64Digits

Best Programming Language to Program 2D Games in besides Gamemaker

Posted by tylerthemiler on Dec. 15, 2011, 4:14 p.m.

Hey guys,

I was playing Megaman X today, and I decided I should work on a game. However, I'm trying to build up my portfolio, and sadly, gamemaker isn't exactly an industry standard language that goes on a resume :P

So I wanted to ask, what language do you guys prefer for a 2D platformer type game?? Basically, its between Java, Python, and C++. I have experience with the first two, but I'm willing slash need to at some point learn C++.

Lemme know what you guys think.

Also, any learning resources would be great!

Thanks,

tylerthemiler

Comments

DesertFox 13 years ago

Quote:

>_> quick poll: how many of you's actually know C# or C++ fluently?

*raises hand* I do.

Small Cows 13 years ago

PROGRAM IT IN ASSEMBLY

MMOnologueguy 13 years ago

PROGRAM IT BY POKING YOUR HARD DRIVE WITH NANOSCOPIC MAGNETS

LAR Games 13 years ago

I tired to learn C#, but I couldn't even do the tutorial right. :(

I'm not even good at GML…

Cpsgames 13 years ago

I taught myself C#. I would say i'm "fluent" in it too. :D Great language to use.

LAR Games 13 years ago

I think I learned some bad habits from Game Maker. It would probably have gone easier for me if I had started without knowing anything about GM.

Gordy 13 years ago

luckily i learned php before gamemaker, otherwise moving onto languages later would've given me such hell.

i understand that gamemaker tries to be leaniant(how the piss do you spell that word) with its language, but not forcing users to use ";", not restricting variables to a single type, and not forcing setting variables before you use them, will only set them up for frustration in the future.

seems like everyone posting is a big fan of C# and C++, i'd like to advocate for java. mainly due to the cross compatibility, and that we should be trying to get gaming available on all systems.

Rob 13 years ago

Quote:

I think I learned some bad habits from Game Maker. It would probably have gone easier for me if I had started without knowing anything about GM.

Like what? Syntax-related? if so it's not GM's fault, since you can use a normal C++ style syntax fine. I always use semi-colons and only use single = for assignment in GM.

I hope you haven't been coding like:

if var=1

doshit()

Cesque 13 years ago

Quote:

Unless you're going to use e.g. Python. Because, you know, not every language requires semicolons and variable setting. In any case, those are very easy to learn once you start using a different programming language. My only bad habit from GM of this sort was using = instead of == in if statements, which took some time to root out.

However, my main problem with GM and coding practices is that it somehow made me use the same piece of code for different objects instead of thinking in terms of scripts. To this day, I never actually return variables in GM, but that's also because GM sucks at returning more than one output (and GM lists are a joke).

Gordy 13 years ago

@rob, well the fact that you're able to use

var = "topato";

if (var == 3){do_this();}

if var = 3 {dothis()}

doesn't really promote consistency, i think that's what i should have said.