Gamers? Programmers? Help!

Most games are written in C or C++ nowadays. Not sure about resources for kids to learn programming as when I was little we used LOGO on an Apple IIe or HyperCard on my old Mac. I would do a google search for programming books for kids, see what that comes up with.

Here's a good site to look at:
http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/program.html

Also, take him through the HowStuffWorks site on how computers and the internet work. It's all related and it never hurts to know.

Finally, if he really gets into programming and computers, look into getting him a low-price PC to do his stuff on (but keep it in a family-accessable room), as he'll probably blow up the machine from time to time experimenting with this that or the other thing and you probably don't want to lose your main machine to that.

Oh, off that kidsdomain page... I found this link for a Windows version of the old LOGO program
http://www.softronix.com/logo.html - MSWLogo

I highly recommend LOGO as a starter since it gets kids thinking in a procedural way.

The first step? Get him programming. For a younger kid, LOGO works well. Then try him on something simple, like Visual Basic. Then ... try C, C++, and/or C#.

As Zoomba said, most (vast majority) games today are written in C/C++. There are several books (Amazon.com can help or various brick-and-mortar stores) that deal specifically with game programming. I know I've seen a bunch over the years. Can't remember a single title, though. Some are written towards a beginner level, some are a little more advanced, and then some others assume that you've been programming in their language of choice for years. So, be careful which one you pick up.

You'd be surprised how most young kids take to it, though.

Finally, if he really gets into programming and computers, look into getting him a low-price PC to do his stuff on (but keep it in a family-accessable room), as he'll probably blow up the machine from time to time experimenting with this that or the other thing and you probably don't want to lose your main machine to that. --Zoomba

I'll second that one. I've lost track of the number of times I blew up my dad's computer while growing up. I learned how to reload it from scratch REALLY well.

Thank you so much!! I will go to the site and take all your advice....he will be so excited when I tell him.

He already has a computer in his room with highspeed hookup. But he is only allowed on two sites....

Do you think an emachines with 340 processor, 100 gb and 512 ram is good enough or do we need to upgrade? I am computer retarded so layman's terms please! haha

That machine has more than enough horsepower to handle even the most complex programming task he'll be able to throw at it for quite a while. Maybe more RAM would help, but it's not necessary right now.

That machine has more than enough horsepower to handle even the most complex programming task he'll be able to throw at it for quite a while. Maybe more RAM would help, but it's not necessary right now.

Ok great! I bought that computer at the bidding of the salesman when my son told him he wanted a computer that could play RollerCoaster Tycoon 2. Of course bought while hubby was out of town. My husband knows more about computers than I do but barely...hehe

Thanks again...the web site is awesome and a great starting off point!

That computer is definitely more than enough. My work computers (until the last 2 or 3 months) have been considerably slower/less powerful than that. And that's my official development computer.

Fortunately, my home computer is a lot more powerful.

Good luck with him! It's an addiction that's hard to break.

If I could make a suggestion, I would direct your kid toward modding first. Find a game that allows players to make levels and let him start there. A lot of people started off building mods for games and then expanded their expertise. My little girl loves Morrowind and we work on content together.

It gives you a good idea about how things work. Sometimes starting with a DOS window making number guessing games can put kids off programming. When you start at the other end they see results faster, and it gives them some respect for the monumental task a game really is. Once they have the patience to create content for an existing game, they might be better suited to start learning programming.

Just a suggestion. The others are great, too.

As a gamer, and a wannabe programmer, I always thought writing scripts/macros for games for fun. I also suggest Visual Basic. However, a word of caution. Comp. games can become a large part of a kids life, as it was mine until a couple months ago due to some problems, make sure your child understands the importance of a social life/regular physical activity as to balance it out.

Just seeing these replies.

If I could make a suggestion, I would direct your kid toward modding first. Find a game that allows players to make levels and let him start there.

Anyplace I could pick Morrowind up?

However, a word of caution. Comp. games can become a large part of a kids life, as it was mine until a couple months ago due to some problems, make sure your child understands the importance of a social life/regular physical activity as to balance it out

We are already seeing this. We've limited his computer time on school days to two hours total. On weekends he gets three hours a day. But since he started with the computer he's gained 10 pounds!! Of course he is a growing boy but now he's showing some fat. He is playing basketball though and swimming so I can't be too hard on him.

His computer is new but it won't shut down, we have to unplug it. Even when we hit the power button...nothing. Weird....and it is REALLY loud, could that be a fan or something? Especially when it first starts, but its a high squeal sound.

Any suggestion on possible problems?

Thanks

Won't shut down? Check the power setting in Windows and make sure it's set to Power switch shuts down and not hibernates. Also, try Start -> Shutdown -> Turn off computer and let us know where it hangs (stops).

As for the fan ... if it's a new computer, it shouldn't have a problem with the fan. A high squeal usually signifies a bearing out of whack. If it's inside the computer (but not near the power supply), it's the processor or video fan. Either can be detrimental if left to run. A supplemental case fan might be there, as well. That won't cause as many problems, but it can still be dangerous for the computer.

Where abouts (on the case) does the squeal come from?

Anyplace I could pick Morrowind up?

Morrowind's an Xbox game. Easy to find.

"Morrowind's an Xbox game. Easy to find."

If you want to build mods for it, though, you need to use the PC version. You can get it about anywhere. The sequel is due out sometime in the next few months, you might wanna wait for it. They have Sean Bean and Patrick Stewart doing voices this time. The screenshots are darned impressive.

Thanks for the info.

Where abouts (on the case) does the squeal come from?

His computer seems to squeal whenever the hard drive is seeking...does that make sense? If it is just sitting there you can hear it run, but if you use it then it sounds like a car gunning the engine while it is seeking and then when it stops seeking it winds down.

We go to the start menu to turn off the computer, hit shut down, but it doesn't do a thing just stays on. The screen doesn't dim or anything, even when we hit the power on button (the actual one you push to start the computer) it doesn't shut off. We have to unplug the computer to get it off.

Weird huh?

If you want to build mods for it, though, you need to use the PC version

Nick Burns, the company computer guy says, "Mooooooove!"

Hehe.

"Nick Burns, the company computer guy says, "Mooooooove!"

And let me guess, you use AOL? *snort*. Do you want me to save your game of Minesweeper here? Problem solved.

*beep beep*

It's those goofs over in Organizational Development. They make you guys look like braniacs over there. I'm outta here.

Oh, by the way, you're welcome!


BakerStreet hopes Tova watches SNL and doesn't think I'm being a jerk, lol...

Uh, you lost me at "Mooooove."

A bit late but I'd recommend Squeak (http://www.squeak.org/) as a good place for a kid to start. It has a bunch of features that you want in a "complete" learning environment for a child without the rank stupidity of BASIC and with more expressiveness than LOGO.

Came across Microsoft's Coding4Fun page and thought you might be interested. Has lots of beginner articles. Also here is a Kid's Programming Language that might be of interest.

No idea how I screwed that up. I'm hoping posting this one will fix the bottom of the page so I can edit. If not, delete my post and I'll repost.

*EDIT* LOL, wow, that took a bit of fishing (sorry JU) but I was able to target their asp from here and edit it without the button, lol. Sorry for breaking your page. (Delete this if you like.)

Thanks Bakerstreet....I will give him the web sites and have them check them out.

And sunwukong I will have him check that out as well.....

He'll be driving me nuts with this I can tell already!

His computer seems to squeal whenever the hard drive is seeking...does that make sense?

Oh, yeah. It makes lots of sense. It sounds like one of the read heads on the hard drive is rubbing against the platter. Which is a recipe for a dead hard drive, quickly. Does it sometimes have problems starting programs or opening files from the drive that it used to be able to open fine?

We go to the start menu to turn off the computer, hit shut down, but it doesn't do a thing just stays on. The screen doesn't dim or anything, even when we hit the power on button (the actual one you push to start the computer) it doesn't shut off. We have to unplug the computer to get it off.

Heh. Sounds like it's just feeling it's age. Sometimes, the non-responsiveness to the powerswitch is an OS problem (and I can't remember where to set it ... ) and would be fixed by reloading it. Other times ... it's a sign that the motherboard is about to go TU on you. Combined with the hard drive squeal ...

it's a sign that the motherboard is about to go TU on you. Combined with the hard drive squeal ...

Well if it happens I hope it happens soon....it is only 2 months old.

Does it sometimes have problems starting programs or opening files from the drive that it used to be able to open fine?

Nope I don't think so...just the loud ANNOYING squeal....sounds like a jet engine revving up in there.

I would suggest getting him into C and C++. Those languages compile down to fast code. The first thing he should understand though is that there is a lot of people out there wanting to do the same thing, so buckle down and develop good skills in school, math, etc. I am a developer myself. Developing is fun, makes good money and is not all fun. He should know its hard work. I enjoy it, but IT IS hard work. Many times spending countless hours doing many things that I don't really like. There are things, like testing, software requirements, talking w/the client about what is needed, countless hours of debugging the same thing over and over. Another thing he should know is that there isn't any glory in it. No one becomes famous for making a game. I have several friends who make and own their own companies making games. No one knows their names. Yes they know the game, but no one knows who made it. If he thinks he'll get popular or be cool if he makes a game, ask him who made Halo. He'll have no clue. I code in about 10 languages myself. C, C++, Java, Pascal, COBOL, etc etc etc... I truely like coding for coding. I often got bored of games and coded instead. If he likes gaming, and wants to create the games himself, he should realize that creating games and playing games are much different. Like cars... just because you like driving cars a lot doesn't mean you like fixing them and building them. You might... and its very possible. But he should understand the difference. AND I'm sure he'll get to that point sometime in his life. Again.. let me stress that there are a lot of people out there wanting to do the same thing he wants. He may end up just programming business applications. Anyway.. enough of my babble. Pass on those things to him. I know what I'm talking about.. I've been coding since I've been about 12.

I sould suggest not listening to DoS. Nothing is going to discourage your child more than spending months making programs in a dos window that don't do anything he wants to do. Kids don't have the attention span for it. When he is 13 or 14, especially after spending a couple of years working with other things, he'd probably be able to appreciate the complexity.