So I've taken a little break from coding because I started a new job recently. I'm getting familiar with the work and am starting to develop a routine. The trouble is fitting coding into my already packed routine. I started learning Inkscape because my Adobe Illustrator software is incredibly outdated and purchasing a newer version is just too expensive at the moment. While redoing all of my game assets using Inkscape I've decided to keep the art assets very simple. After all I'm not the greatest artist and if I'm ever going to release my game I can't keep spending all my time creating art assets when there is plenty of programming to do. Therefore I've adopted the age old philosophy of K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid). If I'm ever going to be a successful independent game/app developer I need to understand my limits and not carry or create too much of a load to carry. When attending a class on game design the professor said something very similar and that constantly making changes to projects was the cause of failure for many aspiring developers. I need to force myself to produce results without constantly making changes. So if you're also an aspiring game/app developer take this advice, if you're working on a project
complete it before taking action on new ideas or you'll never finish your original project.
So I found a blogger whom is posting a new tutorial series about OpenTK basics. The tutorials are perfect for beginners. Although I've been programming for over 3 years now I am still a beginner because I haven't been coding regularly. But these tutorials, along with help from the OpenTK website, have provided a great path back into programming. I've already completed all available tutorials (more are expected) and have created a terrain using a heightmap. It's pretty cool flying through the terrain using the simple 3D camera. While it is easy to go through the tutorials and make small modifications, I am still planning to study the OpenTK library closely and get a thorough understanding of it and C# programming. I recommend to anyone that is interested in learning 3D graphics programming to check out these tutorials and the OpenTK website.
Tutorials - http://neokabuto.blogspot.com/p/tutorials.html OpenTK - http://www.opentk.com/ I used a sample heightmap image I downloaded from http://www.riemers.net/ I spent 3 years working on an XNA game I named "Turbo Tank". Inspired by the Nintendo (NES) game Blaster Master, it is a 2D side-scrolling adventure/survival game. Turbo Tank was coming together slowly but surely. It was something I took my time with to ensure it was a quality game. The unfortunate fact is most, not all but MOST XNA games made by a single individual are crap... plain and simple crap! I wanted to be one of the few that could make a quality game by myself that would stand out as a fun and polished game. Seriously, I can't believe some of the filth that was allowed to be published in the Windows Phone store.
Then Microsoft stopped supporting XNA so I decided to take a break. Yes, I can go and use Monogame, and I still might. But for now I am continuing my break to start learning OpenGL via OpenTK. I looked at many options from Unity, Monogame, SharpDX, and several others and I just feel OpenTK is right for me. It gives me the control I want over the game and it is easy to get off the ground. Monogame was giving me some trouble when I tried it. I became frustrated and decided to go another route. Again, I may try again shortly but for the next few weeks I am going to focus on learning OpenTK. Maybe I'll try Monogame again when they fix the Content pipeline issue and just include a working pipeline in their templates? We'll see. Additionally, I feel learning OpenGL will benefit me in the future. I am hedging my bets on Linux as the future of home computing. With Apple and Android both dominating the mobile marketplace and ValveOS (also Linux based) planning to take over livingroom entertainment, the "Evil Empire" seems to be crumbling. While I just see Apple, and Google, as the new tech worlds "Evil Empires" at least there is greater interoperability. And I was actually studying DirectX just before I decided to go OpenGL. I see a classic underdog story developing... I will finish Turbo Tank either by using OpenTK or just using Monogame. Either way I will complete it. I am posting to test my new blog. I also think posting in my blog will help me better understand how my behavior, beliefs, opinions, and other attributes change over a period of time. From time-to-time I will post regarding the progress of my application or game projects. When my blog ends I will use yet to be discovered technologies to upload my synaptic processing patterns to the World Wide Web so I may live forever, kind of like that movie "The Lawnmower Man" (1992), but not so creepy... well, just a little.
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AuthorThe details of my life are relevant only to those closest to me; my homebuilt computer, Bob, and the crippled alley cat whom visits me regularly to hear the occasional fairytale story I tell to the cactus in my front yard. ArchivesCategories |