From seanpm at triad.rr.com  Mon Oct  2 21:30:35 2006
From: seanpm at triad.rr.com (Sean Mealin)
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 16:30:35 -0400
Subject: [AGDev-newbies] Keybored handling, Windows API and C++
Message-ID: <002701c6e661$adbeb2d0$8705a8c0@spm001>

Hi everyone;
Hope everyone is doing well; Long time no talk! 

Any way, I have a few questions; first one being how can I handle key
presses using the Windows API? A tutorial would be great; or if someone
wouldn't mind explaining it; just things like how to check if a key has
been pressed down; I thought something like a brake statement, but I am
not sure. Something like:

Key1
{
Stuff
}
Key2
{
Something else
}

(please ignore the syntax; I know it is wrong)
So what is Key1 though? How do you tell the program leftarrow or
rightarrow? Or, if you know of a tutorial that is DirectX instead of
windows API, I will take that. <grin>

Also, does anyone know of any tutorials to get up and running with
windows 32 bit programming? Just things like handling Windows messages;
painting a window and creating a window.
I think that I get C++ (of coarse not all of it, but just enough to get
by), but I would like to go from the command line to GUI.

Thanks so much! 

Sean 



From tward1978 at earthlink.net  Wed Oct  4 18:33:29 2006
From: tward1978 at earthlink.net (Thomas Ward)
Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2006 13:33:29 -0400
Subject: [AGDev-newbies] FW: XNA Studio Express 
Message-ID: <4523F069.8060505@earthlink.net>

Hello everyone,
Here is a post I recieved from the Microsoft DirectX list this morning. 
Perhaps some of you might be interested in this event.

Richard wrote:

Did you ever think of writing your own game?
Maybe you just wanted to learn more about how games are written and
geeks like us make those c00l looking 3D graphics?
Well here's your chance to come learn about all this stuff from a
beginner perspective for free!
I'll be giving two talks at the Utah Code Camp.  Code Camps are 100% free
events where you learn real-world coding from real-world coders. This
code camp will be on October 21st at Neumont University in a comfortable
setting.
One will be a beginner's talk introducing you to game development with
free development tools from Microsoft. Visual C# 2005 Express Edition
is a free development environment for the C# language. The express
edition is a streamlined but full featured edition of Microsoft's
professional development environment designed specifically for those
people who are new to programming.
XNA Game Studio Express is a free add-on to Visual C# 2005 Express
that will let you develop a game that runs on Windows and on the Xbox
360! I will give you an overview of game studio express and show you
an example "space war" game provided by Microsoft that you can use as
a starting point for your own game.
I will also have lots of additional material that I've downloaded from
the net relating to XNA so that you don't have to go scrounging around
for it yourself. Bring your computer to get a copy of everything!
The second talk I will present is for more of an advanced audience and
will cover the details of updating the DirectX runtime on a PC in your
game's installer to ensure that the necessary files needed for your
game are present on the PC when your game is installed.
Code Camps are entirely free events!
See you there!
To entice you a little further, I will be giving out prizes (CDs,
T-shirts and software) worth hundreds of dollars! You can't win a
prize if you don't show up, so make sure you are there!



From tward1978 at earthlink.net  Wed Oct  4 19:58:08 2006
From: tward1978 at earthlink.net (Thomas Ward)
Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2006 14:58:08 -0400
Subject: [AGDev-newbies] Keybored handling, Windows API and C++
In-Reply-To: <002701c6e661$adbeb2d0$8705a8c0@spm001>
References: <002701c6e661$adbeb2d0$8705a8c0@spm001>
Message-ID: <45240440.5070704@earthlink.net>

Hi Sean,

> Snip
> Any way, I have a few questions; first one being how can I handle key
> presses using the Windows API?
End Snip

I am assuming here you meant the Microsoft Win32 API. Checking for key 
presses using C++ and the Win32 API is a bit of an indepth subject. 
First, you will have to under stand events, and how they work. Second, 
the basic mechanics of it is create a Windows Message loop which looks 
for "key pressed events" which you test for them using a switch 
statement. This is simplified allot under .NET, or if you use DirectX 
that will help as well.

Snip
>  A tutorial would be great;
End Snip

Unfortunately, I don't have the time to explain the mechanics of the 
Win32 API or how to do it using DirectX DirectInput but I can assist you 
in finding resources to find out what you want to know.

Snip
>  if someone
> wouldn't mind explaining it; just things like how to check if a key has
> been pressed down; I thought something like a brake statement, but I am
> not sure. 
> End Snip
>   

As I said there isn't something simple about what you are asking since 
what you need to know is based on weather or not you have previous 
knolege in working with Windows message loops, Windows events, and so 
on. Also if you use say the Microsoft .NET framework in your C++ 
application this is actually simplified over the Win32 API.

If I was writing a C# app using the .NET framework rather than the win32 
API I would create a OnKeyDownEvent like:

        protected override void OnKeyDown(KeyEventArgs key)
        {
        }

Then I would use a switch statement to find out which key was held down 
such as

        protected override void OnKeyDown(KeyEventArgs key)
        {
                switch(key.KeyCode)
                {
                    case Keys.Down:
                        WalkBackward();
                        break;
                    case Keys.Escape:
                        QuitGame();
                        break;
                    case Keys.Up:
                        WalkForward();
                        break;
                }
        }

There is however a disadvantage to using either the .NET keyboard event 
or the Win32 API keyboard handling. They aren't able to handle unusual 
keyboard combos, nor can you hold down a huge number of keys. They 
aren't simply practical for real game play.
For that I highly recommend using DirectX DirectInput instead.

Snip
>  How do you tell the program leftarrow or
> rightarrow?
End If

Generally, a switch statement or an if statement in a special message 
loop looking for keyboard events will do the job nicely. Depending on if 
you are using the Win32 API, .NET Framework, or DirectX what exactly you 
look for and how to look for it is a bit different.

Snip
>  if you know of a tutorial that is DirectX instead of
> windows API, I will take that. <grin>
> End Snip
>   

Personally, for a C++ programmer starting out with C++ and DirectX I 
suggest reading, "Programming Role Playing Games with DirectX," by Jim 
Adams. It walks you through the basics of handling basic events, message 
loops, as well as handling DirectX input, sound, and graphics.
 ?It is available from
http://safari.oreilly.com
in accesible format.

Snip
> Also, does anyone know of any tutorials to get up and running with
> windows 32 bit programming? Just things like handling Windows messages;
> painting a window and creating a window.
>   
End Snip

Well, you might start with, "Programming Windows,"  by Charles   
Petzold. It is generally regarded as the bible of Win32 programming and 
Windows programming in general.
However, you also might want to grab a book like, "Windows System 
Programming Third Edition," which goes beyond Win32 and is discussing 
Win64 for Windows XP, Windows server 2003, Vista, and beyond. Basicly, 
64 byt  applications and .NET Framework apps are the way of the future. 
Win32 is vastly becoming out of date on the newer Windows operating systems.
Again you can find all the materials mentioned on Safari in accessible 
format for a small monthly fee of $20.00.

Snip
> I think that I get C++ (of coarse not all of it, but just enough to get
> by), but I would like to go from the command line to GUI.
> End Snip
>   

Well, hopefully the books I mentioned can help graduate you from 
commandline to GUI.



From matthew at agrip.org.uk  Tue Oct 10 16:28:04 2006
From: matthew at agrip.org.uk (Matthew T. Atkinson)
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:28:04 +0100
Subject: [AGDev-newbies] I'm back, kind-of!
Message-ID: <1160494084.2239.25.camel@localhost>

'ello there,

As I think most of you now know, I was involved in a serious road
accident in August and spent a significant time in hospital because of
this.  I'm hoping to be walking again by Christmas and am now back at
university, starting to get back into my studies that were interrupted
by this accident.

I wanted to let you all know I'm now on the road to recovery and am
trying to pick up where I left off.

The support of my family, friends and colleagues has been amazing and I
thank all of those who have passed on your regards, either directly or
via Sebby, who I was in contact with at some points during my stay in
hospital.

I'm now looking forward to (slowly, as I've got a lot on) catching up
with what's been going on here and getting back to ``normality'' (if we
can call it that :-)).

I hope that you're all OK and look forward to getting at least slightly
more involved again from now on, as I get on with my recovery.

bye just now,


-- 
Matthew T. Atkinson <matthew at agrip.org.uk>


From matthew at agrip.org.uk  Tue Oct 10 16:33:04 2006
From: matthew at agrip.org.uk (Matthew T. Atkinson)
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:33:04 +0100
Subject: [AGDev-newbies] Voice Actors?
Message-ID: <1160494384.2239.30.camel@localhost>

We've not got anything listed under Voice Acting on the
http://www.agdev.org/ClassifiedAds page -- does anyone know of any good
voice actors?

(I'm asking on behalf of a fellow AG research student, who needs some
voice work doing.)

best regards,


-- 
Matthew T. Atkinson <matthew at agrip.org.uk>


From scott at virtualvisiontech.com  Mon Oct  9 20:26:24 2006
From: scott at virtualvisiontech.com (Scott Hendershot)
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2006 15:26:24 -0400
Subject: [AGDev-newbies] hello
Message-ID: <000901c6ebd8$ced078b0$0f00a8c0@vvthv93g6khbhp>

I've just joined the list and I'm very interested in making a game.  I know
a bit about programming, but I'm just learning mostly.  

Looking forward to getting some help from the list members, thanks, Scott


From KenWDowney at neo.rr.com  Wed Oct 11 03:29:25 2006
From: KenWDowney at neo.rr.com (Ken the Crazy)
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:29:25 -0400
Subject: [AGDev-newbies] Voice Actors?
References: <1160494384.2239.30.camel@localhost>
Message-ID: <001401c6ecdd$12416140$857fa418@dti0ad40a0de96>

I could dit depending on how much material he needs acted out.
Ken Downey
President
DreamTechInteractive!

And,
Coming soon,
Blind Comfort!
The pleasant way to get a massage--no staring, just caring.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matthew T. Atkinson" <matthew at agrip.org.uk>
To: "AGDev-discuss list" <agdev-discuss at lists.agdev.org>; "AGDev-newbies 
list" <agdev-newbies at lists.agdev.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 11:33 AM
Subject: [AGDev-newbies] Voice Actors?


> We've not got anything listed under Voice Acting on the
> http://www.agdev.org/ClassifiedAds page -- does anyone know of any good
> voice actors?
>
> (I'm asking on behalf of a fellow AG research student, who needs some
> voice work doing.)
>
> best regards,
>
>
> -- 
> Matthew T. Atkinson <matthew at agrip.org.uk>
> _______________________________________________
> AGDev-newbies mailing list
> AGDev-newbies at lists.agdev.org
> http://lists.agdev.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/agdev-newbies
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.1/470 - Release Date: 10/10/2006
>
>