So maybe there's a three or four level approach -
A core game controller in C (++, # etc) or better, VFP :-) This contains the "rules" of play and the high level control.

Hanging off this would be
1. The graphics engine. (The game ought to be able to run in memory *without* graphics - otherwise the AI can't "think"). This would be in a low level like C or its variants and would call say DirectX
2. The data store, which contains game information, scheduling and parameters (VFP Com)
3. The AI layer, VFP Com

Simplistic I suppose, but a similar approach worked great for me in Turbo Pascal some years ago. Wouldn't use this approach for a 1st person shootem up game though, ROFL.

>David,
>
>The COM approach is interesting, this is exactly the way Microsoft implements DirectX; as a bunch of COM interfaces. You can get at DirectX 3 or 8 it just a matter of getting the interface you want.
>
>Neil