Starting to Program

[icallmedan]

I want to start programming programs, not HTML, but like small games and stuff...stuff I can do in my spare time just to get an intro to programming. I need a program that will allow me to write small programs, and be able to test them and stuff. I also would appreciate if someone could point me in the direction of some tutorials. I just want to learn a basic programming language, then eventually work my way up. But I must start simple.

Thanks.

[cypher1919]

Java Sun got some great tutorials here. http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/

[ghost2003]

why does EVERY programing tutorial start with making a program that sais "hello world"?

[Undead_Rider]

i wondered that to until one said.
"I'll start this off with a hello world like every good tutorial" lol
and the tutorial was awsume. lol smiles

[icallmedan]

I really don't want to program JAVA but rather a small game or something that is in the windows interface. Something like the pinball game for windows XP but somethign more simple than that. Thanks.

[adsta]

Just so you know, it will take you quite a while until you can start programming games. You need to have a solid understanding of the basics before you start taking on direct x or opengl.
The two main languages used today are JAVA and C++. Both can be used to make graphical programs such as games. I personally prefer using C++, but that is just me. There are plenty of tutorials out there on the net, just do a google search and you will find them. One in particular I recommend for C++ is www.cprogramming.com.
If you are only interested in making games, and want to learn fast, I recommend you learn something like BlitzBasic3D or DarkBasic Pro. Both these languages are easy to learn (as the names suggest, they are based on the BASIC language), and have 2D and 3D commands predefined.

[AerynSedai]

visual basic
you can do down and dirty, what we call "rapid application development", programs fairly quickly. it is easy to start out in, and it gets as hard as you want it to be. you could make a simple card game without too much trouble. only problem is it is expensive.

or, what would be really cool is to learn rom hacking and make/modify snes games. there are a lot of translation teams out there that need those kinds of people. or you could make your own snes game, though that might reaching a little too high.

do not do opengl or directx or any 3d programming as you need to know some 3d calculus, linear algebra, not to mention be pretty good at an existing language, like C.
The "Hello World" tutorial in opengl or directx is definitely not trivial in the least.

AS

[icallmedan]

I already knew I wasn't going to be programming any OpenGL or Direct 3D....I just wanted to start simple....I think I will try that Blitz Basic....thanks....

[S.S.Mario]

Gamemaker 5

[icallmedan]

Whoa...thanks mario....I think I will start with that...then when I get better keep moiving on....

[Shiva]

I'm so excited! I'm going to read some about it too^_^