So… It turns out, loading graphics is hard!

My goal is to be able to make a basic texture loader class that I can use on any node class in my engine.  This is kind of how Cocos2d-iPhone worked, in a simplified manner.  If I could only find one that was already created someplace that I could utilize…

I was able to get SDL to load images, though it was pretty complicated, and not optimized what-so-ever yet.  Plus if I go this route, I can’t use cool lighting effects.

I think my preferred route is to use OpenGL for that purpose.  However, I started playing with OpenGL and that’s waaaay harder then using SDL.  Though there are some image libraries that are supposed to make it easier.  I am currently trying one called SOIL, but I can’t find much documentation on it at all and the last time it was updated was years ago.  I might look at trying out a different one and seeing if I can get it working with OpenGL.