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I've never worked with code for Video Games...Where do you start?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by hacker9801

Dani AI

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A practical, low-friction path to a Pac‑Man style game is to keep the scope tiny and iterate. already has the right starting point with C++/Java; earlier replies (for example and ) pointed toward tutorials and forums. A useful sequence: implement a tile-based maze renderer, add sprite-based Pac‑Man movement and pellet collision, add scoring/lives, then introduce ghosts one at a time. Libraries that handle windowing, input and audio will speed progress so the core work stays on game logic.

Architect the game around a fixed-timestep update and a separate render pass. Use a simple entity model for moving characters and a tilemap for collisions. A compact loop pattern (pseudo-C++):

double previous = getTime();
double lag = 0.0;
const double MS_PER_UPDATE = 16.6667; // 60 Hz

while (running) {
  double current = getTime();
  double elapsed = current - previous;
  previous = current;
  lag += elapsed;
  handleInput();
  while (lag >= MS_PER_UPDATE) {
    update(MS_PER_UPDATE / 1000.0);
    lag -= MS_PER_UPDATE;
  }
  render(lag / MS_PER_UPDATE);
}

Ghost behavior works well as a finite‑state machine (scatter, chase, frightened, eaten). The original ghosts use distinct targeting rules rather than identical random moves; pathfinding (A* or BFS on the grid) can be used to turn those targets into actual routes. Debug by visualizing tiles, target nodes and computed paths. As recommended, share source as attachments or a repo for review rather than pasting huge inline dumps. Note: Pac‑Man is a copyrighted property; avoid distributing official assets when releasing code.

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All 13 Replies

Member Avatar for Cup of Squirrel

Ok ok your asking a bit of a mouthful there;

Do you know any languages at all yet?

Member Avatar for Fasola

Ok ok your asking a bit of a mouthful there;

Do you know any languages at all yet?

Yes, I know C++ but still learning and the same goes for Java.

This should be good, so where do I start?

:D

Member Avatar for Acidburn

shame it doesnt compile!

Member Avatar for Fasola

^^^it didn't?

it wouldn't of been much help if it did anyway, because you don't have access to the files.

I FOUND THIS: http://www.ascotti.org/programming/pie/pie.htm

Try that and post the source code if it works. I can't because I use public library computers and they have blocked downloads.

Member Avatar for Fasola

administrator restrictions will not let me post the main loop, SORRY!

you can't download it and try

Member Avatar for alc6379

Can't you just post a link to the source code, rather than keep pasting it into this thread?

Member Avatar for Fasola

Can't you just post a link to the source code, rather than keep pasting it into this thread?

i posted a link as well!

Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hi.

I deleted the source code posts, as they are un-workable in this format to someone who wants to work with them. Please either post the link where they can be found, or post the files as attachments for someone to grab.

Had you been trying to get your code corrected / bug squashed, then we could have looked at them.

Christian

Member Avatar for Fasola

or post the files as attachments for someone to grab

I'll do that next time!

Member Avatar for Mr.Coolermaster

I want to know too

commented: Don't bump old posts =/ +0
commented: Bumping a 3 year old thread to say "I want to know too"... +0
commented: Here's to your collection of orange cookies. -4
Member Avatar for hacker9801

Oh really now, did you have to necropost in a thread 3 years old?

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