OT: Flowers for the grave of MoM.

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
90% of all computer Users will say they are below average Users.
90% of all drivers will state that they are above average drivers.
90% of people asked will state that they never do the (illegal/immoral/improper) things that 90% of everyone else probably does do.

And Last but not least, 90% of Dominions 2 players state that they can quite anytime.

I'd say 90% is a good round number, depending on the perception of those saying anything. I'd say that Gandalf is right, 90% of the time.

It's sort of like 4 out of 5 Dentist's recommend. 4 out of 5 Swedes Recommend Dominions 2!

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Pirateiam:
From your experience what Languages are developers using? I know alot of cross platforming is being done but is there one language used more than others?

No real leaders. Alot of "engines" being created which allow games to be programmed without understanding the nuts-n-bolts of the subroutines. Lots of librarys out which allow people to program the overhead in anything they want.

If anything, Id have to say that Im seeing alot of java but thats probably a wrong impression just because so many of those are "dead ends" for me. A game that sounds great then I find out that its written as a browser game. Not very marketable.

C/C++ are probably still good recommendations for someone who wants to get into a programming "group" who wants to develop a large project. Not that its the only thing they would use but because they tend to always need a couple C'ers to maintain subroutine librarys.

There are a number of Languages where the advantage is in list handling, or fuzzy logic needed for AI. Those are becomming popular for games.

[ June 15, 2004, 16:47: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Pirateiam]

I'd say that I am 90% sure I am never saying
I'd say again on this forum

Originally posted by Pirateiam:
I'd say that I am 90% sure I am never saying
I'd say again on this forum

I'd say you're right!

[Esben Mose Hansen]

If you want to know what Languages are used, try visiting www.sourceforge.net and check what the more popular projects are using. Here's the data from the 10 most active (I just picked a metric by whim). I must admit that even I am surprised by the breath of Languages used. Assembly was a definite surprise If you're going by this sample, you should learn PHP and C++

Java II
JavaScript II
PL/SQL I
ASP I
C# I
Cold Fusion I
PHP III
C++ III
C II
Assembly I
Python I

The projects were:
Gaim
Azureus - BitTorrent Client
ABC [Yet Another Bittorrent Client]
phpMyAdmin
eGroupWare: Enterprise Collaboration
PearPC
FileZilla
WinMerge
FCKeditor
Compiere ERP + CRM Business Solution

[Arryn]

High-performance device drivers are written in assembler, so that should not come as a surprise. Most professional game development, as well as semi-pro (unpaid) projects, is being done in C++ and a variety of tool/library-specific scripting Languages (for graphics, sound, etc.). Some amateurs have written games using MS-VB (which you'll note is missing from the list), but that language is really not suited to the task (or any truly serious work as it generates slow, bulky progs that are hard to maintain). But it's often the only language the programmers know (or own), so they use what they have (rather than be smart and learn a more advanced and truly useful language -- like C++).

Three-quarters of the Languages Mose cites are mainly used for DB connectivity or web-related scripting. Activities that are not really relevant to discussion of what are good Languages for game-related development.

The best language for cross-platform work is Java, assuming top performance is not an issue. If performance is an issue, C++ is then your best choice.

Of course, this entire topic is as likely to provoke an argument as discussing which political party can best represent the wishes of a nation. In other words, you'd do well to do your own research rather than accept what someone else says.

Statistics *always* lie. The only question is ever: for whom/what do the results favor? Only after you can answer that question can you then have any hope to derive meaningful value from any statistics ...

[Gandalf Parker]

Alot of assumptions there. As a programmer shouldnt the variables be defined first?
Games? Platforms? Cross-compatability? Programming langauge?

Based on certain pre-supposed concepts the answer can be quickly channeled into "only one obvious answer". Such as... if games refers to on-the-shelf boxed games, for computers, created by programmers who were hired to create them... If cross-compatable refers to PCs, maybe windows AND linux. If programming excludes high and low ends such as machine language, scripting Languages, development packages and engines...
then Id guess we are all on the right track for the answer.