Customer Reviews

Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This kit does give you many neat tools for making video games, but it's missing one important thing: a book that tells you how to use it. The only "instructions" it includes are the two electronic books, one about Visual C++ and one about DirectX. I personally find it hard to learn from reading a computer monitor, but maybe that's just me (and it doesn't help that they're in Adobe Acrobat format... yuck). There is a physical book included, but it has nothing to do with programming. Instead, it deals with game design and the development process. It's interesting, but it's not going to help you if you're trying to make your first game. I was under the impression that there would be some tutorials available and maybe a few example programs to study. Nope.

This may be good for people with a background in the featured programs (Visual C++, DirectX, Genesis3D, and Shadow Realm Model Animator). But if you're a semi-novice C++ programmer trying to make your first game (like me, I've only been programming for a year), find a good Windows game programming book first. Without it, this stuff is pretty useless. If you have the knowledge, though, it may be a very powerful tool.

I should also mention that the Visual C++ compiler is an Introductory Edition, so you can't distribute any programs without upgrading to the [expensive] professional edition.

This product is not what the illustration and labeling on the box suggests. Game programming is a difficult multidisciplinary expertise that integrates storytelling, artwork, modeling, programming and strategy. Each skill must be explained separately and in detail. Then these skills must be learned and integrated to give you your expertise.

This product does not do this. It is little more than a crippled Visual C++ 6.0 compiler, a couple of third party game development tools and a book full of game developers' anecdotes. It's a joke.

Worse, the C++ documentation is in PDF(hard on the eyes) and VC++ is already difficult for a newbie. The two third party tools are poorly documented, at best.

Wanna learn the basics of game programming? I suggest Java Game Programming for Dummies. Ready to learn Windows game progamming technology? Consider *Windows Game Programming for Dummies*. But don't throw your hard earned dineros in this landfill.

The reason that people dislike this product is becuase they dont understand what they are doing. True the software included is total crap. You can't just go and make something like Quake 3 but the software is powerfull enough for you to creat some basic 3d games for windows. I belive that this product is useless to professional game developers and people who dont know jack about programming. It is intendet for the people in the middle. People who have a basic idea of what Visual C++ programming and 3d texturing is about. If you know how to make games don't buy this, instead buy a descent engine and a powerfull programming software like codewarrior. If you know the basics of Visual C++ programming and want to make a 3d game than it pays of for you to buy this. But dont expect to make something very cool and powerfull because of the totally crapy engine and software. And if you wanted to publish it you couldnt! Because the VC++ edditor is just a learning version you would have to buy the professional version on order to make a .exe file. So as I said this is just meant to teach you, not to publish or anything.So if you dont know anyting about programming or using game development software dont buy this because you will end up like the other people complaing and getting mad.

At first glance, a thought comes to your head - "Wouldn't it be cool to create your very own video game!" I work for the Video Game publisher Vatical Entertainment and believe me, this is anything but easy. The one program, Genesis 3D, can be downloaded for free at genesis3d.com, and the book tells you nothing accept a few interviews with publishers. The documentation is just short c++ references to the source code in the engine which you wouldn't be able to understand without an extensive knowledge of c++ much less know how to use it to make a game. It doesn't come with a 3-d modeler, which you need, just an animator which I believe you can also get for free. So in short, even though it looks and sounds great, you would never be able to create a game using it.

Ah... the buffet line is open! While obviously not designed to be an authority or an end all in any of the subjects covered, this package offers a plethora of products within its standard size yellow box. The Game Programming Starter Kit version 4.0 is like one of those Chinese gift boxes where you just keep finding one gift inside of another, inside of another, and so on. Henceforth, this product suffers from a common ying and yang effect usually seen when something tries to be everything to everyone.

The Ying

For Programmers, the gentle Giant from Redmond has allowed a version of its MS Visual C++ 6.0 to be included in the Starter Kit. The Introductory Edition of Visual C++ is a nice way to gauge if programming is really up your alley. Most, but not all features, in this version are functional; so a person can easily pick up a C++ textbook and start honing their skills. If you don't happen to have a textbook, the Digital Resource Library, included on the CD's, handily offers an eBook version of SAMS "Teach Yourself Visual C++ 6.0 in 21 Days". Microsoft has also granted permission to have its' DirectX 7.0 Software Development Kit included in this bundle. Of course, if you don't have a book explaining DirectX, the kind people at Macmillan have also included an eBook version of SAMS "Teach Yourself DirectX 7 in 24 hours" to get you up to par.

If being a Game Designer is more up your alley, Macmillan software has included the 2nd Edition of Marc Saltzman's book "Game Design: Secrets of the Sages". This title offers a wide scope of information on various subjects regarding game development issues, such as: character design, level design, programming, AI, art, animation, sound FX, music, testing, marketing, web site design, and much, much more. What sets this book apart is the dozens of interviews with the top respected game designers, so the information and opinions represented are ones to take note of. While not an extremely in depth book, it covers a lot of information, in an extremely easy to read format, accessible by all levels of readers.

The Yang

Not to leave Level Designers out, The Programming Starter Kit comes with a copy of the Genesis 3D Software Development Kit, version 1.1. The game engine supports the latest drivers and also provides a level editor for those who are ready to test their mettle. Featuring up to date special effects, the Genesis 3D engine allows users to get their feet wet and hone their skills at level design. Note: It should be pointed out that the Genesis 3D engine has been available for FREE on the net for some time. Level Designers may also want to check the net for other FREE editors that are available which happen to be more powerful and maybe better documented than the one included in this bundle.

The last thing I found inside the box was a shareware copy of the Shadow Realm Model Animator 3D animation software. This tool allows users to create skeletal structures, import 3D mesh, animate their models and export files. This program is not extremely powerful, nor user friendly, in fact I would say that it suffers the most out of any in the bundle. But in keeping with the "One for All" mentality, the publisher has included it for anyone who is beginning in the 3D modeling world and can't afford a "real" package.

Balance

Perhaps the biggest mishap in marketing this package is not that the documentation is a bit lacking, but merely that the title of the product is misleading. If you really want to start learning some game programming skills, this software bundle will probably leave you a bit wanting. If the title had been "The Game Developers Starter Kit", one would not expect it to be too thorough on the programming end. Alas, the product does have a meritable niche: Newbies. The Game Programming Starter Kit version 4.0 has a nice price point and therefore makes a great gift for anyone who is contemplating entering the game development industry. It is recommended strictly for newbies who want to experience a small mouthful of what this great industry is all about. If that doesn't fit your description, then pass the plate to someone else.

I brought this product, because i needed an animator for a game i was working on. Great???. However, the version you get, is an absolutely useless shareware version, and after checking out the rest of the stuff included, i was even more dissapointed. The version of C++ is a "working model" edition, so you cannot redistribute your files, and the Gensesis 3d engine is open source, and available for free, and you can get the latest version aswell. So, i suppose it's the price of a book??? It does include 3 books, right? Wrong, 2 of them are PDF files, and the other one will not introduce you to game programming at all. The name sells it wrong, don't you think??? KEEP AWAY from this product, i think anyone who wanted to buy a Game Programming Starter Kit would want to know how to program!!!

I bought this because the ShadowRealm character assembler costs $45 online by itself, so I figured I was getting a good deal - basically a "free" book and other software along with a ShadowRealm license. I was wrong!!

The publishers fail to mention that they've included the shareware version of the product, which doesn't even export files in a format usable by the Genesis SDK!

Further, the Genesis SDK is available online for free, and also comes with a character assembly tool, so the ShadowRealm tool isn't helpful at all.

However, that said, the "kit" does include Visual C++ -- a full version that just doesn't let you redistribute your applications but lets you build them -- and a couple of books in PDF format for learning C++ and DirectX programming. These are great starters, and I've been learning them on my notebook computer in my spare time.

And the book, "Game Design Secrets of the Sages" gives some interesting food for thought on game design approaches, though it gives no programming advice.

Short answer: if you have designed games using Basic or another high level language, and want to move towards more complex game programming, this might be an OK collection. However, if you are buying it just to learn C++, or to learn game programming from scratch, there are much more straightforward books on the subject.

Haven't used this version, however, 2.0 is excellent because it includes standard VC++ 4.2. I use VC++ 4 now for DirectX games -- though the documentation is complicated for even advanced programmers, and didn't help any. To beginners reading this, learn programming first (takes about 1 year), then get Andre Lamonthe's DirectX books. It may take 2 years before you create the simplest Atari-like game, there's so much involved. The very minimal DX game is 3,000+ lines of complex code. According to the other readers, this version doesn't include a distributable VC++ -- DON'T BUY THIS.

If you're a programming student (like me) and you want to make games, DO NOT get this, it will be a waste of money.

Get a good compiler (one that makes .exe files, not just the learning version) in whichever platform you are familiar with, and spend your money buying books to learn advanced programming techniques.

I made my own Shareware game in Microsoft Visual Basic Professional, after one semester of a VB class, and another half a semester of a more advanced VB class. I also did a text game in C using the free GNU compiler. Either of those programs is a hundred times better than this package. There is hardly any documentation for this software, and I could do better 3D graphics and animation with my copies of Bryce 4 and Paint Shop Pro 6!

Yes, I know it says "Programming 'Starter' Kit" but heck, the box doesn't really say it's for beginners either!

When I bought this product, I knew exactly what I was paying for. Genesis 3D SDK, Visual C++ introductory edition, and Shadow Realm Model Animator seemed like GARBAGE to me (and my assertion was correct), but what really appealed to me were the two PDF books and the "game design" book.

Since I was only familiar with DOS game programming, the PDF books were exactly what I wanted to get myself started into Windows game programming. PDFs has the disadvantage of having to read them off the monitor, but I think it beats having to pay twice as much to get them in print. Besides, when you're programming in front of the computer, it even allows you to copy and paste the context directly to the IDE.

The "Game Design" book was not very informative in game programming but I'm having a great fun reading it - and it even might help you with the game design in the long run.

"Everything you need to program your own games" smells like a false advertisement to me, but then again, if it has Visual C++ included, what CAN'T you make? :) I know that many people who bought this products were disappointed - and I sympathize. The product should have noted that it is for people who have some experience with non-windows programming environment.

In my opinion, Game Programming Starter Kit is not a bad product. I'm quite satisfied with its useful contents.