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Learn to program 2D games book

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 4:47 pm
by Krylar
Hiya

I see a number of familiar names on this board! I go by the alias "Krylar" and I was the founder of BlitzCoder (for those of you who use/have used Blitz Basic). So, hi!

I'm came over to PureBasic for a couple of reasons...a) it looks like a really cool language, and b) I'm currently in the process of converting all the Blitz source for my book "Learn to Program 2D Games in Blitz Basic" over to PureBasic. I spoke with Fred and also my publisher (Idigicon) about converting my first book for PureBasic users in order to help some of the newer folks into the game development aspects. Both were very receptive of the idea, so here I am.

In the process I'm certain to have a ton of questions on how to do things in PB because I'm used to BB. I hope you'll all be patient with me as I struggle to pick things up quickly...I'm shooting for the full book port to be done by end of summer <gulp> ;)

I also have planned another grouping of books and have made sure to include PB in all of them. For more information, check my sig and click the "writing" link. You'll see that I've set myself up to be quite busy with writing over the next couple of years, and couple that with family and a more than full-time job and you'll probably correctly surmise I'm nearly (or clearly) insane :D

Seriously though, I'm very excited with working with PB and have found it a lot of fun so far, and this community seems great. Looking forward to working with you all.

All the best,

-Krylar

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 5:01 pm
by LarsG
Hi Krylar.. welcome..

Sounds like a nice project.. Hope you pull it off.. I think it would be great for the community... :D

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 5:03 pm
by Fred
Welcome Krylar :wink:

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 5:06 pm
by Andre
Welcome and good luck with your project ! :D

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 5:13 pm
by User Mike
Welcome,

A purebasic 2D game book would be awesome. PureBasic is really powerful for anything 2D, and people need to realize that. Perhaps once this book is out, PB will reach an even larger audience.

Keep us updated.

:D

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 9:48 pm
by scurrier
if you need a little help i have a game demo on my site fully comented just download from
http://www.3dcurrman.com
then under Programming Tutorial it is fully comented and has all the graphics

good luck
Sean

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:34 pm
by Krylar
Hiya,

Thanks for the welcome!

I'll be working on porting all the code first so I can learn the language details. Then I'll go back and port the text so it reflects the true nature of PB as opposed to BB. I would imagine that doing this should only be about 2-3 months of effort (because of work, another book due in the fall, and real-life issues...ya know? :D). But it should be completed and submitted to Idigicon for printing by late summer.

Got the link to the tutorials and I will check them out. Thanks for that.

All the best,

-Krylar

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 12:04 am
by Kris_a
Hi Krylar, please add a password recovery feature to 'Coder ^_^

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 12:44 am
by MadMax
Hi Krylar, nice to have you around.

I have your book :)

I'm a 2D freak, so if you need any help, feel free to ask.

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:30 am
by Henrik
Welcome Krylar :D
MadMax wrote: I have your book :)
Dito.

I'm not a 2D freak so don't ask
but i buy your new book instead, when it comes, if it's okay with you :wink:

Best regards
Henrik.

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 12:40 pm
by Kale
Hiya Krylar, cant wait to read this new book and i must say your song 'Kantagh' rocks major ass!!! COME ON!!! <Thrash metal freak here :twisted: >

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 5:04 pm
by Krylar
please add a password recovery feature to 'Coder ^_^
LOL. Well, actually, I stepped down as Admin a few months ago because I wanted to focus on coding and writing these books. The pw recovery *should* be on the front page and working...but I'll let the new Admin (Specis) know about it ;)
I'm a 2D freak, so if you need any help, feel free to ask.
I'm definately going to need people to look over the text and such. I'm doing a one-to-one port of MOST of the BB book, so you should already be aware of it. Obviously, I'll be fixing some *cough* errors *cough* in the BB book too.

Also, note that I talked with SurreaL, the BlitzPlay creator and he's seriously considering porting his lib over to PB...PurePlay, I believe he's thinking to call it. That would be awesome so I can really make the book a pure port (with some additional goodies, of course, since PB has some additional nice features that BB doesn't).
I'm not a 2D freak so don't ask
but i buy your new book instead, when it comes, if it's okay with you
Not a 2D freak?!?! How's this possible...everyone should be a 2D freak! hehe, just kidding. 3D maybe? I'll be working on that in 2005 :D
i must say your song 'Kantagh' rocks major ass!!! COME ON!!! <Thrash metal freak here >
Hey, thanks! I'm actually working on a Christian metal album at the moment...in my spare time (like there is any). I don't know if you're familiar with the band Iced Earth???, but I have their latest "The Glorious Burden" album. If you check out the last 3 songs you'll get the idea of what I'm going for. It's not thrash, per se, but rather a themed concept metal album.

The point of it is to make a full album that all shares musically, lyrically, and certainly conceptually...as opposed to just a bunch of individual songs slapped on an album. I know it's not revolutionary or new (concept albums, that is), but that's the kind of thing I'm shooting for. So, if you liked "Kantagh", which is a themed song I wrote for a SciFi book that I'll never finish writing (hehe), you may like this as well. It'll be a looooooong time before it's done though. Probably over a year.

-Krylar

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 6:38 pm
by Brice Manuel
Welcome Krylar :wink:

It is getting hard to find an Idigicon-free programming language :roll:

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:11 pm
by Krylar
Yep, that's true. Idigicon is everywhere, which I'm personally quite glad for as I think they've been simply wonderful to work with over these last few years. Most of the people that I work with agree on that, a few don't. To each his own. ;)

All the best,

-Krylar

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:42 pm
by Brice Manuel
Krylar: Be sure to browse through PureArea.net Although PB is awesome for 2D, there are some user contributed gaming routines that are must haves for doing 2D and would likely be helpful for your work/book:

Pure Tools: http://purearea.net/pb/download/userlib ... I_016b.zip

and

SpriteEx: http://purearea.net/pb/download/userlibs/SpriteEx.zip

Both are extremely useful. (IMHO)

FWIW Krylar, The Idigicon comment was an "observation", not a flame. I generally don't hold grudges and I always try and keep issues/feelings about one community separate from another. I apologize for my comments in the past. I have no ill will towards you and sincerely welcome you to the PB Community. :) Your efforts will be an asset to the community. Pbers having a book on 2D gaming should be very helpful and encourage a lot more people to try PB for gaming.

Peace Bro