.dll and vb6 question

[Joey]

there is this .dll file called morfit or something like that for vb that adds 200 commands or something to vb6. is this an 'engine'? it is meant for making first person shooter games in vb6. is a .dll file a file made that adds commands to a language or something? if you make an engine by making a .dll file, how do you make a .dll file, where are some tutorials for making .dll file engines or whatever, and how do you incorperate the file into vb6 to use the new commands?

[AR]

A DLL is a dynamicly linked library, it is a machine code binary that can be loaded into a program's address space to provide variables and functions to the application.

In the context of Visual Basic 6, a DLL needs to be added via the Tools menu (can't remember which option, it's the other one from "components"). To access it you need the function list, in VB6 you can view this via the object browser.

[Solar]

where are some tutorials for making .dll file engines or whatever

As AR pointed out, a .dll is simply a function library. What kind of functions is provided can vary wildly - functions to build a 3D engine, functions to do statistical math, functions for building GUI applications, whatever.

So you are looking for two different things: How to build a DLL (easy), and how to build a 3D graphics engine (hard).

And sorry, I can't help you with either, just wanted to make your search easier.

[Joey]

yeah i wasnt planning on making a 3d engine or anything, atleast not yet ive made a few small test games in visual basic 6 so far. ive posted here before that that is the best way that i learn. anyway, im going to move onto something a little more complex. my friend and i were going to make a text adventure VERY similar to the HUGO games and AGI games. he will do drawings, i will do programming. im not s ure if i would have to develop an engine with a .dll or anything. im assuming i would need to, but not with a .dll. im still new to the vb world and programming world and some things are still confusing, but by creating and experimenting, i learn. so if anyone would have any ideas on how this would work and be created in steps, let me know. i somewhat have an idea. usually i just start to program one process at a time. like a menu, then the main character, etc.

[Colonel Kernel]

The main reason I can think of to create a game engine as a dll is so that the same engine can be re-used in more than one game without the need to share any source code. Otherwise, there isn't much point. Also keep in mind that there is a small overhead in making function calls to a DLL, if that matters to you. It might if you're creating Doom 4 and calling a DLL function in your innermost rendering loop or something.

[Eero Ränik]

yeah i wasnt planning on making a 3d engine or anything, atleast not yet ive made a few small test games in visual basic 6 so far. ive posted here before that that is the best way that i learn. anyway, im going to move onto something a little more complex. my friend and i were going to make a text adventure VERY similar to the HUGO games and AGI games. he will do drawings, i will do programming. im not s ure if i would have to develop an engine with a .dll or anything. im assuming i would need to, but not with a .dll. im still new to the vb world and programming world and some things are still confusing, but by creating and experimenting, i learn. so if anyone would have any ideas on how this would work and be created in steps, let me know. i somewhat have an idea. usually i just start to program one process at a time. like a menu, then the main character, etc.

Joey, I think you should really take it more methodically. As I understand it, you want to make some games, but not really learn programming. If you're really sure you want to do this in Visual Basic or any other programming language, instead of some engines already done for you, sign up for a programming course - more expensive it'll be, more motive you have to visit the classes frequently.

[Schol-R-LEA]

You seem determined to use VB now... did you ever take a look at Python and Pygame, like I suggested, and what did you think of them? I realize that they lack the form-building tools that VB has, but to be honest, those are of almost no use in game programming - you aren't going to be able to program the kind of game you have in mind in VB using drag-and-drop.

[Joey]

i never said i did not want to learn to program and that i was only doing this to make games. what i said, is that i learn languages best by making things on my own, experimenting, and creating things that i really will enjoy creating. and the perfect example, is making a game. it is something that i wont get bored with as easily and makes it really fun. i really never messed around with python and i am done jumping around from language to language to see which one i will learn. i am learning visual basic 6. it is an easy language and it can do a lot of what i want to do. perhaps ill move to another language eventually, but i want to do one at a time.

i have already made a few programs within the past months of my original post. i made a few small games, and a few applications, like a calculator, etc. i have downloaded a lot of games and looked at their vb6 source code and things like that.

and also about programming courses, i really havent seen any around my area, or else i would have signed up for them. the main reason for this post was because i really wasnt sure exactly what a .dll was.

The main reason I can think of to create a game engine as a dll is so that the same engine can be re-used in more than one game without the need to share any source code.

this is exactly what i wanted to do. i have made a few simple things like i mentioned, and now its time to move up a step. im going to making a graphic text adventure like Hugo's House of Horrors and like AGI games. I may make a trilogy or something, and by making a .dll engine, it would be handy to reuse in the sequels.

maybe i am not making any sense, but like i said, this is the way i learn programming, but doing things that interest me by myself, i just run into a lot of questions, but its the way i learn. and about making Dynamic Linked Library files (i think thats what it is called) you would make it in the language you are using for your game right? if anyone has some helpful links with making a shell or engine or whatever through a .dll let me know please.

[Eero Ränik]

i never said i did not want to learn to program and that i was only doing this to make games. what i said, is that i learn languages best by making things on my own, experimenting, and creating things that i really will enjoy creating. and the perfect example, is making a game. it is something that i wont get bored with as easily and makes it really fun. i really never messed around with python and i am done jumping around from language to language to see which one i will learn. i am learning visual basic 6. it is an easy language and it can do a lot of what i want to do. perhaps ill move to another language eventually, but i want to do one at a time.

i have already made a few programs within the past months of my original post. i made a few small games, and a few applications, like a calculator, etc. i have downloaded a lot of games and looked at their vb6 source code and things like that.

and also about programming courses, i really havent seen any around my area, or else i would have signed up for them. the main reason for this post was because i really wasnt sure exactly what a .dll was.

maybe i am not making any sense, but like i said, this is the way i learn programming, but doing things that interest me by myself, i just run into a lot of questions, but its the way i learn.

That's not a bad way to learn, but I'd really start studying the language methodically, if I were you. You will learn a lot more faster this way, and can do your games/other projects much more efficiently later.
If you really can't sign up for a course, get someone to teach you, or a good book (from the library, since you really know if any book is good for you after you've done with it).
Anyway, good luck.

[Joey]

i have one vb6 book, so perhaps i should get a few more. but thanks for the help.