NEED HELP: Windows 2D Programming Novice...

[Scorpion]

Hi all,
I've recently been wanting to turn an old board game of mine (Survive!) into a WinApp. I just want to do some 2D programming, to make it look and function just like a Windowed board game. I've tried google and have been led to some pretty strange niches on the net, but haven't quite nailed down what I'm looking for. I'm just looking for basics on how to get started etc.

I'm trying to figure out things such as whether to use DirectDraw(why or why not), how to begin building the app, how to incorporate images and graphics in multilayers, so I can manipulate an object on top of the "board", etc... things of this nature. Basically I just need to know where to begin.

I have experience with C++ and I'll be using VC++ .Net. I think this will be a great way for me to gain more experience using C++ as well as do something interesting and fun at the same time. What I would really like is to look at some source code of other 2D board or similar windows based games.

If anyone can help I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

-Matt

 

[tinyabs]

I suggest you build or use a game engine. Make full use of OOP and EH.

 

[DaveSimmons]

By now there might be a good "Games with .Net" book, but I spend my days with old-school VC++ 6 so I haven't bothered to look. Make sure you can check the contents since it could be VB.Net, C# instead of C++, and could use either DirectDraw or just GDI+.

See what is available at www.CodeProject.com and check GamaSutra.com

GDI+ is probably fine if you don't need screen updates to be fluid and fast. You'd just use GDI/GDI+ to draw the next screen update to an offscreen buffer then BitBlt it.