#46800 - scuzzo84 - Thu Jun 30, 2005 10:15 pm
I wanted to learn to make games for gba, but I dont have any knowledge of programming. Do I have to spend 2 years learning C and then dive into this?
#46809 - yaustar - Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:23 am
You need to at least have a grasp of programming in a language before diving into the gba. Most members would suggest to learn BASIC or PASCAL first then go into C/C++ although others may suggest otherwise.
You should as long as necessary learning the language of C/C++ as needed to get to an adept level enough to program on the GBA.. maybe a couple of solid months should do it...
#46843 - Orphean - Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:40 am
If you have no programming experience whatsoever and want to learn HOW to program (which is very different from what language you program in) I would recommend picking up an entry level CompSci textbook.
I can recommend "C: How To Program" by Deitel/Deitel. You will learn the fundamentals of structured programming and the C language itself at the same time so you'll be killing two birds with one stone. Towards the end of the book (the last 4-5 chapters or so) it delves into C++ as a 'better' C as well. Very well written, lots of examples, covers the standard library and a whole bunch of other stuff. Not all of it of course is directly applicable to the GBA but you can use all of it when you learn how to program on the GBA.
Just my two cents.
Orphean
#47140 - Miked0801 - Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:16 pm
How long does it take to learn coding?
It varies per person. Some people just have a knack for picking up the mind-set it takes to code and after reading an intro text for a couple weeks while actively working at it can get to the point where it makes complete sense and then can start learning at a phenominal rate. Others just can't seem to get it and it takes them months or they give up as it's not for them. As a lab assistant at my community college, I met and helped both types. Which are you? Give it a shot and find out. BTW, if you can solve the following, you can probably code as it's a very simple logic/math problem:
if crate A weighs less than crate B and crate B weighs less than crate C, then is crate C heavier than crate A?
Some people can solve problems such as this almost instantly, some can't ever solve them...
#47144 - sajiimori - Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:01 pm
If someone couldn't solve that, I'd tend to assume they have a disability. :o Am I overestimating people?
#47155 - scuzzo84 - Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:55 pm
| Miked0801 wrote: |
How long does it take to learn coding?
It varies per person. Some people just have a knack for picking up the mind-set it takes to code and after reading an intro text for a couple weeks while actively working at it can get to the point where it makes complete sense and then can start learning at a phenominal rate. Others just can't seem to get it and it takes them months or they give up as it's not for them. As a lab assistant at my community college, I met and helped both types. Which are you? Give it a shot and find out. BTW, if you can solve the following, you can probably code as it's a very simple logic/math problem:
if crate A weighs less than crate B and crate B weighs less than crate C, then is crate C heavier than crate A?
Some people can solve problems such as this almost instantly, some can't ever solve them... |
crate C is heavier than A
#47156 - poslundc - Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:07 pm
...
Dan.
#47157 - sajiimori - Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:07 pm
Wow, do you want a job? We're hiring. lol
#47164 - tepples - Wed Jul 06, 2005 1:08 am
| sajiimori wrote: |
| Wow, do you want a job? We're hiring. lol |
For contract work? Or will you finance relocation?
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.
#47167 - sajiimori - Wed Jul 06, 2005 1:28 am
"lol" -> joking.
#47169 - tepples - Wed Jul 06, 2005 1:37 am
"faux-serious reply" -> playing along, making fun of my own complaints in other threads about how the job market in northeast Indiana is in the $#!++3Я
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.
#47178 - LOst? - Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:39 am
| scuzzo84 wrote: |
| Miked0801 wrote: | How long does it take to learn coding?
It varies per person. Some people just have a knack for picking up the mind-set it takes to code and after reading an intro text for a couple weeks while actively working at it can get to the point where it makes complete sense and then can start learning at a phenominal rate. Others just can't seem to get it and it takes them months or they give up as it's not for them. As a lab assistant at my community college, I met and helped both types. Which are you? Give it a shot and find out. BTW, if you can solve the following, you can probably code as it's a very simple logic/math problem:
if crate A weighs less than crate B and crate B weighs less than crate C, then is crate C heavier than crate A?
Some people can solve problems such as this almost instantly, some can't ever solve them... |
crate C is heavier than A |
crate B is heavier than A
#47241 - sajiimori - Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:55 pm
Crate A squared plus crate B squared equals crate C squared.
#47245 - Miked0801 - Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:18 pm
Smart A@@es :)
Seriously though, many of the people I worked with would not be able to solve that type of problem at all.
#47270 - ymalik - Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:01 pm
Why don't you come to the NY/NJ area? Plenty of jobs here, especially NYC.
#47424 - yaustar - Fri Jul 08, 2005 6:38 pm
| Miked0801 wrote: |
Smart A@@es :)
Seriously though, many of the people I worked with would not be able to solve that type of problem at all. |
really? I am actually quite surprised....
Here's another logic problem for you guys :D
| Code: |
@ = Black
O = White
| = Wall
|
O @ O | @
|
|
Four convicts are buried feet first up to thier necks and are all facing the wall and are wearing a black or white cap.
The warden says if they can guess correctly the colour of thier cap within a minute. 10 sec later a convict does.
Question: Who was it and how did the convict know?
They cannot see round, through, over etc the wall.
They cannot see the colour of thier own cap.
They cannot see behind them, only the convicts in front of them and the wall.
They know that there are 2 black caps and 2 white caps.
The convicts are not allowed to communicate with each other.
IT's a purely logical question and the answer isn't a stupid one (eg. One has X ray vision)
I believe they are all the facts that you need... have fun..
#47430 - Miked0801 - Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:36 pm
1 2 3 | 4
If any convict besides one guesses (talks to warden, not other convicts) and the warden say yes or no, then convict 1 has enough information to solve his own cap.
Something like that? Or is it deeper?
#47432 - MrD - Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:47 pm
If the reply was instant, it would be 1 noting that 2 and 3 were wearing the same coloured cap, therefore he would be wearing the alternate colour.
As the reply was delayed, I believe it was 2 noting that because 1 didn't answer, his (2) and 3's caps must be different colours. Therefore, if his (2) and 3's caps are different colours, then 2 can correctly identify the colour of his own cap as it is not the colour of 3's cap.
Am I close? ;)
_________________
Not active on this forum. For Lemmings DS help see its website.
#47439 - sajiimori - Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:22 pm
Here are 4 cards that each have a number on one side and a letter on the other.
D F 3 7
Which cards do you have to turn over to test the following hypothesis?
"If a card has a D on one side, it has a 3 on the other."
#47442 - Miked0801 - Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:28 pm
Um, the one with a D on it as you didn't state the reverse (if a 3 then a D) Right?
#47444 - ghost Leinad - Fri Jul 08, 2005 11:22 pm
well. the problem about the crates is easy, but i also know people who will find this very hard...or people whit doubts...
the problem with the capes is harder..but is just a matter to ask what is thinking the other recluses...
i assume that you guys have planty of experience with logic games...you really have to exercise your logic if you wish to be a programmer...
anybody has any idea of what im trying to say with the next message???
"ilekgryteeelogmaimbelkaas"
_________________
All human wisdom is summed up in these two words, - 'Wait and hope"
****************************************
My site www.myth-world.net and www.bmrpg.com :)
#47445 - ymalik - Fri Jul 08, 2005 11:28 pm
How can programmers not know about the transitive property? I always had the impression that game programmers were the best of the best programmers.
#47451 - sajiimori - Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:34 am
There are some very good game programmers, but I wouldn't call them, as a group, the "best of the best". That honor might go to folks at Google, Amazon, IBM, and elsewhere.
#47455 - poslundc - Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:29 am
| ymalik wrote: |
| How can programmers not know about the transitive property? I always had the impression that game programmers were the best of the best programmers. |
HAhahahahaha no.
Dan.
#47483 - yaustar - Sat Jul 09, 2005 3:35 pm
MrD got it right..
#47504 - Abscissa - Sat Jul 09, 2005 9:50 pm
| Miked0801 wrote: |
| Seriously though, many of the people I worked with would not be able to solve that type of problem at all. |
You're kidding me...!? Was that really a community college, or was it a facility for the mentally handicapped?
#47509 - poslundc - Sat Jul 09, 2005 10:36 pm
...
Some people on this board need a serious reality check. Not everyone thinks the same way you do, and if you happen to possess the natural ability to translate language into logic and use logic for deduction, you shouldn't take it for granted that everyone is able to do so.
There are a lot of things out there that a lot of people find obvious that you will never be able to grasp, and I don't think you'd appreciate them calling you an idiot because you can't tell a complementary colour from a triad colour, or happen to know the difference between a comparison argument and a contrasting argument, or if you've strained a muscle or sprained a ligament.
(Incidentally, all three of those are things that are obvious to me just from looking at a colour, essay or injured person. Are they obvious to you? If not, I sure hope you're not mentally handicapped.)
Dan.
#47516 - tepples - Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:32 am
Or put shorter:
Some mental skills require learning. Not having had a chance to learn them does not indicate learning disability.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.
#47555 - sajiimori - Sun Jul 10, 2005 9:45 pm
I think there's a near-fundamental difference between Dan's examples and the crate problem. The crate problem does not require knowledge of any special domain. Besides the concept of weight (which any child can intuitively understand), it relies only on basic deduction. Hell, you don't even have to know what "deduction" means.
To make the point more concrete: A person who grows up in isolation will definitely not be able to distinguish the things that Dan mentioned, but they will probably be able to solve the crate problem, even if you can't present the problem to them in English and they won't be able to respond verbally. Put them in a situation that requires them to solve the problem and they will almost certainly do it.
#47564 - Miked0801 - Sun Jul 10, 2005 10:50 pm
I made it easier by using real life crates - what if they seen this:
A > B
B > C
is A > C?
As this involves to real world reference and just letters, many people would not "get it." Members of my family cannot do algerbra because of the letters thing. They cannot think of a letter as a number nor any other thing besides a letter. This ability to manipulate abstract symbols and compare, analyze, and order them is the most basic skill that is needed for programming. I guess I watered it down to much by adding a real world component.
#47571 - poslundc - Sun Jul 10, 2005 11:21 pm
The examples I gave required special domain knowledge, but they didn't have to.
Can you harmonize with a melody? Can you pat your head, rub your stomach and hop on one foot simultaneously? Can you pick up a language just by hearing it spoken?
All skills that some people are more naturally apt to than others. All skills that some people will use constantly in their every day life (maybe not so much the second one), and others will barely ever touch.
The human brain is not even capable of much in the way of deductive reasoning until it reaches what's known as its operational stage, around 8 to 10 years old for most people. Just because it's a skill that's been nurtured in you and that you've practiced since childhood, does not make it logical to expect the same in others.
Assuming that because that particular skill isn't sharp the person must lack intelligence, is to me the indicator of the kind of narrow-mindedness that often breeds itself well amongst bodies with a knack for logical technique. The irony is glaring... at least, it should be for most people.
Dan.
#47576 - sajiimori - Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:02 am
Agreed that people have a harder time when problems are presented abstractly.
Musical talent and funny physical tricks don't tend to be applicable to a wide range of problems, and "intelligence" usually implies something a bit broader (if not well-defined).
Learning languages is an interesting example. At no age can humans learn a natural language just by hearing it spoken, but normal children can effortlessly learn them by interacting with a native speaker of any language. If they cannot do this, they are considered impaired. Adults aren't considered impaired if they can't do it.
The example shows what I meant when I said a person might be impaired if they couldn't solve the crate problem. It's about the capabilities that people are expected to have.
There is no logical error in expecting a child to be able to learn a language, even if there's no guarantee that they will.
Edit: It might be unwise for me to expect most people to be able to solve the crate problem, but that's why I asked if I was overestimating people.
#51873 - scuzzo84 - Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:45 am
ok I just read Learn HTML is 2 hours, now can I dive into GBA programming what compiler do I need for HTML?
#51877 - tepples - Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:54 am
You don't need a compiler for HTML; all you need is a text editor and the Firefox web browser.
Once you learn HTML, then learn JavaScript.
Once you learn JavaScript, learn C on the PC for text based apps.
Once you learn C on the PC for text based apps, learn C on the PC for GUI apps, using Allegro, SDL, or Win32 (not MFC).
Only then should you try programming for a game console.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.
#51919 - poslundc - Wed Aug 24, 2005 5:33 pm
| scuzzo84 wrote: |
| ok I just read Learn HTML is 2 hours, now can I dive into GBA programming what compiler do I need for HTML? |
If you think you need a compiler for HTML, you need to spend more than two hours with that book.
Dan.
#51922 - Kyoufu Kawa - Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:22 pm
| poslundc wrote: |
| scuzzo84 wrote: | | ok I just read Learn HTML is 2 hours, now can I dive into GBA programming what compiler do I need for HTML? |
If you think you need a compiler for HTML, you need to spend more than two hours with that book. |
OWNED! HTML ain't even a programming language, compiled or otherwise!
#51925 - scuzzo84 - Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:46 pm
it was a joke...