When i first started programming i was a kid and was looking for an easy way to learn how to program. I had worked with LogoWriter for a class and had gotten some idea of what it ment to program a computer but i soon realised that OOP was what i needed to learn. Of course at the time i had no clue what it ment. so i did the logical thing i went on aol and did a search for, "OOP programming language." I got one return, "ZZT-OOP" and thank god i did.
zzt is at its surface the worst looking game you have ever seen. you operate a happy face which can move around the board bump into objects and shoot them. it operates with a few simple variables like health, ammo, tourches, and gems.
The saving grace and what makes it great is the fact that it comes with ZZT-OOP, an object oriented programming language. the language uses simple versions of more complex ideas. the game works by simply creating an ASCII charicter to represent each programing object, you simply programm your charicters to interact with each other.
When, later in life, i finaly got my hands on C++ it was a breeze because i had already learned all about the structure of programming languages (without all of the core dumps and death loops).
what you'll need:
zzt - from borland software (now abandonware and free)
helper apps - there are a few people who have gone the extra mile and created music and animations which are alwase of greate use when sampled
the help file - the help file included in the editor includes the entire language and explinations in kiddie terms of what they do. print it out, it's only about eight pages and it will be referenced constantly.
To find these things just go http://www.zzt.org or any of a number of fan sites.
Slashdot Mirror
Look!
Up in the sky.
It's a bird.
It's a plane.
NO!
It's Charles A. James!
Antitrust man!
When i first started programming i was a kid and was looking for an easy way to learn how to program. I had worked with LogoWriter for a class and had gotten some idea of what it ment to program a computer but i soon realised that OOP was what i needed to learn. Of course at the time i had no clue what it ment. so i did the logical thing i went on aol and did a search for, "OOP programming language." I got one return, "ZZT-OOP" and thank god i did.
zzt is at its surface the worst looking game you have ever seen. you operate a happy face which can move around the board bump into objects and shoot them. it operates with a few simple variables like health, ammo, tourches, and gems.
The saving grace and what makes it great is the fact that it comes with ZZT-OOP, an object oriented programming language. the language uses simple versions of more complex ideas. the game works by simply creating an ASCII charicter to represent each programing object, you simply programm your charicters to interact with each other.
When, later in life, i finaly got my hands on C++ it was a breeze because i had already learned all about the structure of programming languages (without all of the core dumps and death loops).
what you'll need:
zzt - from borland software (now abandonware and free)
helper apps - there are a few people who have gone the extra mile and created music and animations which are alwase of greate use when sampled
the help file - the help file included in the editor includes the entire language and explinations in kiddie terms of what they do. print it out, it's only about eight pages and it will be referenced constantly.
To find these things just go http://www.zzt.org or any of a number of fan sites.