Comments on: You Want to Get into Games, but as What? http://www.binarycreativity.com/2006/08/24/you-want-to-get-into-games-but-as-what/ Matt Gilgenbach's blog on game development and creativity through this nascent medium of self expression. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 05:22:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Matt http://www.binarycreativity.com/2006/08/24/you-want-to-get-into-games-but-as-what/#comment-30 Matt Fri, 25 Aug 2006 05:59:19 +0000 http://www.binarycreativity.com/2006/08/24/you-want-to-get-into-games-but-as-what/#comment-30 DirectX is the best (in my opinion) for PC development because Microsoft is constantly adding new features to keep up with the rapidly advancing field of computer graphics. OpenGL is a bit of a pain because they shoe horn new features into the same API that's been around for many, many years. A friend of mine said he compiled an OpenGL example from the 80s, and it still ran fine. Although, that's nice in theory, the field of computer graphics have rapidly changed with all sorts of new features (like flexible vertex formats, which should completely change ALL the APIs), and OpenGL's backwards compatibility complicates adding in these new features. Also, since OpenGL has to be standardized by a board, it usually lags behind the cutting edge video card features considerably. In order to keep up, OpenGL has "extensions" that unlock new features, but I have heard that they are a real pain to use. This was a few years ago, so I don't know if they've simplified that any. If you want to do Mac/Linux development, OpenGL is your only real choice. Historically, consoles have used proprietary APIs. Playstation 3 however features a version of OpenGL ES, a simplified API of OpenGL designed for embedded systems. Xbox and Xbox 360 use DirectX as their graphics API. As far as the rest of the API goes, they are usually proprietary except there are many similarities between the Xbox Development Kit and Windows and DirectX. DirectX is the best (in my opinion) for PC development because Microsoft is constantly adding new features to keep up with the rapidly advancing field of computer graphics. OpenGL is a bit of a pain because they shoe horn new features into the same API that’s been around for many, many years. A friend of mine said he compiled an OpenGL example from the 80s, and it still ran fine. Although, that’s nice in theory, the field of computer graphics have rapidly changed with all sorts of new features (like flexible vertex formats, which should completely change ALL the APIs), and OpenGL’s backwards compatibility complicates adding in these new features. Also, since OpenGL has to be standardized by a board, it usually lags behind the cutting edge video card features considerably. In order to keep up, OpenGL has “extensions” that unlock new features, but I have heard that they are a real pain to use. This was a few years ago, so I don’t know if they’ve simplified that any. If you want to do Mac/Linux development, OpenGL is your only real choice.

Historically, consoles have used proprietary APIs. Playstation 3 however features a version of OpenGL ES, a simplified API of OpenGL designed for embedded systems. Xbox and Xbox 360 use DirectX as their graphics API. As far as the rest of the API goes, they are usually proprietary except there are many similarities between the Xbox Development Kit and Windows and DirectX.

]]> By: Christopher Shell http://www.binarycreativity.com/2006/08/24/you-want-to-get-into-games-but-as-what/#comment-28 Christopher Shell Fri, 25 Aug 2006 04:50:10 +0000 http://www.binarycreativity.com/2006/08/24/you-want-to-get-into-games-but-as-what/#comment-28 Well i'm definitely shooting for engineering. When it comes to PC game programming, what are the most commonly used APIs? I'm sure DirectX is among them. But what about others? As for consoles, I dunno for sure, but do consoles feature proprietary APIs in their Dev Kits or do they use PC APIs as well or what? Well i’m definitely shooting for engineering. When it comes to PC game programming, what are the most commonly used APIs? I’m sure DirectX is among them. But what about others?

As for consoles, I dunno for sure, but do consoles feature proprietary APIs in their Dev Kits or do they use PC APIs as well or what?

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