Oh. I coded in a simple task switcher yesterday - it works fine.

Each task is added with a function name and a timeout:

MeleeTaskHandler_AddTask(Melee_PlayerKeyHandler, 20);

The above code would tell the program to run the "Melee_PlayerKeyHandler" function every 20ms (or more, depending on machine speed). I decided to put a limit on the number of tasks, at 30. The main loop then calls the MeleeTaskHandler_CheckTasks routine, which checks the current SDL ticks, and then see if it should run any of the tasks. If a task is run, it's .NextTimeout tag is set to the current SDL tickcount + the timeout for the current task.

It all works quite well. If the tasks are offset, then the whole thing runs nicely at 700MHz- will have to stress-test on all 30 tasks.

Figuring out all the physics and such from scratch is difficult, but i'm going well and i'll have one hell-of-a sence of achievement when the whole thing's done. Anyone interested in submitting ship pictures/designs/music etc. once I have somthing to show for myself? Unlike TimeWarp and other projects, this will be a proper adventure game with a new and exciting(?!) story and BALANCED SHIPS. Stay tuned.

- Dean

C++ is just an extension of C. All C++ compilers can compile regular C code, but NOT vice-versa.

- Dean

*Sigh*. Ok, Ok, i'll give the asteroids game a look. I've managed to write the interface routines with the SDL, SDL Image, SDL Mixer and SDL Draw libraries so i'm finally ready to start. Made the main menu as a test, all works well.

- Dean :twisted:

Bugger! Just realised I downloaded the pure source version instead of the developer version. Now it works great. Kudos - you guys seem to be very on-the-ball!

- Dean

Nah, i've never listened to the experts before. I taught myself Visual Basic many years ago, then taught myself C last year. Going against all the experts advice for the latter language, I mamaged to produce a very complicated and *working* project.

I don't have much gaming experience, but I do write C for embedded systems - small microcontroller ICs. That involves a lot of abstract thinking on the best way to acomplish a task with the minimum amount of code, and also multiple threads when using a Real Time Operating System - similar to the SDL libraries's threads.

Worked out how to implement all the music, text image and main SDL libraries now. I've made most fo the helper C files and got the main menu working as a test. I though threads for the Melee is the best way to go - a thread per bullet and ship, what do you think? I could make it to inline, just seemed the best and easiest option.

- Dean

I'm creating my own game after being inspired by the Star Control port. I've decided to use the SDL libraries to keep things simple. So far ive managed to compile a lot of the libraries correctly, but i'm having trouble with the SDL miser library. I can compile it fine with VC++.net, but when I try to use the .lib file in my project I get a LOT of "unresolved external symbols". Can anyone help?

Compiler output shown below.
- Dean

LINK : warning LNK4098: defaultlib 'LIBCMT' conflicts with use of other libs; use /NODEFAULTLIB:library
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Timidity_PlaySome referenced in function _music_mixer
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _VC_WriteBytes referenced in function _music_mixer
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _native_midi_detect referenced in function _open_music
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Timidity_Init referenced in function _open_music
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _MikMod_strerror referenced in function _open_music
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _MikMod_errno
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _MikMod_Init referenced in function _open_music
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _MikMod_RegisterAllLoaders referenced in function _open_music
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _MikMod_RegisterAllDrivers referenced in function _open_music
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _md_reverb
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _md_pansep
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _md_sndfxvolume
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _md_musicvolume
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _md_volume
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _md_device
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _md_mixfreq
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _md_mode
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Player_Load referenced in function _Mix_LoadMUS
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Timidity_Error referenced in function _Mix_LoadMUS
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Timidity_LoadSong referenced in function _Mix_LoadMUS
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _native_midi_error referenced in function _Mix_LoadMUS
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _native_midi_loadsong referenced in function _Mix_LoadMUS
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Timidity_FreeSong referenced in function _Mix_FreeMusic
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _native_midi_freesong referenced in function _Mix_FreeMusic
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Player_Free referenced in function _Mix_FreeMusic
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Timidity_Start referenced in function _music_internal_play
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _native_midi_start referenced in function _music_internal_play
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Player_Start referenced in function _music_internal_play
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Player_SetPosition referenced in function _music_internal_position
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Timidity_SetVolume referenced in function _music_internal_volume
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _native_midi_setvolume referenced in function _music_internal_volume
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Player_SetVolume referenced in function _music_internal_volume
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Timidity_Stop referenced in function _music_internal_halt
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _native_midi_stop referenced in function _music_internal_halt
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Player_Stop referenced in function _music_internal_halt
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Timidity_Active referenced in function _music_internal_playing
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _native_midi_active referenced in function _music_internal_playing
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Player_Active referenced in function _music_internal_playing
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Player_SetSynchroValue referenced in function _Mix_SetSynchroValue
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _Player_GetSynchroValue referenced in function _Mix_GetSynchroValue
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _MikMod_UnregisterAllDrivers referenced in function _close_music
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _MikMod_UnregisterAllLoaders referenced in function _close_music
SDL_Mixer.lib(music.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _MikMod_Exit referenced in function _close_music
Debug/Star Control 2.5.exe : fatal error LNK1120: 43 unresolved externals

Hmm, I defined all the libraries I could find, must have missed the OGG one. No matter; I've got the binaries and only wanted to compile the source code so I could make changes/additions. After looking at the code I've decided to scrap that idea and create a new game ("Star Control 2.5", even though I HATE Star Control 3) with the SDL libraries et al. The SDL library is fantastic, isn't it! I've always wanted to make a proper game, just never found the right language and libraries to do it in, no I have.

- Dean :twisted:

Never mind: I forgot I had to use the

#pragma comment(lib, "SDL.lib")
#pragma comment(lib, "SDLmain.lib")

commands. Thanks anyway guys!
- Dean :twisted:

If I use the simple C++ code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include "SDL.h"

int main (int argc, char *argv[])
{
fprintf (stderr, "Test");

return(0); // Satisfies Compiler (Main() must return a value)
}

I get the error "LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _main referenced in function _mainCRTStartup" when building in VC++.Net. Can anyone explain this? The code works fine if I don't include the SDL.h header file.

- Dean :twisted:

I need som help with this also. I've downloaded and compiled all the components, but .NET now goes ape when I try to compile:

libcmtd.lib(dbgheap.obj) : error LNK2005: _malloc already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(dbgheap.obj) : error LNK2005: _calloc already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(dbgheap.obj) : error LNK2005: _realloc already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(dbgheap.obj) : error LNK2005: _free already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(fflush.obj) : error LNK2005: _fflush already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(fpinit.obj) : error LNK2005: __ldused already defined in a previous module
libcmtd.lib(fpinit.obj) : error LNK2005: __fltused already defined in a previous module
libcmtd.lib(write.obj) : error LNK2005: __write already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(crt0dat.obj) : error LNK2005: _exit already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(crt0dat.obj) : error LNK2005: __exit already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(crt0dat.obj) : error LNK2005: __cexit already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(crt0dat.obj) : error LNK2005: __c_exit already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(dosmap.obj) : error LNK2005: __errno already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(crt0.obj) : error LNK2005: _mainCRTStartup already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(crtexe.obj)
libcmtd.lib(crt0.obj) : error LNK2005: __amsg_exit already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(open.obj) : error LNK2005: __open already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(crt0init.obj) : error LNK2005: ___xc_z already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(cinitexe.obj)
libcmtd.lib(crt0init.obj) : error LNK2005: ___xc_a already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(cinitexe.obj)
libcmtd.lib(crt0init.obj) : error LNK2005: ___xi_z already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(cinitexe.obj)
libcmtd.lib(crt0init.obj) : error LNK2005: ___xi_a already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(cinitexe.obj)
libcmtd.lib(winxfltr.obj) : error LNK2005: __XcptFilter already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(read.obj) : error LNK2005: __read already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(lseek.obj) : error LNK2005: __lseek already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(setlocal.obj) : error LNK2005: _setlocale already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(getenv.obj) : error LNK2005: _getenv already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
libcmtd.lib(tolower.obj) : error LNK2005: _tolower already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll)
MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll) : error LNK2005: __stricmp already defined in libcmtd.lib(stricmp.obj)
MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll) : error LNK2005: __isatty already defined in libcmtd.lib(isatty.obj)
MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll) : error LNK2005: __close already defined in libcmtd.lib(close.obj)
MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll) : error LNK2005: _fopen already defined in libcmtd.lib(fopen.obj)
MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll) : error LNK2005: _fclose already defined in libcmtd.lib(fclose.obj)
MSVCRTD.lib(MSVCR70D.dll) : error LNK2005: __isctype already defined in libcmtd.lib(isctype.obj)
LINK : warning LNK4098: defaultlib 'MSVCRTD' conflicts with use of other libs; use /NODEFAULTLIB:library
MSVCRTD.lib(cinitexe.obj) : warning LNK4098: defaultlib 'libcmtd.lib' conflicts with use of other libs; use /NODEFAULTLIB:library
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_sync_clear referenced in function _ov_clear
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_stream_clear referenced in function _ov_clear
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_stream_init referenced in function __ov_open1
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_sync_wrote referenced in function __ov_open1
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_sync_buffer referenced in function __ov_open1
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_sync_init referenced in function __ov_open1
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_stream_packetout referenced in function __fetch_headers
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_stream_pagein referenced in function __fetch_headers
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_stream_reset_serialno referenced in function __fetch_headers
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_page_serialno referenced in function __fetch_headers
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_sync_pageseek referenced in function __get_next_page
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_sync_reset referenced in function __seek_helper
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_page_granulepos referenced in function __prefetch_all_headers
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_page_eos referenced in function _ov_raw_seek
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_stream_reset referenced in function _ov_raw_seek
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_page_continued referenced in function _ov_pcm_seek_page
vorbisfile.lib(vorbisfile.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _ogg_stream_packetpeek referenced in function _ov_pcm_seek_page
vorbisfile.lib(res0.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_read
vorbisfile.lib(floor1.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_read referenced in function _floor1_fit
vorbisfile.lib(floor0.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_read
vorbisfile.lib(info.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_read referenced in function _vorbis_synthesis_headerin
vorbisfile.lib(synthesis.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_read
vorbisfile.lib(codebook.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_read
vorbisfile.lib(mapping0.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_read
vorbisfile.lib(info.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_readinit referenced in function _vorbis_synthesis_headerin
vorbisfile.lib(synthesis.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_readinit
vorbisfile.lib(info.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_bytes referenced in function _vorbis_commentheader_out
vorbisfile.lib(analysis.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_bytes
vorbisfile.lib(bitrate.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_bytes
vorbisfile.lib(mapping0.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_bytes
vorbisfile.lib(info.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_writeinit referenced in function _vorbis_commentheader_out
vorbisfile.lib(block.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_writeinit
vorbisfile.lib(bitrate.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_writeinit
vorbisfile.lib(floor1.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_write
vorbisfile.lib(info.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_write referenced in function __vorbis_pack_comment
vorbisfile.lib(codebook.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_write
vorbisfile.lib(mapping0.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_write
vorbisfile.lib(res0.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_write
vorbisfile.lib(info.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_writeclear referenced in function _vorbis_analysis_headerout
vorbisfile.lib(block.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_writeclear
vorbisfile.lib(bitrate.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_writeclear
vorbisfile.lib(info.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_reset referenced in function _vorbis_analysis_headerout
vorbisfile.lib(analysis.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_reset
vorbisfile.lib(analysis.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_get_buffer referenced in function _vorbis_analysis
vorbisfile.lib(bitrate.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_get_buffer referenced in function _vorbis_bitrate_init
vorbisfile.lib(codebook.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_adv referenced in function _decode_packed_entry_number
vorbisfile.lib(codebook.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_look referenced in function _decode_packed_entry_number
vorbisfile.lib(mapping0.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _oggpack_writealign referenced in function _mapping0_forward
../../uqmdebug.exe : fatal error LNK1120: 28 unresolved externals

Ideas? The OGG .lib files seem to have compiled OK.
- Dean :twisted: