Microsoft® XNA® Game Studio 3.0: Learn Programming Now! (Pro - Developer) [Paperback]

Rob Miles (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0735626588 | ISBN-13: 978-0735626584 | Publication Date: June 10, 2009 | Edition: Second Edition

Now you can build your own games for Windows, Xbox 360, and Zune—as you learn the underlying skills and concepts for computer programming. Use this hands-on guide to dive straight into your first project—adding new tools and tricks to your arsenal as you go. No experience required!

Teach yourself how to program—and bring your game ideas to life!

• Learn XNA and C# fundamentals—and extend the challenge with each chapter
• Write code to create and control game behavior
• Build your game’s display—colors, graphics, text, lighting, 3-D effects
• Capture and cue sounds
• Process input from gamepads and keyboards
• Add excitement to gameplay with timers, scoring, and survival
• Create multiplayer features
• Tweak existing games—and invent totally new ones

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rob Miles has been teaching computer programming for more than 25 years. An expert on Visual C#® and a Microsoft® MVP for Device Application Development, Rob enjoys inspiring new and experienced programmers. As well as writing his own games, programs, and poetry, Rob has consulted on a wide range of commercial software projects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; Second Edition edition (June 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735626588
• ISBN-13: 978-0735626584
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #965,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rob Miles writes for ACTUAL beginners..., August 7, 2009

By 

Wiliam V. Heldman "Max Power" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft® XNA® Game Studio 3.0: Learn Programming Now! (Pro - Developer) (Paperback)

I'm high-school teacher in Lakewood, Colorado. Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, the C# language, and XNA 3.0 make for a pretty hefty learning curve when you're a late-adolescent in love with your xBox games and you want to make some yourself.

I've been using Mr. Miles book since XNA 2.0, and have found it to be just the right combination of humor, ease of learning, and correct software development norms.

I just wish other books that say they're for the beginner really were. This book is truly for the beginner.

YOU GO ROB!! You're responsible for helping a bunch of kids learn how to write C# code using VS 2008.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The key here is baby steps. But is it right for you?, February 11, 2010

By 

T. J. Gill (Olympia, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft® XNA® Game Studio 3.0: Learn Programming Now! (Pro - Developer) (Paperback)

This book excels at what it set out to do, teach XNA to first-time programmers in a non-intimidating way. The book is padded with light commentary and jokes to keep readers from feeling overwhelmed by the material. It's a legitimate approach, and it will be an excellent fit for students in some kind of intro to game development class. It never goes beyond the surface level of learning, doesn't get deep into larger game programming concepts. It gives you the basic tools to get started with very basic game design.

Personally, I have previous experience with C# (beginner/intermediate level) and I feel like the book could have been compressed down to 50 pages of solid material (maybe as the intro chapters for a more difficult book). Thing is, the author didn't write this book for me. Again, it's for first-timers.

If you're just starting out with game development and programming, or you feel intimidated by C#/XNA, this book will ease you in to game development and give you a good (if a bit thin) foundation to build on. That's why I'm giving it 5 stars. It achieves its intended goal...delivering a gentle introduction.

If you've got any experience with game development or programming, I'd look elsewhere.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the paper it's printed on, November 12, 2010

By 

Steve G. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft® XNA® Game Studio 3.0: Learn Programming Now! (Pro - Developer) (Paperback)

if you already know the the C# programming language, this book will not teach you anything new... you will learn much more from google-ing "XNA" or even watching a few youtube video's ( [...] )
Don't get me wrong, XNA and C# is very powerful, but this book on the subject does not do ether XNA or C# justice. On the back cover of the book it claims "3D-effects", but the book only covers 2D-effects, other then text and even that is limited. I think that any programmer that is wanting to enter into game programming, is going to want graphics, interaction, and sound, and this book does a piss poor job at it. With that said there are even error in the code in chapter 3. There are VERY IMPORTANT Classes the book should at least touch on and it does NOT, Mathhelper, Matrix, and Model. I will be returning this book today, it is not worth the paper it is printed on.