DarrenMills

Nearly a year of daily hn visits (spent reading the stories I understood) I've come to a realization: Knowing a programming language seriously reduces the barriers to entry for a tech startup.

So the big Q: Where do I start? Do you have any resources to break down my options (Languages for Dummies?) and help me decide what, and how, I'll go about this.

Background info: I've programmed in C, C++, and VB, but nothing more than what an entry level course would teach. I'm rather adept in CSS, but that doesn't really count.

I'm brainstorming an idea where someone has created an RPG. The only way to succeed in this RPG is to master real-world knowledge. For example, Medicine or Healing may be an aspect of the game. For someone to achieve expert level in the game, they would have needed to prove to the game (through some mechanism) they have doctor-level knowledge.

Often we hear about applying game-tactics like achievements and leveling-up to real-world activities to keep people working toward their goals. What about putting real world study into an RPG to keep progress toward goals in the game?

Imagine World of Warcraft level obsession with mastering a dozen fields of science.

I think the true potential of Kinect and it's 3D realtime tracking ability will lie in marketplace apps. Thousands of new applications with minority-report-style UIs can be built to do everything from internet browsing to trying on clothes at your favorite stores to video editting. The possibilities are endless.

What app would you design?

I would create a dressing room application filled with the latest styles from dozens of popular stores, allow the user to try them on in 3D and then quickly make a purchase. I could see this being quite the killer app for shopping...