I run a Visual Studio 2012 on a VirtualBox with Windows 7 Pro (W7 ultimate as host). My attempt was to start programming in C#/C++ using any kind of graphics libraries. I don't really care what libraries as long as it brings me some usable experience with graphic applications (like simple games). However whatever I try I am not able to make any libraries to work.
I installed MonoGame, quite successfully. However any attempt to run even an empty template (MonoGame Windows OpenGL Project) results in error such as:
Unable to find an entry point named 'glBindFramebuffer' in DLL 'opengl32.dll'
Which I learned is probably due to lack of an OpenGL (version 5 I think) support on my system. There is an NVidia in my host computer and 2D as well as 3D acceleration installed in my VirualBox and both systems and drivers are up to date, so I can see no reason for that to be true. Unless it is a VirtualBox issue. Anyway I tried installing FreeGlut as described here:
http://choorucode.com/2013/04/28/how-to-install-freeglut-for-visual-studio-2012/
No obvious change has been met though.
Having no success, I moved to SlimDX. I installed everything successfully and since being a begginer with slimDX, I used following tutorial to setup a basic window:
http://slimdx.org/tutorials/BasicWindow.php
Having quite a lot previous experience with C# didn't help in avoiding dozen of compiling errors, probably major reference issues. As I found out googling, this very code appears at many places over internet with no accessible alternative, and there seem to be thousands of people having the very same problems and none having been advised how to fix them nor having being successful in fixing. My last hope was for finding a set of more detailed tutorials having find nothing useful except for a quote with something like “Of course there are no tutorials because it’s just like DirectX”. That does offer an explanation however does not offer any solution or alternative.
So, what am I exactly asking for? Any useful suggestion about bypassing problems mentioned earlier would be very welcome (the OpenGL in VirtualBox, unability to compile the SlimDX thingy, possible tutorials connected to the topics).
I would also welcome reasonable suggestions what other libraries to use for programming. All I need is an ability to implement a simple 2D environment; really simple one would just do it. In fact, C# Graphics class meets quite all requirements I have; however I seek something more appropriate for let’s say simple game graphics as well as programming experience that would be an advantage in future. So I don’t want to use an XNA since it’s not being developed. I would like to learn ANY (preferably C++) perspective alternative with a reasonable compatibility (I don’t care for Android or MAC portability, but it should be usable in Visual Studio). Complexity of learning is no problem as long as there is an appropriate source to learn from.
Few notes: I use VirtualBox because Visual Studio is messy with an OS it is installed on, so I would preferably like to keep it locked in Virtual. And I am using Visual Studio because I am sort of required to, it’s not that I am not open to trying something else, it’s that I need to work in VS anyway.
I'd be glad for solutions as well as suggestions what else to try to reach a solution.