XNA vs DirectX 10 / C++ vs C#

Hello everyone,

I would like to make a PC game and I have seen many tutorials (very good ones: http://www.riemers.net), but I have a question:

With what can you create the nicest graphics? XNA or DirectX? I also would like to know if you can do more with XNA then DirectX or not.

Besides that, I'm wondering what language is the best for game programming. I'm definitly not using VB .Net couse it is easy to crack… But I don't know what is safer/faster: C# or C++..

Please help!

Greetz Daniel

definitely directx and C++ C++ is way faster than C#

also, M$ stole half of C# from Java

definately c++ :p

definately c++ :p

Thanks for the replies! But why is DirectX better then XNA? Can you create better graphics? Or is it just faster?

MH-IA wrote: Thanks for the replies! But why is DirectX better then XNA? Can you create better graphics? Or is it just faster?

You should be comparing DirectX to OpenGL. There are numerous reasons why you should (try to) use OpenGL, but I'll let you decide, check for some facts here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_OpenGL_and_Direct3D

OpenGL sounds very good. I will find out how it works :) However, is OpenGL faster then DirectX or is it a matter of the language it is written in?

Yeah, C++ definitely. as for OpenGL and DirectX, I don't know much DirectX, but I have used OpenGL and it's very easy to use especially with glut. I can even send you example 3D games I've made. Can you tell us more of how much you already know so we can help you better?

For so far, I only made games (testing) in XNA and DirectX. I don't know much about OpenGL… GTA IV has very nice graphics and I was wondering if you can do this with OpenGL or DirectX?

I have followed all the tutorials on the site I posted a few posts ago (riemers.net), so I know much about DirectX and XNA. However, someone on riemers' forum found out DirectX is faster then XNA, so I will surely not us XNA.

Another question about OpenGL: in DirectX, you can import a .x file (which is a 3d object, a car for example) and draw it. It that also possible in OpenGL? I hope so, because it is a very nice technique :D

I suggest C++, with the help of a library such as Irrlicht or Ogre3D - which let you use DirectX or OpenGL to your choosing. They both are much easier than directly using DX or OGL. At the moment I'm messing with Irrlicht and it's great.

MH-IA wrote: Another question about OpenGL: in DirectX, you can import a .x file (which is a 3d object, a car for example) and draw it. It that also possible in OpenGL? I hope so, because it is a very nice technique :D

Yes, you can, but what I've seen form my cousin doing it, you have to either make your own object loader or get one off of online. No pre-made functions of that specific type.

ranma wrote: [quote]MH-IA wrote: Another question about OpenGL: in DirectX, you can import a .x file (which is a 3d object, a car for example) and draw it. It that also possible in OpenGL? I hope so, because it is a very nice technique :D

Yes, you can, but what I've seen form my cousin doing it, you have to either make your own object loader or get one off of online. No pre-made functions of that specific type.[/quote]

There are two articles I would like to point you to for X files. One a example of how to load X files, the other a warning.

http://www.gamedev.net/reference/programming/features/xfilepc/ http://scientificninja.com/advice/dont-read-source-code

When it says "don't read source code" the way I see it is more of a "don't blindly use source code as if its the only way, look for many examples and know how it works not just what it does."

Goodluck! (also I recommend openGL as well, in the CPP section of the code bank I left a very rough example of openGL code, its messy and sucks but that is somewhat of the feel openGL has(if you use the GLUT or freeGLUT library)

Okay, I'm sure I will not use XNA :D So what Slayer706 (thanks for the link) said about DirectX/C++ and XNA: How is it with DirectX/C++ and OpenGL? I don't have very much experience in C, so I don't know if it can do more then C++? C seems easier then C++ but can it (in combination with OpenGL) make easier/nicer graphics then DirectX/C++?

Slayer, I agree with you 100%, but the thing is that's what all of us have been saying, go read up on some comparisons of OpenGL and DirectX, yet he has just insisted on not doing so. That's the only thing he has left to do is read up on them. We have said all we could.

Thanks for all the reactions!

I know how to use DX and I am now trying things with OpenGL/C++. So I can find out which one I like the most :D Just one question more about OpenGL: If I publish my game and someone install it on his/her pc, which files do I have to copy to ht edestination pc (except the game files). I'm talking about GLUT files. I have read that you have to copy glut32.dll to the system directory (in windows), but is that the only thing to make opengl work?

MH-IA wrote: Thanks for all the reactions!

I know how to use DX and I am now trying things with OpenGL/C++. So I can find out which one I like the most :D Just one question more about OpenGL: If I publish my game and someone install it on his/her pc, which files do I have to copy to ht edestination pc (except the game files). I'm talking about GLUT files. I have read that you have to copy glut32.dll to the system directory (in windows), but is that the only thing to make opengl work?

http://www.videotutorialsrock.com/ bunch of opengl video tutorials. They are nice, but remember this is a very small sample of openGL features and there are many ways to do one thing.

videotutorialsrock is really nice, I must admit.