Review of Microsoft Visual Basic: Game Programming for Teens (Paperback)

I like the concept of the book, but there are a lot of inconsistencies in the code for the projects.Up until the fifth chapter I was fully ready to endorse the book to my district as a textbook for an advance Visual Basic class on game programming. I like the fact that he builds a game one step at a time, starting with an experiment to illustrate the concept, then building and testing a class for the game. However, when he got to the fifth chapter, he changed his naming conventions and added code to the classes with no mention in the book of these changes. This can be frustrating especial to high school students or any new programmer. There are several places though out the book where he made changes to the classes on the CD that he does not mention in the book. Then he adds the class method to the current project and your left wondering where it came from. I felt he needed to make changes in the book, so that the code was consistent though out the book and matched what on the CD.

In my opinion, His editor should have caught this. Thomson as a publisher is starting to get a repetition for there badly coded books. It is obvious that an editor should be reviewing the code in a book along with the grammatical errors in the book and Thompson fails to do that. If you understand visual basic and you are looking for a book on game programming concepts the book is good. However I would not recommend this book if you are new to Visual Basic and I would definitely not recommend it for teenager, it will only frustrate them.


Product Description
If you have basic programming experience, this book is your ideal guide for writing games using Visual Basic .NET and Managed DirectX 9.This Second Edition includes almost entirely new coverage. While coverage of game design and 2D artwork remain, this edition includes more detailed coverage of the DirectX game code and utilizes the free Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition compiler. A true beginner's guide, this book covers each essential step for creating your own complete role playing game, including a character creation screen and a combat system. This book serves as a comprehensive introductory guide for readers who are new to programming or new to programming for games.

About the Author
Jonathan S. Harbour is an Associate Professor of Game Development at the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Arizona. His current game project is Starflight: The Lost Colony (www.starflightgame.com). He lives in Arizona with his wife, Jennifer, four children (Jeremiah, Kayleigh, Kaitlyn, Kourtney), a dog (Lucy), a cat (Missy), and six temperamental computers (ages 1 to 8). He can be reached at www.jharbour.com.

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Review of Beginning DirectX 10 Game Programming (Paperback)

This is a very light introduction to DirectX10, especially to direct3d 10. Beginners should feel very comfortable with this book. The text, most of the time, is clear and the examples are very simple. The math and math explanations involved are kept to a minimum.

The book delivers what it promises and should be taken as a base for further readings.


Product Description
Discover the exciting world of game programming and 3D graphics creation using DirectX 10!"Beginning DirectX® 10 Game Progmramming" is an introductory guide to creating fantastic graphics, amazing creatures, and realistic worlds for games.Written specifically for the beginner programmer, the book uses step-by-step instructions to teach the basics of DirectX 10, introducing skills that can be applied to creating games for both PC and game console platforms.You'll start by learning how to install the DirectX SDK and how to get your first application up and running.From there you'll be introduced to the 2D and 3D graphics components of DirectX allowing you to draw animated sprites and create 3D objects.Put your new skills to the test with a final, hands-on project that shows how to bring together everything you've learned.If you have a basic knowledge of C++ and 3D math concepts then you are ready to learn how to program amazing 3D game graphics with "Beginning DirectX 10!"

About the Author
Wendy Jones devoted herself to computers the first time her eyes befell an Apple IIe in elementary school. From that point on, she spent every free moment learning BASIC and graphics programming, sketching out her ideas on graph paper to type in later. Other computer languages followed, including Pascal, C, C#, and C++.As Wendy's career in computers took off, she branched out, teaching herself Windows programming and then jumping into the dot-com world for a bit. Although Internet companies provided a challenge, they didn't provide fulfillment, so Wendy started expanding her programming skills to games, devoting any extra energy to its pursuit.Wendy's true passion became apparent when she got the opportunity to work for Atari's Humongous Entertainment as a game programmer. During her time at Atari, she worked on both PC and console titles, thrilled with the challenge they provided.Wendy can now be found at Electronic Art's Tiburon studio in Orlando working with some wonderfully talented people on Next Generation consoles.If you have any comments or questions about this book, you can reach Wendy at her website at http://www.fasterkittycodecode.com.

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Review of PHP Game Programming (Paperback)

... not that good.It's unfortunate that the only book dedicated to php game programming really falls short on many levels.The main problem with this book, is it jumps from the very basics of php and mysql to extremely advanced topics all within a matter of a few pages... entirely omitting users of intermediate php/mysql knowledge.The book has a chapter about creating a MMO (my sole purpose for buying the book).. yet it doesn't tell you anything about HOW to make the MMO.The source code for the MMO has 150+ files, yet the chapter is only 20 pages long...

The author does a great job explaining how to use php and mysql.. including great instructions for installation... the problem is that other books dedicated to learning these subjects do it better.This book should be about learning how to program a game in php/mysql, and it's not.This book is a book about learning the basics of php/mysql with some source code WAY more advanced than anything the book will cover.If you're advanced enough to decipher the authors code, then you don't need this book in the first place becaues you could already make games if you wanted.This book contains no content on game planning or design.

The author write effectively..I'd love for him to take a second pass at writing this...perhaps sit down and write a book dedicated to teaching you how to program a game.The MMO that comes within the book is certainly complex enough to deserve a book of it's own.Ultimately, this book is 280 pages long.. you cannot teach someone how to make a game in php/mysql in 280 pages.

I'd love to see an author write a book that illustrates making a game from concept to design to code... the how and the why of the processes, and have it return a good game you can use as a foundation for creating other game.

I really looked forward to getting this book before it was published.Now almost a year later, having been through the book 3 times fully, I can say I'm no closer to having any idea how to make a game than when I started.

Product Description
Wouldn't it be great if you could get on any web browser, go to your favorite site and start playing a game of hearts or canasta; or even watch a riveting game of chess, or better yet, play a riveting game of chess? All of this without needing custom software to connect you to servers; it would all be done through the web browser. People on cell phones, palm pilots, lap tops, any device that could get on the Internet would be able to play your games. PHP is a powerful, dynamic programming language that gives you the ability to make some killer Web-based games. It's portable, allowing for quick development cycles. As a result, even a beginning PHP programmer could have great games running in no time at all. Starting with a brief overview of HTML and web servers, PHP Game Programming gives you everything you need to know to become a master of PHP. The only thing missing is a programmer with the skills to make it happen!

From the Publisher
Provides programmers with the tools and knowledge they need to get PHP running, create dynamic pages, manage data, dynamically generate graphics and even create sockets. Readers will walk away from this book as hard core web game developers with an advanced knowledge base beyond average web developers. Part of the succesful Game Development series, this book presents PHP game programming in a clear and concise manner to ensure ease of learning.

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Review of Chess Software Sourcebook (Paperback)

I bought this book because of glowing reviews. I have found this book to be useful and indeed I have bought software based on what I've read. At the same time I have to confess I think the book could be much better. What theauthor refrains from doing is critical and comparative analysis. To giveone example, ChessBase7 and Chess Assistant 5.0 could be criticallycompared. To give another example, some of the shortcomings of Bookup 1.6.2could be described. An authorsuch as John Nunn would have combined bothtechnical virtuosity and chess erudition to give a revealing analysis ofthe strengths and shortcomings of the chess software currently available.

Product Description
Chess Software Sourcebook is the is the first book to focus exclusively on the latest chess-related computer programs. Several chapters review in detail the various types of software available, as well as the pros and cons of commercial programs in each category. Feature comparison tables help you decide which software best matches your specific needs, and screen shots show the graphical interface for each program. Playing live chess over the Internet (including its addictive tendencies!) is also discussed. Other chapters cover opening study, computer handicapping, game analysis, and time-saving tips so you can get the most out of the software you own or plan to purchase.

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