I have made a dev-cpp and mingw version of HPB bot template...
http://filebase.bots-united.com/inde...on=file&id=225
it should compile & run perfectly with GCC/MinGW 3.2.3 and Dev-Cpp.
See readme for details.
The Dev-Cpp is basically as easy as MSVC, and I don't think we should recommend new users the MSVC as they will just get addicted into proprietary software.
[edit]
well I missed something...
at first time you run the Dev-Cpp, you need to select Tools->Compiler options->Programs, and fill in "mingw32-make.exe" after the "make:" (which is originally "make.exe".