Blitz3d or BlitzPlus - suggestions?

[veganjay]

Hi - I recently picked up the book "Game Programming for Teens" (although I'm much older than teen). The book focuses on 2d game programming and includes a demo version of Blitz Basic. This version is limited in that it cannot create standalone executables, and can only use ".bmp" files.

Now, I'm considering purchasing a full version. I'm new to game programming, but I am well experienced in server programming in C++ and JAVA. Eventually, I'm going to learn development for the game boy advance, but Blitz seems like a good place to start.

I've read through several discussions on this board, and I still am confused to as if I should invest in Blitz3d or BlitzPlus. The last I read was that BlitzPlus is a little buggy, but Blitz3D can do everything Blitz2D can.

I'm not super-interested in 3d, but I'm more interested in 3d than GUI (which I could do in JAVA anyways). Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd really appreciate hearing from other's experiences.

Thanks,
jason

[Shane R. Monroe]

Well, Blitz2D is no longer available - its been superceeded by Blitz+.

I still have a couple of full copies I'll sell for $20 each. I used to distro for them over here, and still have some laying around.

Basically, Blitz3D and Blitz+ are Blitz2D with either 3D or GUI extra, respectively.

I guess the answer is pick which "extra" you are more likely to use :)

[veganjay]

Thanks Shane. I have been figuring that Blitz3d is probably the better choice for me, but at $99, it's not an impulse buy.

Have you experienced any improvement with recent updates to BlitzPlus? You last mentioned it was just a step beyond beta. Reliability is obviously another consideration.

Thanks,
jason

[Shane R. Monroe]

I did the Year 4 CDROM interface in it. 1.35 appears pretty stable.

[HunterSD]

BlitzPlus for 2D games programming is very, very stable as it is largely based on Blitz Basic's 2D engine, with a few very important improvements.

[syntaxerror]

With regards to BlitzPlus, the author Mark Sibly has summoned Simon Armstrong to give B+ an overall/update.
Quite a few things need adding to make it a little more flexible.
Still, as it is now it still a very capable tool. Pretty easy to master.

[Shane R. Monroe]

With regards to BlitzPlus, the author Mark Sibly has summoned Simon Armstrong to give B+ an overall/update.
Quite a few things need adding to make it a little more flexible.
Still, as it is now it still a very capable tool. Pretty easy to master.

That explains the severe lack of updates we've seen in B+ as of late; its been outsourced. Kinda sad, but I'd like updates before Windows XP XXXXIII comes out.