i want to start programming really simple games

[drew.]

Ok i wanna start learning how to program and i wanna learn c++ but i think that will be to overwhelming for a beginner like me.

So i think ill start with java. My brothers taking it in college so he could help me out a little. He said he uses a compiler(im new to this so i think its called a compiler) called eclipse. He can like write the code and it will show it to him or something?
So i was wondering what programs i will need to program in java.

[james8547]

Generally all you need is a compiler and editor. I don't know java so I can't help there.

[Markoman01027]

I only know HTML and I am learning C++ right now with no other language experience, and It isn't so hard as I thought it would be.

Dont be scared to make C++ your first programming language!

[LoveJones]

The bad news about programming is that even simple games like tetris are actually somewhat intermediate programming projects. So you are actually going to have to learn the language fairly well before you think about writing any game's.

It took me three classes in college before I was able to write tetris. However, I probably could have done it after the first class, since the 3rd class actually required us to write Tetris in Assembly ( NEVER AGAIN! ). That is quite possibly the most horrid assignment I've ever had.

Anyway, go through the boring stuff with C++. Really simple things like printing stuff out, formatting, creating a class and methods and then maybe putting together a linked list or something along those lines. Once you are comfortable with that you can learn how to write to the video buffer and create really simple games.

Oh yeah, one more thing on "simple games." I purchased a book on graphics engines that begins with a "simple," game which is like a stick figure tie-fighter game. The source code takes up about 30 pages in the book.

[JD'i]

Java is a little more fun to learn than c++ merely because java allows you to create visual objects a lot easier than c++. If you want to learn java, you'll need a compiler program. I use JED Plus you can get it here. http://brtc.kcc.hawaii.edu/dwyer/111/index.html
Go to the reference sections and read the JDK installation document. It will guide you throught the rest of the setup. Here's a online text on intro to java. http://www.faqs.org/docs/javap/index.html

Good luck:D