Review of Beginning DirectX 9 (Game Development Series) (Paperback)

I was initially impressed with this book, even after seeing a couple pages of utter garbage in the first part. All I wanted was a quick review before my serious books came, and having programmed DX before I could promptly correct and move on, but enough was enough!
I can best describe parts of this book as rough notes fed to a blender and then pasted into the chapters with a leaf-blower. That goes for the `code' samples as well.

For a complete beginner these errors may be significant enough to possibly detract and frustrate the learning experience. Not a good thing, especially considering that's the book's targeted audience. There is no excuse for this.

More advanced developers will cringe and cringe until they finally damage something or hurt someone as they throw this waste across their office. Also not a good thing.

An alternative book that covers the same ground quite a bit more soundly is Frank Luna's Introduction to 3D Game Programming with DX9, which I finally received & promptly read from one end to the other & moved on to other books now. It's a solid work bolted tight with some good code.

2 Stars, for a publishing a work containing some content I wouldn't even turn in as homework.

Product Description
As a beginning programmer, you've probably noticed how difficult it is to find introductory guides to game programming. If you're interested in learning DirectX and are looking for a book that helps you go beyond the 3D component of DirectX and gives you complete coverage of this amazing product, then look no further! "Beginning DirectX 9" gives you examples that build on previous chapters and culminates in the completion of a playable game.

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Review of Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine (Paperback)

Ok, well technically its the ONLY MAME cabinet book around - but seriously this is very good.I started getting the MAME cabinet bug about a year ago, and took a stab or 2 at building some desktop controls, using the Author's website, oddly enough. Now, I have everything I need to go all the way.

The Author is serious about this, and it shows.It's very well written, and the tone feels like he is working along side you in the garage, guiding you step-by-step through the construction.

There is even a CD ROM included with tons of diagrams, construction plans, templates, and software.I haven't gotten all the way through the CD, but it is packed full of stuff.

Man, my wife is gonna kill me....

Product Description
You can go back, and here's howRemember the days-and quarters-you spent pursuing aliens, fleeing ghosts, and gobbling dots in that beloved arcade? They're hiding in these pages, along with diagrams, directions, plans, and materials lists that will enable you to build your very own arcade game. Construct joysticks, buttons, and trackballs; build the console and cabinet; install and configure the software; crank up the speakers; and wham! Step across the time-space continuum and enjoy all those classic games, plus dozens of new ones, whenever you like.Start HereIncludes diagrams, detailed instructions, essential software, and more 1. Plan for your space and budget
2. Design and build the cabinet
3. Construct the controllers
4. Build the console
5. Pick an old game's brain
6. Install the emulator
7. Convince a PC it's a game
8. Connect a monitor and speakers
9. Add a marquee
10. GO PLAY!CD-ROM Includes
Complete cabinet plans and diagrams
MAME32 software
Paint Shop Pro¿ evaluation version
Links to hundreds of arcade cabinet projects

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Review of Adobe Photoshop CS3 Photographers Guide (Paperback)

OK, you've purchased a DSLR and either Photoshop CS3 or Elements. Now you want to know how you can best use your new camera to capture the best images you can, so that when you get them into Photoshop you'll be able to process them to their fullest potential and really get some impressive images, much better than the point n shoot crowd. You can spend 3 years and read nearly 20 books like I did, but who really has time for that? Isn't there one book out there that gives someone a good taste of all of the components of photography and Photoshop? Yep, this is the one! I've read it through, and comparing it to several other all-in-one guides to both photography and Photoshop, this is one of the best choices. There are many good soup-to-nuts Photoshop books out there, but not many of them teach how to optimize your photography skills to ensure the best possible image BEFORE firing up Photoshop. How do you get a great image out of Photoshop? Start with a great image. This book tells you how, and it's not just for beginners.

Pick this one up, even if you own a different version of Photoshop. It's a winner.

Product Description
Photography and Photoshop go hand in hand. Whether you're using a digital pixel-grabber or hanging onto a film camera, Adobe's revamped flagship image editor, Photoshop CS3, has the tools you need to fine-tune your photos and correct errors in exposure, lighting, and color balance. This full-color book is packed with effective examples, simple-to follow techniques, and tricks that serve as a jumping-off point to spark your own creativity into action. You don't need to be an ace photographer or Photoshop expert to create eye-catching effects through both traditional and leading-edge photographic techniques.Use easy-to-master Photoshop tools to: * Match colors between shots taken under wildly different lighting conditions. * Duplicate colorful "cross processing" darkroom effects. * Morph images to blend or distort them. * Add zoom lens blur effects without using a zoom lens. * Preserve all the key tonal values and separation between subjects in your monochrome images with new black-and-white conversion techniques.

About the Author
With more than a million books in print, David D. Busch is a best-selling author of books on digital photography and imaging technology, and the originator of popular series like "David Busch's Pro Secrets" and "David Busch's Quick Snap Guides." He has written six hugely successful guidebooks for Nikon digital SLR models, and the most comprehensive manuals for dSLRs from Canon, Sony, and other vendors.His many other books devoted to digital photography include "David Busch's Digital Infrared Pro Secrets" and "Mastering Digital SLR Photography."As a roving photojournalist for more than 20 years, he has illustrated his books, magazine articles, and newspaper reports with award-winning images. Busch has operated his own commercial studio, suffocated in formal dress while shooting weddings-for-hire, and shot sports for a daily newspaper and upstate New York college.His photographs and articles have been published in magazines as diverse as "PhotoGraphic," "Popular Photograph & Imaging," "The Rangefinder," and hundreds of other publications.He's also reviewed digital cameras for CNet Networks and Computer Shopper.

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Review of Flash ActionScript: Your Visual Blueprint for Creating Flash-enhanced Web Sites [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

I admit it uses an old version of flash. but all the examples work and I learned some new stuff.

Product Description
This great guide uses the VISUAL approach to cover features of ActionScript. Take in all the information in two-page spreads, so there is no flipping back and forth between topics. This book was created for the professional, advanced level visual learner.

Flash ActionScript: Your visual blueprint for creating Flash-enhanced Web sites covers how ActionScript works with Flash, actions, objects, properties and functions, operators and variables, Flash movies, and program debugging.

From the Back Cover
Your visual blueprint for creating Flash-enhanced Web sites
Plus sample graphics, a searchable e-version of the book, and more

Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and you'll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 130 key Flash ActionScript

techniques, including:

• Assigning ActionScript to a frame
• Testing a movie
• Concatenating strings
• Using logical operators
• Creating arrays
• Setting volume and panning
• Creating a scrollable text box
• Working with multiple movies
• Creating smart clips
• Debugging your script

Web development tools on CD-ROM!

• Macromedia Flash, Director Shockwave Studio, Dreamweaver, Dreamweaver UltraDev, and FreeHand trial versions
• Photoshop tryout from Adobe
• Paint Shop Pro evaluation
• version from JASC Software
• Plus a searchable e-version of the book

• "Apply It" and "Extra" sidebars highlight useful tips
• High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
• Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules

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