"Civilization IV"... Confirmed?

[Vince278]

Originally posted by Toby Rowe
Is C++ still the most common programming language?

Pretty much.

[Toby Rowe]

Niptium,

Seems I have some learning to do then.

When did the French get involved in the Falklands?

I think the Portugese discoved this uninhabited chain of Islands in the 1500's, then nothing untill the 1800's when the UK took an interest- it eventually became a coaling station for the South Atlantic fleet of the Royal Navy, once Whalers forced the reluctant government to act.

But I'm sure the Norwegian Whalers also played a part in forcing the government to act on the Island group east of the Falklands. (South Georgia is one), and I bet the Argentinians were then not even an issue- I do know the UK left, resettled, left, the the Argentinians settled West or East Falkland, then we came back again etc. A muddled history, but I didn't know of any French connection! Have you any site to point me to?

It is however a mute point for me- They must decide to join a nation on the mainland 400 miles away, or become independent from the UK, the current situation is bonkers in 2000+.

I'll give an example of relics of colonialism and the modern world:

Pitcairn Island the BBC reported is having an entire UK court shipped to the island to investigate allegations of child abuse amongst the 47 people that live there. If they haven't already become inbreed I'll be shocked.

All the Islanders have condemned the UK government for "not understanding their way of life" Good.

So tell them to go independent- all 47 of them, but take the nippers away first. (I know nothing more). Bet ya Pitcairn was there for ropes for Frigates 200 years ago- inbreed abusers amongst the 47 it now seems.

Colonialism ended with WWII, but some nations are stuck with relic's from it. (I did/do love EU and EUII though!!) If 47 people tell us we don't "understand them", damn right we don't if my government considers it serious enough to transport an entire court by ship to the Island.

Toby

[Vince278]

Originally posted by Toby Rowe
Is C++ still the most common programming language?

I forgot to mention that Java is becoming a strong contender and supposedly can do much of what you can do with C++.

(I've always been a Turbo Pascal/Pascal/Delphi fan myself )

[Toby Rowe]

Vince,

I reckon Trip has the key sentence:

"But you've only got two options. Learn C++ or take what they give you."

combined with;

"That and learning C++ and making your own game that fulfills all of your wildest dreams."

For me in the UK, I oddly dream of a "frontier" railway game set in the US, annoyingly an Austrian company (Boris games) was making exactly that in the early '90's, then JoWood also of Austria brought the company and that was the end of that for a game (they used some of the code for a cowboy game instead, but Boris Games and the idea both ceased to exist.

Another idea- A true depiction of the War of Independence- or the first Civil War- fascinating period anyway, but the Colonists split between expansion v native americans/colonial government attitude, but saddled with the lowest taxes of all within the empire. (An average Bostonian paid 1/40th tax compared to a counterpart in Britain)

Imagine going, as Washington, to a farmhouse to see if he might barter or be given some food, yet not knowing if the farm is loyalist or rebel.......

I await an honest game on this subject- A real history- Paradox (Sweden) of EUII fame would be good- The Swedes were honest enough to say "we don't wanna govern our new world settlements any more- who wants 'em? (England and Holland got em))

So tackling the War of Independence could be fun for them, considering how half-hearted the Swedes were at onsett.

Toby

[Jon Shafer]

I tinker with my own programs... though they become more like jobs than hobbies the more and more hours I pour into them.

[Toby Rowe]

Trip/Vince,

So after my ramblings, which code has a future?

Anyone that's interested in learning coding with game ideas fancy forming a club to encourage each other?- I'd love to learn but at the moment don't even know of recommended books to learn by- Trip and Vince!!

Toby

[Jon Shafer]

If you want to learn any language (and are interested in games) then I definitely recommend C++.

As far as books, I must admit I don't really know any good ones. I stopped by my local library to sharpen my skills, but a lot of my knowledge I've acquired through school.

Over at CFC there is a thread about Python, another language which will be embedded within CIV's C++, giving players the ability to modify a great deal of the game, including the AI and other important things. There's about 20 people signed up there, myself among them, with the goal of learning Python in order to be ready for when the game actually comes out.

That would be infinitely easier than trying to actually code a game from scratch. I've done it a few times and spent a few months on a game, and I'm still no where near done. It's a massive undertaking to make a real game.

[Toby Rowe]

Trip,

Ultimatly there must be a bunch of us that want to make a game, once we learn a language, learning to a level that allowed us to toy with a Civ 4 game if needed would be great, but shouldn't form a goal at start- that's for you lot to do.

My reasoning is thus; (this post was made at the JoWood forum for "Railroad Pioneer";

Thanks anyway for departing the information mate, however, this string of bugged code gets 1/10 for me- the 1 point is simply for releasing a title in a subject area unlikely to appeal to the mass market of 17 year-old morons like my son brought up on Playstations.

Heavy advertistising by a collective of PC game publishers advertising together at key periods will only help to halt the decline of PC games, as we are now only a couple of years away from the latest generation of parents accusomed to console gaming only. (The kids given a Megadrive in 1994 are the next generation of parents and the PC publishers need to act now-together)

Providing a uniform standard for Video/Sound card drivers must be first as a priority- it is the cause of so many problems, and both industries are contributing ultimately to their own demise.

Toby

I certainly want PC games to exist, but feel like all companies are ensuring ultimate failure- they can't even see the threat, let alone talk to each other, even though none are in competition with another.


Toby

[Vince278]

If you want to code games then C++ is the way to go for now. However, if you never programmed before that is a tough first language to learn. Start with the fundamentals of Basic (GW, Q, and Visual) first then try something meatier like Pascal. Once you are comfortable with Object Oriented Programming you may be ready for C++. Don't stop there - broaden your horizons with Java and something at a lower level like Assembler. After you get a handle on C++ just start looking for the books that explain how to do whatever you need to do (graphics, sound, DirectX, ActiveX, ad infinitum...).

[Toby Rowe]

Vince,

Thanks for the time- from what you say C++ isn't an option at onsett, so any idea's for books? If Amazon in the US sell it, then I can buy it in the UK. In order to learn at home, I need a book!! But C++ still seems the important one?

Toby (any reccomendation- I can't believe you were self-taught for a foreign language!!- coding of course).

It's a straight forward question that needs a straight forward reply- C++ or another, if C++ what books?

Toby

[Toby Rowe]

Nickoli, Herreson,

Who was the last person to improve the internal combustion engine?

Taking a great idea and making it even better is not a preserve of the Arms trade, of which Germany is an active member with tanks as usual: It's called progress, and to not not implement the best features from past models would be called stupidity in any language.

If your last Mark (MkI etc) was essentially great, would you try to design an improved version, or pretend that even the idea didn't exist in the first place?

Toby

[Vince278]

What book to buy to learn C++ from scratch? That a tough one. Thats like buying a book on karate so you can learn how to be a black belt.

[Jon Shafer]

I would suggest using online tutorials to learn the basics of programming. The best language to start with is probably BASIC, though if you find that easy you could try something else like Java which has quite a bit of documentation and some good tutorials.

After that, go to your local library. I don't know any really good C++ books so I can't recommend buying any. Your best bet is to try out what they've got at the library and see how each works for you.

[Toby Rowe]

Cheers you two, no easy way out then to combine with my impatience!!!

I may be 41 but after viewing the self-destruction of the the PC gaming industry over the last 5 years someone must fill the void once the (share quoted) companies vanish. Our only other choice is consoles, I shudder at the thought, and would love to meet any programmer for console games.

Toby

[Vince278]

I feel your pain Toby. Many times I wanted to learn more about programming for the same reasons. If I had more money I'd probably hire people to do the dirty work for me.