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Ok, guys, I need an idea for a VERY simple game. The reason is, I am learning a programming language and need a goal to work towards because really you never learn anything unless you have a goal to work right and it's very hard to just memorize something if you're not working toward anything.

So, basically, I'm trying to learn but I'm stumped and having a hard time because I don't know what to work towards. Hell, I've barely learned how to get out of command-line programming into making an actual window and I STILL barely understand that. So keep in mind, this needs to be VERY simple, like Pacman or Space Invaders.

Another thing is I'm trying to learn C++ which compared to more recent languages like Perl or Visual Basic is tough. And I will be learning C too since it's important to be fluent in both and know the small and big differences. Why those two instead of more recent ones? They have been around for quite a while of course and as a result are more widely supported on pretty much all systems like Linux, Mac, Windows, and of course a lot of Homebrew. At least from what I've read anyway.

Anyway, I'm also going to be doing this in OpenGL(again, older, so more widely supported) and is necessary for systems like Linux, so really just to be just as generic as possible then move on to others that are better suited on certain systems. Still, like I've said, I'm in very early stages of learning so I've barely learned how to make polygons and rotate them around.

I just learned how to make textures and do stuff like move them around with certain keys. So I'm sort of ready to make a very simple game. But even here, I need to learn how to make certain things happen in certain conditions in the game. So even if the games suggested are very simple, it might take me over a month to learn how to make it. School doesn't help either.

There's also the fact I'll need something doable in the graphics department as I'm bad with Art and Graphics and won't be able to make character and will probably have to get an image online for something like pacman.

So please, it's helluva lot of code, so keep it VERY simple sweatdrop I'm in early stages and can barely create a window and polygons.

For those of you that can't understand the techno mumbo jumbo:

Basically, just give me some ideas for some VERY simple games like pacman or something. 2D, something with a simple structure and conditions. Simple rules, etc.

Also, suggestions from semi-professional to professional programmers if there are any on here, would be nice. 3nodding

Not exactly simple :/ Like I said, I'm not an artist, quite frankly I stink. To do that, I would need someone to make the characters for me.

Well, I'll go with triangles trying to knock blocks into each other, circles don't have points, so infinite lines of symmetry and it would just be difficult to create a circle sweatdrop

Maybe the point of moving squares is to put them on certain tiles, thus creating a shape.

How about making a game where you have a bunch of shapes (right triangle, square), and the goal is to arrange the shapes you are given to make the ball bounce towards a 'goal' box?

Basic physics right there.

Later on you could update it with blocks that have functions, like a 'fan' block (which blows the ball along), a 'magnet' block (which attracts the block), etc.

Not only would this second stage teach you to write modular code, it would also give you good practice with updating code.