Focus On Sdl (the Premier Press Game Development Series)

Tired of looking for a game programming book that goes beyond simply talking about concepts and teaches you how to actually implement them? Well, look no further because Game Programming Tricks of the Trade gives you what you are looking for and more!
Game Programming Tricks of the Trade is a compilation of articles all related to game programming. It takes the extra step that other books do not. Going beyond dry text that simply talks about game programming topics, each chapter instructs you on how to implement the concepts. And so no one is left out, the implementations are a combination of OpenGL and DirectX—something for everyone! Want more? There is even a chapter on creating a complete game in Assembly Language. How many other books offer you this?
You’ll find something in each chapter that relates to your game programming projects. Put down those other books that refuse to take the extra step. With Game Programming Tricks of the Trade, you get the inside track on game programming!

When combined with Visual C++, Game Programming All in One provides everything you need to get started as a game developer. Divided into increasingly advanced sections, it covers the most important elements of game development. Less experienced developers can start with the basics of C++ programming and can test their skills by developing two simple text games. After that, you're ready to move on to Windows programming and the main components of DirectX: DirectGraphics, DirectSounds, and DirectInput. Enhance your game design skills as you build a game library that you will use throughout the remainder of the book. The final sections cover advanced programming topics including mathematics, physics, and artificial intelligence. Put your new skills to the test as you conclude by building a full game.

Ever look at a really cool effect in your favorite game and wonder "How in the world did they do that?" This book teaches you the skills that you need to create effects that are just as awesome as the ones that first amazed you. New to DirectX? Don't worry! There are plenty of tips that will bring you up to speed quickly. Already an experienced programmer? Get ready to create some amazing effects that will get people hooked on your game! An entire section on 2D special effects shows you how to use your 3D card for effects like transitions and image warping. If it's 3D effects that you're after, this book has everything that you need to create cool effects like explosions, water, and magic spells. "Special Effects Game Programming with DirectX" is the next step in transforming your game from an application to an experience.

When combined with Visual C++, Game Programming All in One provides everything you need to get started as a game developer. Divided into increasingly advanced sections, it covers the most important elements of game development. Less experienced developers can start with the basics of C++ programming and can test their skills by developing two simple text games. After that, you're ready to move on to Windows programming and the main components of DirectX: DirectGraphics, DirectSounds, and DirectInput. Enhance your game design skills as you build a game library that you will use throughout the remainder of the book. The final sections cover advanced programming topics including mathematics, physics, and artificial intelligence. Put your new skills to the test as you conclude by building a full game.

AI Techniques for Game Programming" takes the difficult topics of genetic algorithms and neural networks and explains them in plain English. Gone are the tortuous mathematic equations and abstract examples to be found in other books. Each chapter takes you through the theory a step at a time, explaining clearly how you can incorporate each technique into your own games. After a whirlwind tour of Windows programming, you will learn how to use genetic algorithms for optimization, path-finding, and evolving control sequences for your game agents. Coverage of neural network basics quickly advances to evolving neural motion controllers for your game agents and applying neural networks to obstacle avoidance and map exploration. Backpropagation and pattern recognition is also explained. By the time you're done, you'll know how to train a network to recognize mouse gestures and how to use state-of-the-art techniques for creating neural networks with dynamic topologies.

Focus on 2D in Direct3D teaches you all of the tools and tips you'll need to dive right in and begin creating your own games. If you have some knowledge of C or C++ and have been searching for a guide that will take your 2D programming into the third dimension, then search no more! In this book you'll learn the skills you'll need to move from the 2D API to Direct3D. Written form the point of view of a 2D programmer, Focus on 2D in Direct3D presents the fundamentals of the Direct3D API in an easy-to-use-and-understand format. Geat ready to jump into the world of Direct3D.

Focus on 2D in Direct3D teaches you all of the tools and tips you'll need to dive right in and begin creating your own games. If you have some knowledge of C or C++ and have been searching for a guide that will take your 2D programming into the third dimension, then search no more! In this book you'll learn the skills you'll need to move from the 2D API to Direct3D. Written form the point of view of a 2D programmer, Focus on 2D in Direct3D presents the fundamentals of the Direct3D API in an easy-to-use-and-understand format. Geat ready to jump into the world of Direct3D.

Focus on 2D in Direct3D teaches you all of the tools and tips you'll need to dive right in and begin creating your own games.