Hi, this Win32 game prototype took me about 9 months from start to finish.

I started with console interface first, then finalized with GUI version.

It is written purely in FASM, using raw Win32 API.
Although it is in GUI, I use TextOutA function in GDI32.dll, which is just displaying text in GUI window, no graphics at the moment.

There is no collision detection yet, no scoring. What you can do with this program is:
1) Move the caret (gun) to the left or to the right
2) Shoot one bullet at one time
3) Watch the enemies moving around



For the enemies to move around, I use random number generator to predict the direction of movement.

I have included the source code here (EXE is not included as it is falsely detected as virus).
If you are interested to run the program, you can....
1) Download SHOOT.txt
2) Rename SHOOT.txt to SHOOT.asm
3) Download Flat Assembler for Windows
4) Run FASMW.EXE and open SHOOT.asm
5) Click Compile
6) Go to the File Explorer, and you'll see SHOOT.EXE along with SHOOT.asm.

Note: If you compile yourself, Windows Security won't detect this as virus. Of course, my code does nothing malicious.

But my game is still very crude, I might consider using GDI+ or SDL2 to develop my graphical version of 2D game.

I was working on this about couple hours ago...

Something that goes like this..
Project Directory Structure

/YourGameProject
│
├── /assets
│  ├── sprite.png
│  ├── map.png
│
├── /src
│  ├── main.cpp
│  ├── Game.cpp
│  ├── Game.h
│  ├── Sprite.cpp
│  ├── Sprite.h
│  └── Map.cpp
│  └── Map.h
│
├── /build (or /bin, depending on your build system)
│
└── CMakeLists.txt (or Makefile, or any other build system file)

If u are serious, use proper Game Engine...

Construct3
Gdevelop
Godot

I can build this, graphical, sound, deeper gameplay version, within hours with engine above.

Cobstruct 3, gdevelop are no code

Both 3 above can export to almost all gaming platforms.....

Html, win, macos, Linus, Xbox, iOS, android
Godot even can export playstation.....
But u need QC by Sony to publish

Nope.
I deepdive 3 above
All 3 are unique.

Godot, powerful enough to challenge unity.
But need coding

Construct 3, visual code, pricey.
Gdevelop, less powerful, but totally free. Also no code.
For non coder, don't go Godot.

The essence of a Game is not powerful engine.
Like 2024 hit, vampire survivors
Can easily built with simple engine

But those AAA bullshit that cost 100m still a pile of shit after launched.
For indie, you need a proper scale for your project, and creative enough to dig deeper in gameplay.

Btw, I am switching to Godot for 1 feature, it can run local LLM and API to Ur game. That's Game changing

Personal Opinion :

Using any other library / 3rd party library (GDI+, SDL2, game engine, graphics / audio / video, ... ) are mean for improve visual, but not the main logic.

Port over to other system (web, mobile phone, different os, different cpu) need some different development tools.

Congras, you make the first move.

Now is SDL3 already, I am out! Just 3 weeks ago, they released SDL3:

https :// github.com/libsdl-org/SDL/releases/tag/release-3.2.0

Also, what is SDL:
Since it is written in C, calling the SDL libraries function must be using C calling convention (caller clean up the stack on return).

I heard people says even DOTA2 and CS2 are using SDL 3.0.

Personally, I would use unreal / unity for more complex projects.
as for SDL2 / SFML, reference from the internet :

-----
SDL2, or Simple DirectMedia Layer 2,
is a cross-platform software development library that provides low-level access
to audio, keyboard, mouse, joystick, and graphics hardware.

SDL is a cross-platform multimedia library designed to
provide low level access to audio, keyboard, mouse, joystick, etc.
It also supports 3D hardware via OpenGL.

-----
SFML stands for Simple and Fast Multimedia Library,
which is a cross-platform software development library written in C++.
It provides a simple interface for handling graphics, audio, and network functionalities,
making it popular among game developers and multimedia application creators.

SFML uses OpenGL under the hood and the main difference is that in OpenGL you will be writing your own renderer, 2D or 3D, from scratch.
SFML it easier to use because you have do less yourself.

-----

* depends on your development tool / familiar tool.

C -> SDL
C++ -> SFML

-----
If you're not create your own engine, use existing engine is preferred, as your project could expand more easily.