Starting to Program

Clarifications

hi,

for game dev't you can practically use anything. but if you want to learn fast try using VB.Net or C#. Also, the Microsoft website already has a game development starter kit which you can use. Download the C# express (free edition). There are a lot of online helps also.

here's the site.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/

He may start by using C#. You can get Express version for free from Microsoft at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualcsharp/. Microsoft is developing framework for Xbox 360 and Windows game programming. It is called XNA Game Studio Express and you can find it at http://msdn.microsoft.com/directx/XNA/. It is in beta stage so it is free. There are forums for both products at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/support/default.aspx for C# Express and http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=882 for XNA Game Studio Express.
Of course, there is also game development using DirectX. More info at msdn.microsoft.com/directx/.

I hope this post helps.

You want a high level compiled language to learn programming theory.
C# XNA Java , C++, even Delphi.

There's bucket loads to games programming. The trick will be to get him programming and enjoying that. That will carry him into games. Not matter how intelligent and well educated the wee fella is, starting up with tic tac toe or noughts and crosses is going to stretch him for a first go.

Animations is always a good start, then sprites (moving animations)

One of the first successful games I ever wrote was eight different coloured squares moving at random speeds, from one side of the screen to the other. Make sure him and his mates don't start betting on them though :D

Set his expectations, even with modern tools, modern games are an enormous effort. So if he's basing his interest on what he's playing, he'll be very disappointed.

I'd have to spend weeks doing something like the old atari tennis game. Tetris or break out would be a challenge. State of the art stuff, I wouldn't even know where to start without educating myself a lot.

Is he good at and interested in maths, he'll need it.

Logo is what schools use to teach kids to program. They can program the cursor to go round and round very quickly.

I have a nephew that I taught how to program games. I started out with simple software: Beyond virtual (http://www.beyondvirtual.com/) and Game Factory (http://clickteam.com/eng/tgf2.php) which helped him understand what game development is about. After that, I started giving some programming books which he later used to create some amazing games. You could also go the Adobe Flash(http://adobe.com/flash) way...!! ;)

Create Flash Games with GameBrix.com - No programming required
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3FA1-oaSYYs