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[magikarcher]

Outcast Orange: Approximately how much coding/programming experience did you have upon starting Cloud Scream? I have been watching it from the start, but can't remember how much experience you said you had.

[Outcast Orange]

A couple years messing around in an old learning language called "Jamagic".
I had never done classes, arrays, for loops, or any variable types besides integers.
I didn't even know what a standard library was.

I had only made a text based game in C++ before starting Cloud Scream.

[alfie275]

I remember the transistion to classes.

[magikarcher]

I work in Python, have 0 GUI/Graphics experience, but a lot of work with integers and REALLY simple programs (Fibonacci sequence, Prime number finder, etc.). I also worked on a Roguelike game briefly with Bay12's own Dasleah, but a LOT of it went over my head. Any tips for starting a project like Cloud Scream?

[Outcast Orange]

Start with something simple, add a feature every week.
After a couple months you have something like Cloud Scream.

Don't be afraid of tile based systems or leaving out 3D altogether.
Pretend you've never heard of graphics, textures, and sound: It will benefit you.
Once you have added a couple libraries out of necessity,
 you may feel more inclined to try adding one of these advanced features.
Learn how to deal with saving and loading EARLY.
I still don't know how, and it is a real handicap at this point.

[magikarcher]

Any other things I should take care of early on? Any suggestions for avoiding spaghetti code?

[James.Denholm]

Comment early, comment often. Just thought I may as well quickly throw that in.

[Alexhans]

Although a common mistake is to comment what the function already makes clear because of it's name..

for example.

Code: [Select]

//Adds 2 numbers
int AddTwoNumbers(int x, int y);
This is usually unhelpful.

Instead, you might commen on where or why it's used.

[SolarShado]

comments can be very helpful... especially if you often take long breaks... I've got several projects that i haven't touched in a while, and it'd take an hour or more just to figure out what this and that does...

descriptive names (variable, class, etc.) can definitely help, and try to be consistent... a project i worked on a while back had slightly different names for basically the same function in different classes... i forget how it happened, but it was easier to just look up what's what than try to change it

  wow... ramble-y

[Outcast Orange]

If I have a project I am serious about picking back up later,
 like Cloud Scream, I open up the code and try to do something with it every now and then.
Like earlier today I changed the size of a bunch of things in the world parameters,
 and now the world is 33% smaller, but is more packed in with stuff.
I had to modify the code for subvines, which wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.
I also eliminated some code from other parts of the project,
 and it still all runs as intended.

That is a good way to keep something in mind.
Once I get bored with "House Party" (which I'm about to rename), I will happily return to Cloud Scream.
I just need to stretch my legs, try something fresh, and take a break from Cloud Scream
 while my brain recovers from only thinking about it for like seven months straight.

[Outcast Orange]

Does anyone have a recommended method of creating an animated gif?
I don't have Photoshop, or any "professional" programs.
I feel this is something I really need to learn how to do.

Also, I didn't like how far down this thread was getting...
 it hurts inside.

[Pillow_Killer]

Does anyone have a recommended method of creating an animated gif?
I don't have Photoshop, or any "professional" programs.
I feel this is something I really need to learn how to do.

Also, I didn't like how far down this thread was getting...
 it hurts inside.

I dunno. I always used imageready.

[Outcast Orange]

Is that free?
I'm pretty sure that costs moneys...

Any other suggestions?

[Tarran]

Here's an online one, though it does have it's limits.

[Outcast Orange]

Thanks!

BTW, what's up with the Armok avatars?
Are we trying to upset him, or is this something else?