My point exactly...just being "incredibly complex" doesn't mean you can implement something effectively with OpenCL- it has to be (ideally very) parallelizable in order for there to be any point in using OpenCL for it.
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- Thread starter MorphingDragon
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My point exactly...just being "incredibly complex" doesn't mean you can implement something effectively with OpenCL- it has to be (ideally very) parallelizable in order for there to be any point in using OpenCL for it.
Argh, yet another person who misunderstands OpenCL.
Yes, OpenCL kernels can run on a CPU. Yes, the OpenCL kernel language is similar to C. However, OpenCL has no interactive capabilities. It's impossible to write an entire game only in the OpenCL kernel language!
OpenCL kernels are not full programs. An OpenCL kernel is basically a single function, that gets run on multiple pieces of data. While it's possible to add looping and branching, OpenCL will terminate execution of a kernel if it takes too long.
So OpenCL is basically "a scripting engine for parallel computation." The kernel language is "general-purpose" in the sense that it's Turing-complete, but the restrictions imposed on OpenCL kernels limit its functionality. You can use OpenCL to handle certain subtasks in a game (image processing, particle effects, pathfinding, etc.), but the statement "I'm going to write a game in OpenCL" makes no sense.
You could do it the same way ID programs the AI for doom. Step on location, monster attacks.
Hah, its all in interpretation. Ah the english language.
I'm well aware of What OpenCL is.Oh and, I had a talk to the other two guys. We had an idea and talked to our Computing teacher for the last time *Sniff. We ended up with C++ Core with SDL with the AI, controls, sound etc. But Image rendering would be a local library so Cocoa/.Net/QT etc. We figured it would be easier than all of us learning OpenGL and GL Bindings. While The core was being written by John, me and Jake would work on Game Design.
Your responses strongly suggest otherwise, but whatever. Good luck with your project.
+1
Honest questions: Have you ever made a game before? I would suggest if you are making it on windows, linux and mac go with C++ and SDL w/ OpenGL for hardware accelleration (yes SDL claims hardware accelleration but OpenGL is MUCH better).
Now, that being said if you have never used C++ its going to be a pain in the ass to get a game up and running with it. Not only will you need to learn it with all of its "gotchas!" but you will also need to build an SDL/OpenGL framework if that is what you are using then make the game. This will take quite a while...
Just as a note, if you're going to be developing an SDL-based game that targets Snow Leopard, do NOT use SDL version 1.2.13 or earlier! You need SDL 1.2.14 or later to target Snow Leopard.
Drop SDL. Use C++ and SFML. This get's you cross platform support and openGL acceleration built in. Quicker, easier and let's you concentrate on the game rather than the gfx engine.
Have you considered using Qt for all platforms (and not using SDL, cocoa, .net, etc)? I've never developed any games using Qt, but I use it a lot for all sorts of different applications on windows, macs and linux. If you did decide to use OpenGL, it supports that as well. You could probably do the whole game without having a single line of platform specific code with C++/Qt. Even better if you all can decide on a common build system. For example, I use cmake and that can generate makefiles, xcode project files and visual studio project files.
Good luck with your project. Unless you wanted to do otherwise for a learning experience, I see little reason why you would have to use platform specific libraries or frameworks.
If only there was a way to search the internet by entering words like "sfml" in a small text field, then pressing a button labeled "I'm feeling lucky"...
Just searched Google for SFML, the library is in exactly zero of the top ten results. Searching for "SFML Library" is even less helpful... suffice to say, I cannot find it.
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We'd have to learn OpenGL. We already know (mostly) local rendering libraries. Yes I have made games before, granted they were in VBasic.
I did a tiny bit of C++ learning how to integrate it in Obj-C++. I'm not writing the C++ code.
Are there any other advantages to SFML? Mature Code > Slightly more features that could be replicated easily.
Which makes the "zero of the top ten" comment by wrldwzrd89 rather odd.
And the search terms SFML Library increase the relevance of search results, not decrease it: no more Seafloor Mapping Lab or Skyline Freight & Management Ltd.
Even more oddly, I can't get it to change much:
Original English-language results: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sfml
French: http://www.google.com/search?hl=fr&q=sfml
Spanish: http://www.google.com/search?hl=es&q=sfml
Russian: http://www.google.com/search?hl=ru&q=sfml
Hebrew: http://www.google.com/search?hl=he&q=sfml
So if wrldwzrd89 would please post the URL of the "zero hits" search results, I'd be interested in what search parameters lead to such a huge difference in results. I wonder if it's due to language, regional, or some other difference.
Also, if he's signed in to his Google account when conducting a search, Google tries to tailor it's results to you based on a bunch of other variables I believe. Perhaps this is an example of this technology being more harmful than helpful.
Well that's odd. I repeated my search on a different computer. Top hit is the library. Must be something screwy with my home Mac, which I used to do the first search.