Windows 95 Game Developers Guide Using the Game Sdk [Paperback]

Michael Morrison (Author), Randy Weems (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

Focuses on all of the components within the Microsoft Windows 95 Game SDK as well as general Windows applications development.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This comprehensive guide shows how to create distributable Windows 95 games and focuses on all of the components within the Microsoft Windows 95 Game SDK. With coverage of Microsoft's Windows 95 Game SDK and important marketing tips, this is a book serious game programmers won't want to be without! - Provides comprehensive coverage of how to create distributable Windows 95 games

- Topics include game programming basics, Animation, DirectSound, Network Gaming, and more

- CD-ROM includes all of the source code from the book, sample applications, and demo software

Product Details

• Paperback: 598 pages
• Publisher: Sams Publishing (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0672306611
• ISBN-13: 978-0672306617
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,390,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Morrison is a writer, developer, toy inventor, and author of a variety of computer technology books and interactive web-based courses. In addition to his primary profession as a writer and freelance nerd for hire, Michael is the creative lead at Stalefish Labs (http://www.stalefishlabs.com), an entertainment company he co-founded with his wife, Masheed. The first commercial debut for Stalefish Labs is a traditional social/trivia game called Tall Tales: The Game of Legends and Creative One-Upmanship. When not glued to his computer, playing hockey, skateboarding, or watching movies with his wife, Michael enjoys hanging out by his koi pond while he daydreams about new Web creations. You can visit Michael on the Web and discuss this book at http://www.michaelmorrison.com/.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars A lot of talk and little serious content., January 17, 2000

By 

Jacob Marner - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows 95 Game Developers Guide Using the Game Sdk (Paperback)

As is often a problem with books from SAMS publishing this book contains too much talk and to little serious information. In other words - if you are serious buy Addison-Wesley or Prentice-Hall books - do not buy SAMS!

The book attempt to do two things at once: 1. To introduce gaming to the amateur. 2. To introduce DirectX 1.0 (presently at version 7.0)

For the amateur the book is not appropriate, because it is assumed that the reader knows MFC and windows programming beforehand. It is not good for the professional either, because a lot of pages is used telling how to use painting and sound utilities that come for free. Everybody knows that.

It *does* introduce directX, but only fairly briefly and in conjunction with lengthly code examples and a code library supplied in the book. Much of the directX introduction is merely a alphabetical listing of API functions that is just as clearly written in the on-line help.

I *could* run the code examples (at least those that I tried), although this required some minor editing. I ran them under DirectX using Watcom 11.0. It is not fair to expect code to compile directly out of a book as C++ is not entirely portable. All non-portable code should have been left out of the book, though.

1.0 out of 5 stars bad book, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows 95 Game Developers Guide Using the Game Sdk (Paperback)

The code doesn't run well and the games only run full-screen, 8 bit. Don't buy this book.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for newcomers to DirectX, February 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows 95 Game Developers Guide Using the Game Sdk (Paperback)

This book does not explain the basics, like what files to include, and is vague on where to put your code. If you have ever gone through the code generated by AppWizard, you know this could be very daunting. For programmers who are very familiar with DirectX implementation, I would recommend it. If you are not, keep looking.