Tankwars is the first game of the project. If your're a beginner in the project, interested in games programming, but never has done it before, we recommend you to do your own "tankwars" to introduce yourself onto "the art of game programming" and to learn more technical stuff before participate on the development of other games with the other participants. If you are an experienced Linux (*nix) games programmer, you may skip this step (y/n)?

If you aren't, we also recommend that you give a good look on the source code of the others tankwars, made by the other members. Thise games are located in directory /downloads/gfarm/tankwars on this server. There is a README file in this directory that explain how to send your own version to us.

General lines to create your own tankwars:

• Join the mailing list.
  It is MUCH important join the mailing list of gnow to share your troubles on development of your tankwars, and for we help you, if you need.

• Download the images.
  You can do the images that you will use in your game by yourself, but probably it will be one of the first things you will need, so we recommend you download our images, in PCX format. If you need to convert the image for other format, you can use GIMP (www.gimp.org), the Gnu Image Manipulation Program.

• Chosse a text editor of your preference.
  On Unix, the programming of a game isn't (normally) made with an IDE (as Borland C, for DOS). To programming in linux, you should already know how to use gcc, the C compiler from GNU. To learn this, type "man gcc" and "man g++" on your unix prompt. Also, you will need a text editor. I like VIM, but you may use JED, JERED, EMACS, etc...

• Learn hot to use a Makefile
  Ok, you can, alredy, type your code and compile your program, but you think Borland C is muth more easy. It is because you don't learn how to programming with a Makefile yet. To learn, download the tutorial, available on page /tutorial/makefile_tutorial.tar.gz, or read it on-line.

• Choose a lib and a language to make your game.
  It is one of the most important parts. Today, we are using a SDK called ClanLib to make the games in group. This lib is available in http://www.clanlib.org. It is a C++ Library, so we also recommend that you use C++. However, if you don't know C++ or think is better use other library, Here are some sugestions:
  
  1. ClanLib SDK
     System Development Kit. See more information on the official site, witch contains references and tutorials: http://www.clanlib.org.
  2. GGI - General Graphics Interface
     This lib can be found at http://www.ggi.org. For a basic tutorial of how to use it (you can use it rogramming in C), see: http://sunsite.auc.dk/linuxgames/tutorials/courbot_idx.html.
  3. SVGALib
     Doom uses this lib. The tutorial above also teachs SVGALib. http://sunsite.auc.dk/linuxgames/tutorials/courbot_idx.html.
  4. Xlib
     The lib used by X Window System. See the tutorial available on: /tutorials/libs/xlib/xlib01.tar.gz

• Make your game!!!
  What are you waiting for????

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