Customer Reviews

Game Programming in C++: Start to Finish (Game Development Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who is trying to start out in game programming. I am a grad student engineer and have been programming for over 5 years. I just recently got into game and graphics programming and this book is really terrible compared to some others I've seen. The only reason I gave it two stars is because the chapter on graphics mathematics is fairly complete, and the book provides a good high level picture of how a game is structured. However, the code specifics are downright horrible, the listings seem to be randomly thrown in without any clue as to where they should go in an actual program, the writing is boring, the directions are sparse and inchoerent, and much of the source code provided on the CD is incredibly difficult to get running (if it runs at all). Also, there is a discussion board on wazoo, but don't excpect much help. Many of the forums end with unanswered questions including many that I had. For an intro book to programming games, save your money for another book, because this book just isn't worth the cost in wasted time and money.

This book make the presumption that you are already familiar with programming in C++. From there it takes you on to the theory, concepts and additional software packages that are used to facilitate rapid game development. Much of this software is to be found on the CD that is included with the book. As such, this book is a complete course in moving from straight C++ programming into actually producing a game.

The basic technique used is to lead the reader through the development and programming of a small basic game called 'SuperAsteroidArena.' While not a complex game, and certainly nothing that could be taken to market in these days, this little game illustrates the basic techniques that are used in today's game development along with the commonly available software tools. Of course, the completed game is also incldued on the CD.

The first part of the book is an introduction to the software that you will be using. Don't let the seemingly endlist of software packages get you down, it will all make sense eventually as you actually use each of the packages.

A very well done book, but as I said, not for the complete programming beginner.

This book is all over the place and is hard to follow. The author mixes various subjects with no obvious focus and throws code listings at you that you don't know where to place.

Probably the worst programming book I own.

It's ironic that a programmer would be so terrible at giving directions. To start out with, the directions for setting up SDL (a necessary programming toolkit) were almost non-existant. Just this small task took me 8+ hours, and I had to resort to browsing web-forums!

Often the directions were so terrible that it wasn't even clear whether or not he'd just given directions for a procedure or was just providing an example. As a programmer, the author should be able to give sequential, succinct, and easily-followable directions. At this,the author, unfortunately, fails miserably.

I saw the Thomson logo at the top left on the front cover and thought it was textbook quality. I was dead wrong!! As the engineer said, the directions are incoherent and you don't even know when he has given instructions or just an example. I had to search the web for help answers just to do the "Hello World" application. There is no troubleshooting guide in case you get stuck. If you get stuck you better clear up your schedule cause you will be searching for answers for a while. Why not spend that time and buy a good book on programming. I would expect more from a programmer than this garbled mess of words.

Overall, the book is fairly useful. However, it lacks several things:
1. Contains many snippets of code that cannot be determined where they go
2. Constantly uses forward-slashes (/) instead of backslashes (\) for filenames (even if outside of code).
3. Does not justify certain variable names; ie a local variable one would normally call "fontSize", he calls "m_pFontSize".
4. What exactly is something such as a "PNFGLGETQUERYOBJECTIVEARBPROC"? He uses types like this alot, but never says what they are (even in the introduction to OpenGL).

This programming book was just what my son was wanting. He thinks it will really help refine his gaming progams.

Erik Yuzwa's GAME PROGRAMMING IN C++: START TO FINISH will lend particularly well to prior C++ programmers and users who want to learn game programming. Chapters use current game programming information and take a lesson plan graded learning approach to building an entire course in C++ game programming, from the basics to creating a complete game.