game-development

C# Game Network Library

I am developing an online strategy game using .Net v2. Although the game is primarily strategic, it does have some tactical elements that require reasonable network performance. I plan to use TCP packets for strategic data and UDP packets for tactical data. {EDIT} I forgot to mention that I am leaning away from WCF and .NET 3+ for a co...

Is Java relevant in the game industry?

Hi everyone, I'm a web developer/apps programmer who wants to break in the game industry. I used to code in C/C++/C# for desktop apps (mainly database-oriented enterprise apps) but nowadays I mainly do PHP/Ajax for websites. Recently, I try learning java and found it to be a very nice language to work with. I wrote a few simple games o...

Rss feed for game programmer?

I was browsing this thread, which has good recommendation but a bit too general for me. So, if anyone has a collection of nice game programming feeds,please share them. :) (both general and specific topics are welcome) ...

Scoring Poker Hands with Deuces Wild

I'm looking for code or a description of an algorithm for determining the score of a poker hand when deuces are wild. I'd like code that is not encumbered by license fees, GPL, patents, etc. I know a couple of ways to approach this, but I'd prefer to not write the code if it is already available somewhere. So I'd appreciate it if the ...

Fixed vs. variable frame rates in games: what is best, and when?

After working for a while developing games, I've been exposed to both variable frame rates (where you work out how much time has passed since the last tick and update actor movement accordingly) and fixed frame rates (where you work out how much time has passed and choose either to tick a fixed amount of time or sleep until the next wind...

How do I get started in game development?

I want to get into game development. Can you give me some tips/directions to get started? ...

REST type API for non web based applications, Is It a good idea?

We are developing a middleware SDK, both in C++ and Java to be used as a library/DLL by, for example, game developers, animation software developers, Avatar developers to enhance their products. Having created a typical API using specific calls for specific functions I am considering simplifying the API by using a REST type API (GET, PU...

Implementing scripts in c++ app

I want to move verious parts of my app into simple scripts, to allow people that do not have a strong knowleagd of c++ to be able to edit and implement various features. Because its a real time app, I need to have some kind of multi-tasking for these scripts, idealy I want it so that the c++ app calls a script function which then contin...

Game Programming and Event Handlers

I haven't programmed games for about 10 years (My last experience was DJGPP + Allegro), but I thought I'd check out XNA over the weekend to see how it was shaping up. I am fairly impressed, however as I continue to piece together a game engine, I have a (probably) basic question. How much should you rely on C#'s Delegates and Events to...

Game programming in Java?

Hi, I am looking into game programming in Java to see if it is feasible. When googling for it I find several old references to Java2D, Project Darkstar (Sun's MMO-server) and some books on Java game programming. But alot of the information seems to be several years old. So the question I am asking, is anyone creating any games in Java ...

Apps that support both DirectX 9 and 10

I have a noobish question for any graphics programmer. I am confused how some games (like Crysis) can support both DirectX 9 (in XP) and 10 (in Vista)? What I understand so far is that if you write a DX10 app, then it can only runs in Vista. Maybe they have 2 code bases -- one written in DX9 and another in DX10? But isn't that an over...

Challenge Sites

Post sites with good programming, math, or algorithm challenges/problems/puzzles to solve. Things to stretch your mind, creativity, and logical thinking. (One site per answer, please.) ...

Design problem regarding type slicing with many different subclasses.

A basic problem I run into quite often, but ever found a clean solution to, is one where you want to code behaviour for interaction between different objects of a common base class or interface. To make it a bit concrete, I'll throw in an example; Bob has been coding on a strategy game which supports "cool geographical effects". These r...

What are some games with fairly simple heuristics to evaluate positions?

I'm teaching a kid programming, and am introducing some basic artificial intelligence concepts at the moment. To begin with we're going to implement a tic-tac-toe game that searches the entire game tree and as such plays perfectly. Once we finish that I want to apply the same concepts to a game that has too many positions to evaluate eve...

Verified channel to server from app on iPhone

I'm working on a game for the iPhone and would like it to be able to submit scores back to the server. Simple enough, but I want the scores to be verified to actually come from a game-play. With the (defacto) prohibition on real crypto with the export conditions, what would be the best way to get information back in a secure/verified c...

How to add monsters to a Pokemon game?

My friends and I are starting a game like Pokemon and we wanted to know how will we add monsters to the game? We're using VisualBasic because my friend's brother said it would be easier. So far we can put pictures of the monsters on the screen and you can click to attack and stuff. Right now when we want to add a monster we have to ma...

How can I tint a sprite to white in XNA?

I don't think this is possible just using the color setting in SpriteBatch, so I'm trying to work out a simple shader that would take every pixel and make it white, while respecting the alpha value of the pixel. The answer Joel Martinez gave looks right, but how do I incorporate that when I draw the sprite with SpriteBatch? ...

Volumetric particles

Hey guys, I'm toying with the idea of volumetric particles. By 'volumetric' I don't mean actually 3D model per particle - usually it's more expensive and harder to blend with other particles. What I mean is 2D particles that will look as close as possible to be volumetric. Right now what I/we have tried is particles with additional l...

How do I derive a Voronoi diagram given its point set and its Delaunay triangulation?

I'm working on a game where I create a random map of provinces (a la Risk or Diplomacy). To create that map, I'm first generating a series of semi-random points, then figuring the Delaunay triangulations of those points. With that done, I am now looking to create a Voronoi diagram of the points to serve as a starting point for the pr...

Multiple Forms and a Single Update,Will it work?

I need to make an application in .NET CF with different/single forms with a lot of drawing/animation on each forms.I would prefer to have a single update[my own for state management and so on] function so that i can manage the different states, so that my [J2ME Gaming Code] will work without much changes.I have came to some possible sc...