Make Amazing Games in Minutes (Charles River Media Game Development) [Paperback]

Jason Darby (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1584504072 | ISBN-13: 978-1584504078 | Publication Date: October 14, 2005 | Edition: 1

Many game enthusiasts have aspirations to create their own games but don't know where to start. Make Amazing Games in Minutes introduces the game creation process to the aspiring game developer with no experience or programming ability. Taking the reader step-by-step through the various stages of developing a game and using the popular "drag and drop" game creation software included on the CD-ROM, the reader can build his very own games. Using the tutorials and step-by-step methods, the reader will complete a fully playable retro game, as well as platform, bat & ball, and side-scrolling shoot-em up games. Other chapters cover more complex game features such as adding effects and scoreboards, porting the game onto the Web, and installation script building. This must-have book is the essential resource for anyone interested in learning game creation and the retro game style.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jason Darby is the Director of Castle Software Ltd, an indie games and multimedia development company in the heart of the UK. Jason started on his computer creation business in 1998 when he released an offline web browser program. Since then he has been working on projects for businesses including a CD-ROM project for PC Format Magazine (UK), a number of quiz programs for large blue chip companies, educational multimedia programs, and small games. Jason has also had a number of books published in the game creation market including Make Amazing Games in Minutes, Awesome Game Creation: No Programming Required, and Game Creation for Teens, all published by Course Technology PTR.

Product Details

• Paperback: 347 pages
• Publisher: Charles River Media; 1 edition (October 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584504072
• ISBN-13: 978-1584504078
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jason Darby (Bromsgrove, UK) has been working in the IT industry for over a decade. He is the author of numerous articles in game creation and design, both published on the Internet and also appearing in a number of leading PC magazines. These Magazines include PC Format, PC Answers and Retro Gamer. He is also the author of Make Amazing Games in Minutes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Create Games with a Click of the Mouse!!!, April 10, 2006

By 

Paul Boland (Waterford, Ireland.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Make Amazing Games in Minutes (Charles River Media Game Development) (Paperback)

I bought this book because I am interested in game development. This book looks at creating games with Clickteams fortcoming software development tool, The Games Factory 2 and MultiMedia Fusion 2. There is a demo of the software supplied on the CD that comes with the book so you don't have to wait for the software to ship (which it will soon) before you can follow the demos.

The book takes you through the creation of a number of games, from simple space invaders to complex platform games, all with a click of the mouse. Yes, you read that right, TGF 2 allows you to create any game in any genre using nothing but the mouse!! There is no complex code to write, no variables to set up, no arrays to initialise... If you can pick an option from a popup menu, you can create any games and applications you want.

The book takes you through the creation of these games in an easy to follow step by step format and the chapters cover everything from a look at TGF 2's interface to how to code your first game. There is also a discussion on gaming in general which will point you in the right direction and show you the Do's and Don't's.

A very easy to read book which is packed to bursting with information on game creation. And not a single line of coding in sight (as long as you don't count the expressions for performing maths ;) ).

Want to make games?
Don't want to learn code?
BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for learning how to make video games, October 16, 2006

By 

J. Vance "Video game maker" (Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Make Amazing Games in Minutes (Charles River Media Game Development) (Paperback)

Jason Darby has written a wonderful book to compliment The Games Factory 2 software program and to teach people the basics of video game design and development.

This book comes with a trial version of The Games Factory 2 so you do not need to purchase anything else to get started today. Its a great way to find out if you have what it takes to develop video games without a large investment in various software.

When you complete the various projects included in the book you will have a firm grasp of software development and be on your way to becoming a professional video game designer and programmer.

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing games in Minutes, November 17, 2011

By 

Numonic - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Make Amazing Games in Minutes (Charles River Media Game Development) (Paperback)

Book came new with everything included. I bought this book a couple of years back but would definetely do business with them again!