Questions

[vanzagar]

As you can tell from a couple of my recent post I've been out of programming for a while so I'd appreciate any advice you can offer and thanks for your patience on these newbie questions :)

1. I noticed I had to install ".NET framework" when running Visual C++ 2008, does this need to be installed on computers that want to run the programs I create?

2. It took me quite awhile to download and install Visual C++ 2008, I want to now install it on 2 laptops, is there anyway I can do it without having to download it all again? (Download complete installer or copy from one machine to another?)

3. Any books or links you can recommend on programming with Visual C++ 2008 would be greatly appreciated, I'm all Googled out...

4. What DirectX SDK are you programming in A, B, C or DX10?

5. Which MS Compiler are you using Visual C++ 2005 or 2008? I can't seem to find any books on Visual C++ 2008, here's one but it's not even out yet:

http://www.amazon.com/Ivor-Hortons-Beginning-Visual-2008/dp/0470225904/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198813624&sr=8-1

6. Can someone please comment on the "The Game Creators GDK"? Is this valuable, worth the price? It sounds like you can use it but if you want to sell something from using it then you need to pay for it, is this correct?

http://www.microsoft.com/express/samples/gamecreators/default.aspx

7. What are some of you best game programming resources other than this one? Any other good forum you could recommend?

Thanks,

Vanz

[Reedbeta]

I can answer some of your questions:

1. Yes, if you create a program written in a .NET language, such as C# or C++.NET. However, you can still write programs in plain old C++ and they will not need the framework. Also, note that the vast majority of Windows users already have the framework, since it is distributed by the automatic update system for XP, and is included with Vista.

2. See http://www.microsoft.com/express/download/offline.aspx - you can download a DVD image, burn that and then use it to install the software. However, downloading the DVD might take you longer than just downloading Visual C++ again - because the DVD includes all four of the express editions: C#, C++, VB and Web Developer.

3. Visual Studio 2008 is a very, very new product so there aren't going to be many resources devoted to it yet. However, you can still look for resources on 2005, and I bet most of those will still work (maybe with minor modifications) with 2008.

4. I don't personally program with DirectX, but I would guess that most people are using the 9.0c SDK, or are perhaps targeting both 9.0c and 10 with the advanced DirectX 10 features optional. (People are not adopting Vista fast enough to make it a good idea to drop DirectX 9 support entirely at this point.)

5. I'm actually still using 2003, and it quite satisfies my needs for the time being. I would guess that most employers are also still using 2003 in the workplace. I might upgrade to 2005 sometime in the next months. I won't upgrade to 2008 until I hear more about it though.

6. I don't know anything about the GDK unfortunately.

7. It depends. What kind of resources are you looking for - basic resources for learning to program? Resources for programmers who have no previous games experience but want to get into game programming? Or resources on the latest technologies for people who already know something about game programming?

[vanzagar]

Thanks Reedbeta! I appreciate the answers....