DOS Games Discussion

seantimmins · Guest

my name is sean timmins and i am very interested in programming and i would like to learn how to make dos games.

please help

sean timmins

http://www.stimmins.0catch.com

Dogbreath · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 2:17 pm Post subject:

Moved.

You could try using C or Pascal, as those seem to be pretty good at creating games specifically for DOS. Any reason why you *want* to make DOSgames rather than Windows?

Bobo · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 2:23 pm Post subject:

What programming languages do you know?

Dogbreath · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 2:29 pm Post subject:

Myself? I usually use VC++ for general programming, granted, I don't make *games* with it.

Oz · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 6:00 pm Post subject:

assembler is SO easy to get into, it's unbelieveable. or was that ....

Dogbreath · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 3:24 pm Post subject:

You could also try using a GCS. Visit our GCS Section for more info. GCS's, while more limiting than a programming language, are simpler and generally faster to learn (though some, such as Dink Smallwood, are just High-End extentions of VC++ with 3D sprites and ray tracing programs included and are *harder* to learn than languages whereas TLC's Castle Explorer (?) doesn't even use a language)

Finally, if you're aiming for total compatibility, there is no power greater than Java... Violent

emmzee · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 9:48 pm Post subject:

Yessss, Java is totally portable.

...

IN THEORY

Hehe. Just remember if you're working in Java don't assume it works the same on all OSs ... cuz it prolly won't heh. Just my experiences programming in Windows & Linux ...

Probably for someone just starting out, a GCS is the best way to go. Probably (although it's not DOS based) the "Game Maker" program seems to be a pretty decent one:

http://www.cs.uu.nl/people/markov/gmaker/

Dogbreath · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:20 pm Post subject:

Sorry, the Java thing was just a knee-jerk reaction that I've heard many times. (Whether on TechTV, Usenet, or elsewhere...) Actually, I've never used Java to create games so I have no idea how well it works.

C seems to port easily into DOS, Windows, OS2, Linux (ELF or not), and Amiga. Mac is harder, from what I've heard... (Once again, this is not based on personal experience-only what I've heard. I've only made programs for DOS and Windows.

Of GCS'... for compatibility, ZZT runs with every single MS PC OS released since DOS 6.0 and will run under Linux-it's rival, MZX, is better, but is hard to get running on any computer made in the past 10 years. I would recommend Game Maker as well (see Emmzee's link), I haven't really gotten to see it that much, but from what I have seen, it's fantastic.

If you like working for 2 years to make an excellent game that only 200 people will ever play, Dink Smallwood may be your thing. It's probably offers one the greatest potential freedom (other than starting from scratch) as far as being able to make a truly great game-total freedom of POV, the ability to use any graphics set, keyboard, space saving 3D sprite technology, etc. etc. etc. There are some programmers in that community who work for 2 years and make a 50+ MB game that is totally unlike the original game and takes months to complete. But at the same time, it's relatively easy interface allows you to make a decent graphical game in 2 days that is still enjoyable. Any GCS that manages to combine simplicity with freedom of style is, IMO, worth its weight in gold.

Interon · Guest

Dogbreath · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:54 pm Post subject:

*Shrugs* It's good for web programs (like Emmzee's new site) because of it's multi-platform usability, I guess.

donkeydude · Member Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 21

aanway,
there's this thing called "cube". Although it *might* not be dos, it has a .bat executable file. Heres the url: http://www.cubeengine.com/...

hope it helps..!
Laughing