure how Blitz3D is (since I'm not really interested in 3D programming), although from code snippits I've seen, it looks pretty similar to BlitzPlus (and in some ways to PB also). One major downside of BlitzPlus for me has been the lack of any consistant updates (due to Blitz3D and the forthcoming BlitzMax having priority). Since I'm more interested in doing strategy games (mostly card/dice/boardgames) and the occasional util/app, PB is the way to go for me...though I have a LOT more to learn.

I tried the IBasic demo a while back, and found it to be more like QuickBasic/VisualBasic as far as syntax was concerned. Since I was just starting to learn BlitzPlus at that time, I decided to look elsewhere (even though I've used both QB and VB in the past)...I definitely like the idea of manipulating "gadgets". I also found the IBasic IDE to be a little too basic (forgive the pun). As a side note, the reason I was looking for a different language than BlitzPlus was because I wanted better use of structures (as I noted earlier, Blitz's TYPE command takes some getting used to and is just not as accessible as PB's STRUCTURE command).

After having said all that...I would agree with the earlier suggestions to try all the demos and see which is more comfortable for you.

User Mike · Post by **User Mike** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:49 am

PureBasic is definitly fantastic for anything 2D. As far as 3D, there's two aspects to it. The interal 3D engine is fairly good, yet it hasn't been expanded upon enough. BUT, if you want to get dirty with OpenGL and DX the 3D can become as fast as your coding ability (When coding ability shows speed, you know you have a good language.

).

Haplo · Post by **Haplo** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 8:33 am

nhokem wrote:I tried the IBasic demo a while back...

IBasicPro is now out which is getting good reviews. I am awaiting for a demo version to be released but I have decided that PureBasic is a must have dev environment to have installed on my computer. The price and flexibility are second to none.

I have discounted Blitz more due to the fact that BlitzMax seems to have been in development for a very long time with no information getting released to it's users (they are very passionate about blitz on there official forum aren't they !!! I have noticed if any other environment gets discussed then there are a select group that go into flame mode immediately). Also Mark rarely appears on the Blitz forum and the devotees say this is good because he is busy coding instead of wasting time chatting with users. I disagree, I think you can still swing by and enter the odd discussion. Fred and Paul (IBpro) which are very hands on seem to get an enormous amount of work done and still join in the forums. This makes all the users feel part of the equation and not alienated.

I also took a quick look at DBpro but it seems to be very buggy and I need to know that the reason a project doesn't work is down to my own lack of coding skill and not due to a buggy environment.

I am looking forward to learning PureBasic and I will try my best not to ask any questions which are too stupid (no promises mind

)

Moonshine · Post by **Moonshine** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 9:16 am

If you were to check out DBPro news youd find that this month theyre putting time aside to shift off a current in development product and concentrtate soley on bugfixes. Furthermore the new product is being written in DBPro, therefore any bugs they have come across during development have been eliminated. I use it for 3d stuff only, Im getting PB for the windows GUI and 2d stuff.

nhokem · Post by **nhokem** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 1:34 pm

Haplo wrote:PureBasic is a must have dev environment

definitely agree with you there!

Haplo wrote:I have discounted Blitz...

also agree with most of your statements here. i haven't totally stopped using Blitz, though, only because I can get a "quick & dirty" app out much faster with Blitz...but that's mostly because i'm still trying to get the hang of PB. with more experience, i'm sure PB will be just as easy. the other thing going for Blitz that i didn't mention is it currently has a lot more code examples/tutorials out there, but PB is starting to gain ground...

Haplo wrote:I will try my best not to ask any questions which are too stupid (no promises mind )

the forum here is top notch!!! but i have seen the occasional question meet with, shall we say, unenthusiastic response

i just do a lot of searching first and have found most of my answers that way...besides, its much more rewarding solving my own problems...

Henrik · Post by **Henrik** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 3:53 pm

Well.. Wellcome Haplo

Check out this link for PB SourceSnips and UserLibraries
http://www.purearea.net/

Best Regards
Henrik

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 4:34 pm

Hi Haplo

Here are some games I threw together a few years back when I was trying the various sprite/graphic commands in PureBasic.
http://www.reelmedia.org/hs
http://www.reelmedia.org/lady
http://www.reelmedia.org/tributoids
http://www.reelmedia.org/dewline

As you can see, most of them were compiled under both Windows and Linux (I was seeing how well they would cross compile)

I find it very fast and easy to create both apps and 2D games with PureBasic.

I also own Blitz3D. I use PureBasic for 2D because I find games run faster, the file size is hundreds of MB's smaller, and PureBasic is more flexible.

On the other hand if you want to do 3D, PureBasic in it's current state can't touch Blitz3D. Blitz3D is a strong stable platform for 3D and there are many tools available depending on what you want to do with it. (modellers, light mappers, texture mappers, terrain editors, etc.)

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How easy is PureBasic to learn for game programming?

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