Thread: best game programming books

  1. #1
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    best game programming books

    hey guys,

    i know how to program in C++ and im looking to jump into the game industry ... what books would you guys recomend 3D if possiable... i want to use DirectX with C++ coding...

    thanks for any help

    Mike

  2. #2
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    Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus (2nd Edition) (Paperback)
    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
    Warning: Have doubt in anything I post.

    GCC 4.5, Boost 1.40, Code::Blocks 8.02, Ubuntu 9.10 010001000110000101100101

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    hey guys,

    are these good books?:

    3D Game Programming All in One

    3D game programming all in one

    OpenGL Game Programming w/CD
    OpenGL game programming w/ CD

    Introduction to Game Development
    Introduction to Game Development

    are these any good?

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    Quote Originally Posted by hpimike
    hey guys,

    are these good books?:

    3D Game Programming All in One

    3D game programming all in one

    OpenGL Game Programming w/CD
    OpenGL game programming w/ CD

    Introduction to Game Development
    Introduction to Game Development

    are these any good?
    Try reading the reviews and ratings, and also the title.

    You said you wanted DirectX, so why are you looking at OpenGL.

    What I got from reading it:
    OpenGL Game Programming w/CD - Doesnt seem that good anyway, as described by various reviewers that its pretty much the official site reference + NeHe tutorials, you can get that free, opengl.org, nehe.gamedev.net. It makes sense they would put a lot of NeHe in the book, the ones that wrote the book host the NeHe site. Most of their books seem to have bad reviews, accept Data Structures for Game Programmers (although basic), which is the first book written by a new gamedev writer, who of course in the back of his book puts down a bunch of gamedev books he says he read and were helpful (blatant lie I tell you).

    3D Game Programming All in One - Based on Tonque engine, not lots of DirectX (or OpenGL), not too many great reviews, but seems like a good book for what it covers.

    Introduction to Game Development - Looks like a good book, by the topics and reviews, however seems more concentrated on concepts and topics, and would probably leave the programming part up to you, but not entirely (basic C++, some Java - like pseudo code if you dont know it). I'd get it as my second programming book.
    Warning: Have doubt in anything I post.

    GCC 4.5, Boost 1.40, Code::Blocks 8.02, Ubuntu 9.10 010001000110000101100101

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    are the "Game Programming Gems" series good for learning how to make your own game engine?? does anyone have any experience with this series?

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    Yes, highly recommended as far as I have seen.. from many, many sites, reviews and ratings. Newest ones out: http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASI...861083-5229943

    However its more like.. tips and tricks, not "make your own game like this", you would probably have your game up and running before requiring this book.
    Warning: Have doubt in anything I post.

    GCC 4.5, Boost 1.40, Code::Blocks 8.02, Ubuntu 9.10 010001000110000101100101

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    In my opinion the All in one books published by thomson are just ok... I own all of them and i ahve to say they help you explain the very basics of openGL and directx, but you most certainly won't be a game programmer after reading these. Alot of the code examples in the books are not complete, so following along with them wasn't to easy. Also they use very primitive techniques for things like collosion detection, and the network library examples aren't exactly up to par with todays standards. But again, if your jsut beginning directX or openGL and want some ground work then they aren't to bad.

    The best game development books i ahve found are ones by Wordware publishing, as far as specialized coding, and engine development.

    Advanced 3D Game Programming with DX 9 - Very good book, even goes into the details of the phsyics behind pixel collosions, and very high quality real time rendering. It also goes into sound, and some primitive, but very functional AI.

    Programming Multiplayer Games - This one is really all about the networking, as you can imagine. However it is ANSI C code, And its lacking in a few areas as far as using more updated techniques. However the code should be used more as a base to learn how networking works. And how to sync all the clients connected to a server.


    There is also a begining directx from them, i don't own this one, however the advanced one goes over a very good review of the basics if you don't know them so you could just start with that one.

    EDIT: Also the game gems books are nice, they aren't the place to look if your looking where to start, but during game development they are extremly helpful, and help with game design tips not just coding.

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