Delphi Graphics and Game Programming Exposed [Illustrated] [Paperback]

John Ayres (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2000

Delphi Graphics and Game Programming Exposed! with DirectX is a comprehensive reference describing high-performance graphics and game programming techniques in the Delphi development environment. Author John Ayres begins with a discussion of basic game programming and graphics concepts, and moves quickly into an introduction of DirectX, which gives Delphi developers a high-performance interface to system-level hardware while maintaining the benefits of the Windows operating system. Palettes, sprite animation, collision detection, and sound and music are also discussed.

In addition the book includes a complete example game illustrating the different techniques discussed throughout, an appendix explaining how to use DirectSetup for installing DirectX, and a glossary of common words and phrases used in the game programming industry.

The CD includes:

• Source code from the book’s projects • full retail version of Delphi 4
• 60-day trial version of Delphi 5 Enterprise
• DirectX header files from Project JEDI
• freeware sound effects, MIDI musical compositions, and the SpriteLib sprite library

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Ayres has over 10 years of programming experience, including over 5 years with Delphi. He is a lead developer and product architect for Beckett Interactive in Dallas and is the lead author of The Tomes of Delphi 3: Win32 Core API (1-55622-556-3) and The Tomes of Delphi 3: Win32 Graphical API (1-55622-610-1).

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Wordware Publishing, Inc. (January 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556226373
• ISBN-13: 978-1556226373
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,460,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > Borland Delphi
  • #37 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Graphics & Multimedia > DirectX

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not that great. Should be called a PRIMER..., March 13, 2000

By 

SF Scrutinizer (Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Delphi Graphics and Game Programming Exposed (Paperback)

Simply put, this book is not that great. It's not BAD, per se, but it certainly doesn't live up to the title. What is actually "EXPOSED" by this book is the dire LACK or depth in the Delphi community for people who want to seriously tackle this subject and publish something in-depth about it. Given the fact that this book is really the only book quite like it, I do have to give Ayres credit for venturing out there and doing something about it. Also, I have no gripes about the writing QUALITY or style. I think Ayres has a fluid and readable touch. HOWEVER, that's as far as I can go to really compliment this book. Frankly it just skims the surface of DirectX and Graphics programming in such a way that if you are an experimental or semi-experienced programmer you'd think it's overly simplistic information. There's just not enough MEAT in this book. You can get much more out of some C/C++ books that are MUCH older and that tackle the subject better. Many of the techniques explained in this book can be found in so many other places in superior depth and detail it surprises me that Ayres would spend so much time on the basics. Still, the book has its good points and serves its purpose. The title is very misleading, and this is really the crux of my gripe with the book. If this book were titled: "Delphi Graphics and Game Programming PRIMER" I would say this is easily 4 or 5 stars. But the word "EXPOSED" in the title is so far from true I can only recommend it for BEGINNER Delphi game programmers. Better to spend your time searching for good websites and emailing colleagues to get the real dirt. If you want to get serious about DirectX you're going to have to buckle up and learn the DirectX ropes in C/C++. I have no doubt about the capability of Delphi to deal easily with the challenges of serious game programming. I think it's a perfect platform, but you'll have to look deeper. The manual for Ted Gruber's FastGraph graphics library has more insight to game programming than this book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You have to start somewhere..., June 18, 2002

By 

Dave T (Baton Rouge, LA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Delphi Graphics and Game Programming Exposed (Paperback)

I too thought there would be a little 3D in this book, but I can understand why there isn't. 3D Game programming is absurdly complex. You need to get the basic concepts and feel of game programming down in 2D (well, it's a good idea anyway).

Many complain about not finding the CD Key... it's on a card that sticks out like a sore thumb in the back of the book. Look a little harder.

This book is not a comprehensive guide to game or direct x programming (or Delphi). However, what it can do is provide you with the means to jump right in and make a game. What I'm talking about is ready-made basic 2D game engine's that can be modified to do just about anything. The book gets you the basics on graphics, sound, sprites, controls (even force feedback), special effects and a bit more.

I was introduced to this book by taking a graphics class in my 4th year of college. We barely used the book (because we only touched a little direct x at the end), but I spent the end of that winter break and much of the following months making a Tetris style puzzle game. If you can get the example programs to compile/run, you should be able to modify them to do your bidding.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More of a Primer, March 15, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Delphi Graphics and Game Programming Exposed (Paperback)

I own the John Ayres "Tomes" titles and they aresuperb. That proved to me that John is an excellent author. However,this book falls short of its title of "Exposed." It is written very well, explained very well, and the CD is what it should be, but this is not a book for the serious game programmer. It is a good start but other than that, shop the Delphi web pages for code samples and look to C++ code for help. This book is a primer for beginning programmers and NOT for the advanced or intermediate like the back of the book says. END