PHP Game Programming [Paperback]

Matt Rutledge (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 159200153X | ISBN-13: 978-1592001538 | Publication Date: February 24, 2004 | Edition: 1

"PHP Game Programming" offers you the introduction you need to begin creating your own online games. You'll be amazed at the games you can create with this powerful - and completely free - development tool! Dive right in as you begin with coverage of server configuration and the major features of PHP. Then you're off and running as you use PHP to create and manipulate graphics, develop a chess game using a non-relational database, and send and receive data through sockets. Put your new skills to use as you create your own massively multiplayer online game! From the basics of PHP and HTML to the exciting task of creating dynamic terrain and Flash movies, "PHP Game Programming" will help you turn your online game ideas into reality!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Provides programmers with the tools and knowledge they need to get PHP running, create dynamic pages, manage data, dynamically generate graphics and even create sockets. Readers will walk away from this book as hard core web game developers with an advanced knowledge base beyond average web developers. Part of the succesful Game Development series, this book presents PHP game programming in a clear and concise manner to ensure ease of learning.

About the Author

Matt Rutledge was a professional web developer at 15; a telecommunications programmer at 17 and went back to web development at 19. He is currently lead developer at DATA, Inc. (www.datausa.com) a digital visualization company specializing in 3D-computer animation and web development. Rutledge is from Denver, CO and has published two articles for the web development community: one related to security with .Net; the second, error management using ASP.

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (February 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159200153X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592001538
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,390,984 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

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ultimately..., February 3, 2005

By 

Smudge - See all my reviews

This review is from: PHP Game Programming (Paperback)

... not that good. It's unfortunate that the only book dedicated to php game programming really falls short on many levels. The main problem with this book, is it jumps from the very basics of php and mysql to extremely advanced topics all within a matter of a few pages... entirely omitting users of intermediate php/mysql knowledge. The book has a chapter about creating a MMO (my sole purpose for buying the book).. yet it doesn't tell you anything about HOW to make the MMO. The source code for the MMO has 150+ files, yet the chapter is only 20 pages long...

The author does a great job explaining how to use php and mysql.. including great instructions for installation... the problem is that other books dedicated to learning these subjects do it better. This book should be about learning how to program a game in php/mysql, and it's not. This book is a book about learning the basics of php/mysql with some source code WAY more advanced than anything the book will cover. If you're advanced enough to decipher the authors code, then you don't need this book in the first place becaues you could already make games if you wanted. This book contains no content on game planning or design.

The author write effectively.. I'd love for him to take a second pass at writing this... perhaps sit down and write a book dedicated to teaching you how to program a game. The MMO that comes within the book is certainly complex enough to deserve a book of it's own. Ultimately, this book is 280 pages long.. you cannot teach someone how to make a game in php/mysql in 280 pages.

I'd love to see an author write a book that illustrates making a game from concept to design to code... the how and the why of the processes, and have it return a good game you can use as a foundation for creating other game.

I really looked forward to getting this book before it was published. Now almost a year later, having been through the book 3 times fully, I can say I'm no closer to having any idea how to make a game than when I started.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Money down the drain..., July 7, 2010

By 

G. Kucukterzi (UK, London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PHP Game Programming (Paperback)

I found this book extremely hard to understand the author has rushed through everything. Does not explain the code, it's just been printed on the page for you to look at which is just ridiculous. I feel I didn't learn much from the book and had to keep referring to other text books and the internet. Don't recommend it at all.

I'd also like to add, I wish I had listened to the above reviewer. I thought I'd still give it a try. I regret this.