2D gaming.. where to start and where to end?

[wyrd]

Yeah, so my adventure begins (or ends). The question is where does it begin and where does it end? I have the following path sort of laid out ...

 

- Tetris style game.

- Breakout style game.

- ??

- Platformer.

- ??

- Diablo style game.

 

There are some gaps in complexity. After writing a Breakout style game I seriously doubt I'll have the knowledge for a Platformer, or maybe I will? After a platformer I know there's no way I'll be able to program a Diablo style game.

 

Basically I'm looking for suggestions to fill in the gaps. I need to gradually learn how to program games, not kill myself with complexities. Heck, I'm having a hard enough time racking my brain over a Tetris style game (although I think I've finally got a good design going).

 

Obviously the most important thing is to finish ONE game before moving on down the list. Whether that happens or not we'll see (I have a habit of not finishing anything, which I'm trying to break). I'm just trying to gather a list so when I get a decent idea related to one of this topics, I can jot it down for later. It never hurts to think ahead, especially if I can get a list of projects that gradually lead into one another.

 

So.. suggestions anyone? :D

[Squirm]

Pinball game? (yet to see an attempt at this)

Lemmings style game?

Turn-based strategy game?

Real-time strategy game?

Worms style strategy game? (Scorched Earth perhaps)

Side-scrolling shooter?

Point-and-click adventure? (yet to see an attempt at this)

Tycoon style building game?

 

Even within these categories there are sub-categories. Plain 2D or isometric, or even 3D. Multiplayer or single player. And so on...

[Nerseus]

I would seriously start coding the first game first (stop spending 2 hours a day posting and code instead!) :)

 

I'd go with whatever seems simple enough - Tetris is a good start. You'll be surprised just how much code goes into a "simple" game, if done right. By "right" I mean more than just the game immediately starting and playing. I mean menus, pause mode, saving high scores, etc. It doesn't have to have ALL of that but... keep in mind that a more advanced game WILL, and learning how to pause a game, show a menu, etc. will be easier to work out now in a simple game.

 

-nerseus

[wyrd]

(stop spending 2 hours a day posting and code instead!)

 

:eek: .. but...

[wyrd]

*inserts Gauntlet style game inbetween Platformer and Diablo style game*

[Nerseus]

I'd take a look at early Atari 2600 games as an idea for a first attempt at a game. Then move on to a more advanced Atari 2600 game, then maybe an early Nintendo game (a scaled down version of Mario *maybe*)... then, well don't get too far ahead til you've tried one or two of the easier ones. They may seem childish now, but back then Pacman was $50 for the Atari 2600 version - people made careers coding them. Just because it's not high tech glossy 3D doesn't mean you can code it in a weekend.

 

:)

 

btw, I revise my original statement:

stop spending 2 hours a day posting and instead start planning a game *then* code it.

 

Forgot the planning part in my original statement. :)

 

-Ner

[wyrd]

Don't worry I'm still starting out with a Tetris style game, then a Breakout wannabe is planned next. I'm currently in the middle of designing my Tetris style game *notes other post on static constructors/destructors*