First, it's really cool that you want to mentor this kid. I think this is something that should be done more in the industry. I'm sure whatever you decide to do with this opportunity will have a great impact on both you and the child.
I mentored a college co-op at my work and taught her basic programming by doing a simple space invader game in C++.. She didn't know C++, but it was the only language I knew fluently at the time. We did the game using OpenGL and GLUT (To keep things simple vs. using OGRE or some complicated engine). Based on that experience, I have a few recommendations: 1) Be honest with the kid and tell you don't know c++ but he can 'learn to program' in any language and you can write games in any language. Show him some pyglet examples or games done in Flex/Flash, BlitzBasic, or Java (not much easier/different than c++). The emphasis is learning to program.. Once he learns in one language, other languages will be easy to pickup. So I think python is a GREAT teaching language and pyglet makes game programming feasible. The challenge is learning and developing the problem solving skills within the constraints of a 'computer language' whatever that may be. If he insists on doing it in c++, then it's gonna be a tough road for you as a mentor as you will have to learn it with him. 2) Start more simple than a platformer. He needs to learn A LOT of basics and doesn't have the math background for simple vector maths, or graphic manipulation yet (I doubt even basic algebra @ 11). So you'll have to cover some very abstract concepts to him. This isn't to say it can't be done, but it's a lot of new concepts. So.. start with something like hangman. Something he can program in a day or 2 with your help and be expanded upon. It would introduce him to variables, a game-loop, state management (did the player win, loose, still playing?). Then move to space invaders to introduce OOP and graphics. Keep the designs really simple emphasizing understanding over performance. Let him tinker with 'modding' the game to make it cooler :) Hope this is helpful. I'd be interested to know what path you take with him. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "pyglet-users" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/pyglet-users?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
