Ok, so I'm going to make a computer game.

[SilverCalcKnight]

Ok, I've had this concept for a while. It'll be a 2D beat-'em-up, much in the style of Double Dragon. You will be able to choose from a few characters, each with their own skills and abilities.

Here's the twist: you have a team of two, and can switch with the press of a button. The trick would be to set up a combo with one character, and finish it with the other. It would make the fighting a lot more interesting.

I need help with how to do this, however. I, first, need to know what language to use. From there, I could probably do the rest of it, as long as this doesn't end up as dead as my other projects, and I can make the sprites. I'm actually thinking of Metal Slug-esque sprites, I've always liked the look of them.

Suggestions?

[JoeImp]

If you wanted to do it well, C++. C++ using either the win32 api, openGL, or DirectX. This is the way it should be done, but if you don't know C++ or the apis, will take you a considerable amount of time to learn.

Can be done in java, but not very well, and if you're going to learn java, might as well just learn C++.

You can use some kind of game maker software, I've never used them before, so I can't tell you much about them. You could probably develop fast, but have little control over any of the internals, and are forced into using their supplied tools. Google game maker, I guess.

No other options really. Take a long time to learn C++, or go the game maker way, and hope things work out.

[EDIT] - Game maker probably won't do 2d fighting games that well. C++ is your only option really.

[SilverCalcKnight]

JoeImp, I know C++ and Java, but I don't think Java would be suited for a game this combo-intensive, and my C++ skills are minimal at best. So it looks like it'll be a while before I can do this.

Thanks for the input.

[Arcane Wizard]

What? Java could do this more than fine. Use the language you're most experienced with, if any.

You do know Java is used on small devices for arcade games and applications, right? Benchmarking apps easily run into thousands of lines per second, hundreds of fps per second scrolling sprites on my mobile phone.

[Harrierfalcon]

May I suggest Game Maker 6? Although possibilities are limited without purchasing it, it is still quite potent and relatively easy to use.

[benryves]

In this day and age, the specific language you use is becoming less relevant. Gone are the days when Java applications ran slower than a pig through treacle; C++ is not your only choice. If you feel most comfortable with Java, go for it.

Performance is more limited by how you write the code; poorly written code will obviously perform poorly.

I'm of the opinion that as long as run-time performance is "acceptable", I'll pick whichever gives me the best development performance - that is, which is the quickest way to write something. I'm a great advocate of managed languages. ;)

Unfortunately, the games industry (who are notorious for being rather reluctant to change) persist in using C++. Bear in mind that DOOM3 was only id's first C++ engine...

[JoeImp]

Did you really just suggest that the gaming industry shouldn't use C++? What else could they possibly use. For anything intensive, you only have two choices. Java or C++. End of story. And java can't compete with C++ yet.

[benryves]

[JoeImp]

.net is total rubbish, and java is slower than C++.

http://www.jelovic.com/articles/why_java_is_slow.htm

Do you really think that everything is coded in C++ for no reason? Do you REALLY think they go "hmm we could make this better in another language ... but ... we'd better not make money! A better product ... who would dare?!"

If there was any gain from going to another language, they would. Saying these greedy businesses wouldn't jump on an opportunity to increase productivity, increase quality, increase speed, or increase income is absolutely rediculous.

Maybe for some basic crap, yea, they'll run comparably. But anything in any way intensive, and you should do what every single other company on this planet does, and use C++.

And why would you ever use C# over C++? Especially for intensive applications.

[Arcane Wizard]

http://www.chromethegame.com/

oops.

[Neekstar]

Java can be just as fast as C++. Take N (the ninja game) as an example (though I personally am not a fan of the game, it IS fast and well-made). It also largely depends on what kind of game you are making. Java is better for certain types of games, while C++ is better for larger projects and thus why you see it being used in large, company-made games, as it is easy to manage it in sections.

In any case, I love both Java and C++ (though the latter is very outdated)

[JoeImp]

[Arcane Wizard]

[Liazon]

I thought N was flash?

[Arcane Wizard]

It is.

[Neekstar]

[JoeImp]

Once again, "trust me."

Did I or did I not say to prove anything you've claimed. Why should I trust some random dude over the internet. I'll trust myself, everything I know, and everything I've read.

[EDIT]

It's fast, compared to what? Your posts provide no information.

[EDIT2]

And if you don't want to piss people off, don't come spouting utter rubbish as fact. Not to people looking for help and/or accurate information.

[frenchcalc1]

[JoeImp]

I know what he wanted to say, and I know what he did say. Both of which contained no fact.

[Neekstar]

Once again, calm down. You're acting like a big baby, quite frankly :)

A simple search for "java vs c++" found this: http://www.kano.net/javabench/

Looks pretty solid to me. Hmm.

It also is funny how you ignored what I said about the two languages being more suitable for different environments and tasks, as that is the point I was making.