Book Image

Beginning C++ Game Programming

Book Image

Beginning C++ Game Programming

Overview of this book

This book is all about offering you a fun introduction to the world of game programming, C++, and the OpenGL-powered SFML using three fun, fully-playable games. These games are an addictive frantic two-button tapper, a multi-level zombie survival shooter, and a split-screen multiplayer puzzle-platformer. We will start with the very basics of programming, such as variables, loops, and conditions and you will become more skillful with each game as you move through the key C++ topics, such as OOP (Object-Orientated Programming), C++ pointers, and an introduction to the Standard Template Library. While building these games, you will also learn exciting game programming concepts like particle effects, directional sound (spatialization), OpenGL programmable Shaders, spawning thousands of objects, and more.

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Beginning C++ Game Programming
Oct, 2016 | 520 pages
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Table of Contents (24 chapters)
Beginning C++ Game Programming
Beginning C++ Game Programming
Credits
Credits
About the Author
About the Author
About the Reviewer
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
www.PacktPub.com
Dedication
Dedication
Preface
Preface
Free Chapter
1
C++, SFML, Visual Studio, and Starting the First Game
C++, SFML, Visual Studio, and Starting the First Game
The games
Meet C++
Microsoft Visual Studio
SFML
Setting up the development environment
Planning Timber!!!
Creating a project from the template
Project assets
Understanding screen and internal coordinates
Starting to code the game
Opening a window using SFML
The main game loop
Drawing the game background
Handling errors
FAQ
Summary
2
Variables, Operators, and Decisions – Animating Sprites
Variables, Operators, and Decisions – Animating Sprites
C++ variables
Manipulating variables
Adding clouds, a tree, and a buzzing bee
Random numbers
Making decisions with if and else
Timing
Moving the clouds and the bee
FAQ
Summary
3
C++ Strings, SFML Time, Player Input, and HUD
C++ Strings, SFML Time, Player Input, and HUD
Pausing and restarting the game
C++ strings
SFML Text and Font
Adding a score and a message
Adding a time bar
FAQ
Summary
4
Loops, Arrays, Switch, Enumerations, and Functions – Implementing Game Mechanics
Loops, Arrays, Switch, Enumerations, and Functions – Implementing Game Mechanics
Loops
Arrays
Making decisions with switch
Class enumerations
Getting started with functions
Growing the branches
FAQ
Summary
5
Collisions, Sound, and End Conditions – Making the Game Playable
Collisions, Sound, and End Conditions – Making the Game Playable
Preparing the player (and other sprites)
Drawing the player and other sprites
Handling the player's input
Handling death
Simple sound FX
Improving the game and the code
FAQ
Summary
6
Object-Oriented Programming, Classes, and SFML Views
Object-Oriented Programming, Classes, and SFML Views
Planning and starting the Zombie Arena game
OOP
Building the Player-the first class
Controlling the game camera with SFML View
Starting the Zombie Arena game engine
Managing the code files
Starting coding the main game loop
FAQ
Summary
7
C++ References, Sprite Sheets, and Vertex Arrays
C++ References, Sprite Sheets, and Vertex Arrays
C++ References
SFML vertex arrays and sprite sheets
Creating a randomly generated scrolling background
Using the background
FAQ
Summary
8
Pointers, the Standard Template Library, and Texture Management
Pointers, the Standard Template Library, and Texture Management
Pointers
The Standard Template Library
The TextureHolder Class
Building a horde of zombies
Using the TextureHolder class for all textures
FAQ
Summary
9
Collision Detection, Pickups, and Bullets
Collision Detection, Pickups, and Bullets
Coding the Bullet class
Making the bullets fly
Giving the player a crosshair
Coding a class for pickups
Using the Pickup class
Detecting collisions
FAQ
Summary
10
Layering Views and Implementing the HUD
Layering Views and Implementing the HUD
Adding all the Text and HUD objects
Updating the HUD each frame
Drawing the HUD, and the home and level up screens
FAQ
Summary
11
Sound Effects, File I/O, and Finishing the Game
Sound Effects, File I/O, and Finishing the Game
Saving and loading the high-score
Preparing sound effects
Leveling up
Restarting the game
Playing the rest of the sounds
FAQ
Summary
12
Abstraction and Code Management – Making Better Use of OOP
Abstraction and Code Management – Making Better Use of OOP
The Thomas Was Late game
Structuring the Thomas Was Late code
Building the game engine
Coding the main function
FAQ
Summary
13
Advanced OOP – Inheritance and Polymorphism
Advanced OOP – Inheritance and Polymorphism
Inheritance
Polymorphism
Abstract classes - virtual and pure virtual functions
Building the PlayableCharacter class
Building the Thomas and Bob classes
Updating the game engine to use Thomas and Bob
FAQ
Summary
14
Building Playable Levels and Collision Detection
Building Playable Levels and Collision Detection
Designing some levels
Building the LevelManager class
Coding the loadLevel function
Updating the engine
Collision detection
Summary
15
Sound Spatialization and HUD
Sound Spatialization and HUD
What is Spatialization?
How SFML handles spatialization
Building the SoundManager class
Adding SoundManager to the game engine
Populating the sound emitters
Playing sounds
The HUD class
Using the HUD class
Summary
16
Extending SFML Classes, Particle Systems, and Shaders
Extending SFML Classes, Particle Systems, and Shaders
The SFML Drawable class
Building a particle system
OpenGL, shaders, and GLSL
Summary
17
Before you go...
Before you go...
Thanks!

OOP

OOP is a programming paradigm that we could consider almost the standard way to code. It is true there are non-OOP ways to code and there are even some non-OOP game coding languages and libraries. However, starting from scratch, as this book does, there is no reason to do things any other way. When the benefits of OOP become apparent you will never look back.

OOP will:

  • Make our code easier to manage, change, or update

  • Make our code quicker and more reliable to write

  • Make it possible to easily use other people's code (such as SFML)

We have already seen the third benefit in action. Let's look at the first two benefits by introducing a problem that needs solving. The problem we are faced with is the complexity of the current project. Let's consider just a single zombie and what we need to make it function in the game:

  • Horizontal and vertical position

  • Size

  • Direction it is facing

  • Different textures for each zombie type

  • Sprites

  • Different speeds for each zombie type

  • Different health for each zombie type...

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