Advanced 3D Game Programming with DirectX 10.0 (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) [Paperback]

Peter Walsh (Author)

Book Description

Series: Wordware Game and Graphics Library | Publication Date: January 8, 2008

Advanced 3D Game Programming with DirectX 10.0 provides a guide to developing cutting-edge games using DirectX 10.0. Beginning with the foundations of 3D math and the components of DirectX, programmers new to graphics and game programming will learn how to implement networking, collision detection, and multithreading. Full source code is provided for the examples and for the client/server networked 3D first-person game that brings together many of the techniques discussed in the book. Learn how to: Acquire input from the user through the keyboard and mouse. Simulate intelligence using steering algorithms and motivation engines. Render using HLSL shaders. Use advanced 3D techniques such as forward and inverse kinematics, subdivision surfaces, and radiosity lighting. Manage scenes via portal rendering.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Walsh is a professional software engineer currently working for Realtime Worlds in Dundee, Scotland, on the upcoming game A.P.B. He most recently worked as engine programmer on Crackdown for the Xbox 360. Among the other game titles he has worked on are Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, F1 Career Challenge, and Time of Defiance. He is the author of five books on game development, including Advanced 3D Game Programming with DirectX 9.0.

Product Details

• Paperback: 552 pages
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Publishers; 1 edition (January 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598220543
• ISBN-13: 978-1598220544
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #654,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Graphics & Multimedia > DirectX

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great beginner's book, May 12, 2008

By 

Ashraf Eassa "Ash" (New Hampshire, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Advanced 3D Game Programming with DirectX 10.0 (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) (Paperback)

So, the title of this book is "Advanced 3D Game Programming With DirectX 10.0", which seems to imply that the text is designed for intermediate/experienced programmers who want to up their skills to the next level. This book isn't really "advanced" at all -- it's an introductory DirectX/game programming book. So, keep that in mind if you're looking to buy this.

However, if you're an experienced C++ programmer, but you're a newbie to DirectX game programming, then this book is absolutely perfect. It covers DirectInput -- teaching you the fundamentals for programming input in your game in a very straightforward non-pretentious manner. Direct3D, typically daunting to newbies, is given a very lucid, clear, and succinct treatment. Walsh also covers more advanced topics like scene management (in truth, he glosses over it, so you'll need to do additional reading elsewhere, but it's a good start...), pixel/vertex shaders, and several cool graphics techniques (pre-computed radiosity was especially cool).
Walsh also covers the rudiments of network and sound programming, so your game will be "complete".

I guess what I like most about this book is that while it's not too in-depth with regard to any topic, it goes over the basics of all necessary game programming topics, so that you can start writing basic games immediately (full games, mind you...not just a flyby through a room of cubes). It's a great fundamentals book that, if you read and understand fully, will allow you to transition relatively painlessly to more advanced books/techniques.

While I was tempted to give this book 4 stars for the misleading title, I simply cannot find it within myself to give a book that is so good at what it does lesser than a 5.

Oh, and for those of you wondering, "where do I go next after this book?", here's a list of what I'm using as a hobbyist graphics/game programmer...I hope it helps:

- The ShaderX series (advanced real-time graphics topics)
- GPU Gems series (more advanced, scientific real-time graphics topics)
- "3D Game Engine Design" by David Eberly (great book that teaches you how to design a professional quality game engine)
- Real-Time Rendering, 2nd edition (all the real-time graphics considerations and algorithmic fundamentals are here)
- Game Programming Gems (these are like the ShaderX/GPU Gems, only for general game programming, including math, sound, input, graphics, scene management, etc.)

I hope this review helps anybody interested in becoming a game programmer!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great encapsulation, September 7, 2008

By 

NickLess (Europe, Romania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced 3D Game Programming with DirectX 10.0 (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) (Paperback)

This book explains every part of directX10 and even helps you make a small game engine. Great code encapsulation using classes and catching errors.
One needs to know pretty well C++ to understand all the things explained and used.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great book so far.. the source code won't compile tho., May 15, 2010

By 

SLC (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Advanced 3D Game Programming with DirectX 10.0 (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) (Paperback)

This book is great for those that already know a good bit of c++. If covers a bit of windows programming to get up and running to allow a jump into direct x. I recommend this book for beginners to directx but not beginners to c++. Beginners to c++ will just get frustrated so get a c++ book first, read it, write some code, then check out this book. It's really annoying that I've spent a good 3-4 hours thus far troubleshooting the code that is available for download and I still can get it up and running. :(