Hi there. I've got what I think is a good idea for an Xbox arcade game, but don't have the means to implement it.  I was hoping someone could help point me in the right direction.

Basically, I'd like to be able to study for a certain certification using my Xbox console.  I figured I would begin the project as a simple Flash Card program;  nothing but multiple choice Q & A, with sound / visual effects according to answers, using score multipliers as correct answers were chosen repeatedly.

I'd like to make it clear that I'm not looking to have this coded for me.  I'm new to this, though.  I'd really like an idea of where to go from here, so that I can spend what little time I have to work on this (before making it counter-productive) efficiently.

 

Any advice appreciated,

Jay B.

1. Make sure you have a good understanding of programming in C#. If you are new to programming in C#, read the C# documentation and perhaps start by coding a simple Windows Forms application.

2. Read the documentation for the XNA Framework and study the code samples on this site which may be relevant to your project.

3. Compile a list of features that you want to have in your game.

4. Decide how to logically group those features into classes and methods within those classes.

5. Code the game.

All of the C# and XNA Framework documentation is also available online at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/kx37x362(VS.80).aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa187935.aspx

Thank you very much, Kyle.

Big Chief:

I'd like to make it clear that I'm not looking to have this coded for me.  I'm new to this, though.  I'd really like an idea of where to go from here, so that I can spend what little time I have to work on this (before making it counter-productive) efficiently.
 

It's a sad truth about programming, but after you get started on a project, you'll get lost in it. After you get to the point where you can proficiently do something with the language, you'll be anything but efficient. It's hard to say "I'm going to do this, and that is all," because new ideas will always pop up in your head.

That having been said, I would advise you looking through this tutorial:

http://creators.xna.com/Headlines/tutorialscol1/archive/2007/05/24/Collision-Series-1_3A00_-2D-Rectangle-Collision.aspx

And tinkering with it until you understand it. It will give you many of the basics in C# with XNA. I'm assuming you won't be programming as a profession, so you won't need to know the down to earth stuff.

So here are some things you'll need for your project:

A random number generator:

Random rand=new Random();
rand.next(x,xx);

rand.next will produce a random number form the random number generator rand. X is the baseline number, the least it can be, and xx is the most it can be +1. So 0,16 will give you a number between 0 and 15.

Arrays:

For this one it seems like you'll want a string array so you can type in the questions.

string[] thisisastringarray=new string[x];

x is the number of items you will have in your array. If x = 15, you will have 15 items. To use an array:

thisisastringarray[xx]="whatever";

That will set the array to a specific value. Arrays start at zero and end at the number of items -1. So:

thisisastringarray[14] will be the 15nth item in the array.

That should cover the most advanced stuff that you might not be able to figure out on you own.

If you are truely a beginner in programming, I would focus on programming the game concept first in a console program using text output if possible. You see, once you reach the point of graphics and look&feel, this is an area where you can get lost in as it can be always tweaked and improved.

I would agree with thesis:
"Understand your tools before you do anything."

In this situation it doesn't mean you have to know everything about c# (just for instance, but you got to know there is much more to learn... even game design itself - do not mistake with program design). But you need to know how to structurize, design some things even by only composition, passing by polymorphism/inheritance.

But think about situation when you don't know the right tools. You would then think about given tool as some "let the wish come true" machine. You would not even know that it's impossible to be done in the way you thought. It's better to know limits of given  tool before you start. This way you can attach proper tool to given process and model your actions before you do anything, otherwise your expectations could hit a wall. Bigger explanations could be find through praxeology studies, this post is already too concentrated on the matter. ;)

If you don't want to learn programming in the first place... mod tools are another way to learn creating games and how those are constructed. I wouldn't recommend game makers and such to anyone who thinks about getting into industry seriously.

Thanks for all the help, guys.  I'll start it as a console app, using the methods John mentioned.  Great links, by the way.  This should be fun.

I'm not looking to become a programmer but who knows.  It seems like a great profession.