I've been sent here by the gods of compilers with this message.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/downloads/

You will now "fit in" with the rest.

But in all honesty, I really can't say enough about the 2005 express editions of visual studio. They truly are amazing. And not only that, but it's as close to the real world as you'll ever get with home development.

Now onto your question:

Game programming consists of 3 core functions (how people actually write the game differs, but in reality, these 3 steps are taken in every game).

1. Initialization.
2. Update.
3. Shutdown.

Pretty self explanatory. What you're looking for is going to be in step #2, the Update methods of the game. In here you'll have the game update objects on the screen/collision/physics/death/movement etc...

For more specific examples, you'd of course need some more specific questions, but this is what i figured you'd be looking for with that broad of a question, so hope it helps.

>> need to learn how to multitask in c++.

Its called multi-threading. Here are more information.

he's not talking about threading im sure. as he wants to know how to update objects on the screen at the same time, which would be updating a game, not threading, so refer to my previous post Brent.tc

> he's not talking about threading im sure.
For a small scale project, yes, but for real games, multi threading is what he is looking for. Games almost always make use of multi threading.

he wants to know how to update objects on a screen... lets not complicate him with things such as multi threading.

I've only made graphical games on GBA, but the principals are probably the same.
In your main gane loop, you'll have one (or more) function(s) that update a character's or whatever's position, and then once all of those functions have been run through, you update the screen.

I agree with this poster.
Suggesting multi-threading to a beginner programmer is like giving a gun to a 3 year old. And since we're talking C++ here you can be damn sure he'd reuse the bullets!

What needs to be conveyed to the original poster is what design patterns can be used to achieve the desired effect.

Don't shoot the messenger! Brent asked about multi-threading, so I pointed him in that direction. I won't pretend to know his skills or read his mind.

I agree with Ancient Dragon as well as the rest. Yes, I am quite the beginner, but I am eager to learn, so thanks all. Oh and mariocatch, if you honestly think I have not looked into vc++ and the other microsoft products you are wrong... I actually have a copy of the Visual C++ ISO, but i have been using Bloodshed since I started, and with bloodshed I am capable of compiling (Even if compilation with VC++ is possible, I will continue to use Bloodshed)
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So, multitasking is a more simple concept of multithreading? or are they completely different?
I will look into the links in your posts (perhaps something I should have done already) and get back to you.

Ohh, by the way, next year I will be in highschool which will allow me to take classes in this order where G = grade and S = semester and C = classname (G-S C)
10-1 Visual basic
10 - 2 C++
11 - 1 Java
11 - 2 Web Development (php and whatnot)
12 - 1 Advanced (I assume C# and perhaps ASM)
12 - 1 (Same as 12 - 2)
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I assume that microsofts products will be used in school so I'll "fit in" soon enough.