Visual Programming

[Dan_N]

Right, I've been searching for Visual Basic, but the old win98 version doesn't seem to bleep on the radar, sort of speak. Why? Umm... 'cause I wanted to use all the cool dialogs and functions that Visual Basic has. Okay, that was a bit of a stupid response, I agree, but it's basically true. I find it easier to put a picture in a dialog box in Visual than in Pascal, as in Pascal it would take basically a procedure, but the code for that procedure takes about 100-200 lines. At least for me.

Now, once upon a time ago, I had winword for win95. There I had an added function for accesing Visual Basic functions and procedures. I made a dialog, added buttons, all very easily, drop-down like, then writing some code and it looked wonderfully. But it dissapeared when I closed winword. Now, I've realised that you can take winword out of the ecuation and just have visual basic.

Right then, what will I do with it, you may ask. Simply, I would like to start out with some interactive fiction games, then maybe some CybText games, and then, who knows, maybe even full-fledged games with graphics and such.

Right, what do I want from you?
Well, you have three choices:
1. Give me some feedback with some info on visual basic-like programming languages that have editors and are capable of making EXEs and such or maybe a game editor that does just that, or something. And it's got to be free, for win98, and not require some sort of microsoft identification [chip implanted in cortex].
2. Hold me while I cry in my closet.
3. Just ignore this thread and post in more interesting threads.

Now, the third one would make you a jerk, the second one is a bit weird, so the first one seems your best option. Of course, I add the first one: "pretty please".

Kudos! - The Dan

[HeirOfNorton]

Hmm, difficult. There are a fair number of visual dialog designers, but they are overwhelmingly for C++ (or Java), not too much for BASIC or Pascal. You did mention in another thread that you were not a fan of C++.

If you were willing to give C++ another try, I'd recommend wx-DevC++. It has an interactive/visual dialog designer and a full-fledged IDE.

Otherwise, the only thing I can think of is XBasic, which is pretty similar to QuickBasic and FreeBasic, but includes an "interactive GUI-designer". So it claims, anyway, I've never tried it. The main problem with it is that it is a few years old, and is no longer maintained or updated.

Okay, just looked around a bit, and there are also some free IDEs available for FreeBASIC. The main ones I found were JellyFish Pro and RadASM. I'm not sure how well these work or how easy they are to set up, though.

HoN

[Evil]

Visual Basic is bad for making games. Unless the player has all of the .dll's then they can't play the game. Basicly, they either need Visual Basic too, or you have to package a bunch of .dll's with the game. Why not make some "functions" for AGS.

Your just better off learning C++, and that's the plain truth.

[Candle]

Just making a point & Click type game?
Make it with Adventure maker as it is free now.

[Dan_N]

HON, you've me a lot of links, thanks, I'm checking them out now.

Evil, I thought that Visual Basic had a compiler or something, so's I don't have to give the game with VB too...

Candle, I checked out adventure maker, but I am unable to find a system requirements page...

[Ghost]

PROFAN has some of the graphical ide stuff you may want to use, and I know for sure that older versions of Profan are available for free download. I used to use v3, it's okay but more of a freeware version of Turbo Pascal. Maybe you'll like it, haven't got a link but goodle should find it.

[Evil]

VB does have a compiler, but, I belive, it sets the .exe up as an install and it just installs those .dlls.

I mean, the game will run, but some functions don't work without VB.

[m0ds]

I suggest Delphi. But it's not free!

[Candle]

3. What are the minimum system requirements for Adventure Maker?

The minimum system requirements for Adventure Maker are:
Computer: IBM PC or compatible, Pentium 133 MHz CPU or better
Memory: 64MB RAM and 20MB hard disk space
Monitor: 256 colors or better (the "True Color" mode is highly recommended)
Interface: Mouse and keyboard
Operating System: Windows98 or newer (Windows 2000 and XP are highly recommended).

http://www.adventuremaker.com/help/overview.htm#REQUIREMENTS