EP0001 - Introduction - Making a video game from scratch in C

About this Video

• Video Title: EP0001 - Introduction - Making a video game from scratch in C
• Channel: Ryan Ries
• Speakers: Ryan Ries
• Duration: 01:05:45

Introduction

This video is the first episode in a series where the speaker, Ryan Ries, will program a video game from scratch in C. The introduction covers his background, the type of game he plans to create (similar to classic 8-bit and 16-bit RPGs), the format of future episodes (approximately one hour long), and his reasons for undertaking this project (personal interest in game development and low-level programming, aiming for an educational experience, and a structured approach to complete a long-term project).

Key Takeaways

1. Project Goal: To create a retro-style video game (inspired by 8-bit and 16-bit consoles) from scratch in the C programming language, without using game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
2. Episode Format: Future episodes will be approximately one hour long, focusing on the most interesting aspects of the development process. Questions and comments from viewers will be addressed in subsequent episodes.
3. Choice of C Language: The speaker prefers C for its performance and reliability, despite the prevalence of object-oriented languages. He highlights the historical context of C and its continued use in operating system kernels.
4. Debugging and Best Practices: The speaker emphasizes the importance of early and consistent debugging, suggesting the use of proper tools and techniques instead of relying solely on print statements. He demonstrates debugging functionalities within Visual Studio.
5. Unicode vs. ASCII: The video explains the difference between ASCII and Unicode character sets and the importance of using Unicode (specifically, the W versions of Windows API functions) when programming for Windows to avoid performance penalties from unnecessary character set conversions.