C++ Role-Playing Design Best-Practices/Suggestions?:

Question

Foreword: I have worked extensively with Java, but less with C++. I have an understanding of the general language and how it differs from Java, but could really use some help here. Additionally, though I have never designed an R.P.G. I understand how to separate the data/processing model from the graphics portion, but could really use some tips on custom graphical interfacing.

I would like to begin development of a 2-Dimensional (Read: Relatively simple graphics, a la the earlier Final Fantasies, Chrono Trigger) Role-Playing Game in C++ and have several questions. I indeed have searched Google and have found varied unsupported opinions and outdated material (anywhere from six to ten years back for general game design material).

My inquiries are as follows: (Note: Best is open to interpretation and if that word does not exactly describe that for which I am asking, please bear with me, as I understand what works best for one game may not work best for another game of the same type.)

• Best crossplatorm windowing system?
• So far I have found that QT should do the job and I haven't had any trouble working with it. Is there any reason I should avoid using it for this application, or are there particular subtleties for which I should watch with QT?
• Best crossplatform graphics library (to be distinguished from windowing system)?
  • OpenGL?
• Any good tutorials for setting up a very basic graphical R.P.G. game, or even just simple custom graphics + user-interaction tutorials in C++?
  • I've worked extensively with setting up 'practical' interfaces, such as you would see in say, a word editor, but have not setup user-interactions with custom graphics and such by myself in a good while and have forgotten best practices and besides that do not have links to good resources, especially in C++.

Answer 1

• Qt has no issue, unless you have trouble handling it properly. FreeGlut or most of the gui system uses call back functions(which is quite easy to understand), but in Qt it uses a single slot mechanism.

• OpenGL, Yes.

In case of RPG I would like to suggest you to create the command line based rpg first, to get up and running the core logical part of the game. Then add graphics layer to it. Forget about the graphics at the beginning.

Answer 2

Best crossplatorm windowing system?

Subjective and unimportant. A game done using OpenGL/Direct3D probably uses such an insignificant portion of a windowing toolkit's features that you might just skip it altogether. Really, what do you need? The ability to detect keyboard and mouse clicks, maybe the occasional Alt+Tab.

Best crossplatform graphics library (to be distinguished from windowing system)? OpenGL?

Unless you are doing software rendering, OpenGL is pretty much the only one in town.

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If you are looking to get a game going, want to learn OpenGL, but don't want to deal with native windowing stuff (i.e. prefer crossplatform) then try SDL. It has a number of features (audio, joysticks, threads, mouse/keyboard input, etc.) and even has OpenGL integration so you can take control of the rendering using OpenGL.

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Any good tutorials for setting up a very basic graphical R.P.G. game, or even just simple custom graphics + user-interaction tutorials in C++?

Way too vague.

Most of the time, you design the UI, gameplay, etc on paper then implement it in code. To ask for stuff about how to make an RPG is just not enough, e.g:
Are you thinking Zelda-style overhead/isometric, a side scroller, a dungeon crawler, an overhead view that turns into Mortal Kombat when you run into an enemy, turn based combat, a text-based RPG that has pictures show up etc. Any of these have totally different implementations from one another. Why bother reading about a graphical feel that you aren't even interested in using in your game?
You should know what your game is supposed to look and feel like, so go make it. If you don't, then go design it. The question then breaks down from "How do I make an RPG" to specific things like "How to do a tile-based isometric grid" or "How do I convert from a mouse click to a hex tile in my world?" and that's when people can really jump in and give you suggestions and experiences.