programming

An idiot who slapped the 1 - star rating on this book is, in fact, a dummy. You CANNOT expect to write any game without having C or C++ down. Before buying this book, make sure that you are strong in using pointers and such 'advanced' things found in the C language. Some Windows programming is nice, however, Andre LaMothe is able to explain it nicely in the pages that are in the book, without going into explicit detail (which is a good and a bad thing). If you want to learn how to write games using your C language, then this book is a very good one. It explains Direct X fully, although, it doesn't go into explicit detail. On a final note, this game teaches a lot in the pages that it houses. It teaches basic Windows Programming, DirectX, as well as Physics and AI. Don't expect to get an extremely detailed tutorial on each concept taught in the book. If you need every detail found in Win32 Programming, then head off and purchase Windows 98 Programming by Schildt. If you want to learn DirectX (no D3D..) by going into explicit detail, Inside DirectX is the way to go. However, if you want a brief and somewhat detailed tutorial of both (including many, many other aspects of game programming), you'll find that this book provides you with everything you need to know. However, don't expect to write ANYTHING 3d. Right now, after reading that book, I am able to program my own Secret of Mana type game. How many people can say that after reading a 480 page book?

Having purchased 2 others books on DirectX programming, I was leary of purchasing this book. This was the case because the two previous book suceeded in teaching me squat! I'm not an idiot, or even a dummy, just a guy who HATES windows programming with a passion. Andre' was however the author of the best computer book I have ever read or looked at, "The Black Art of 3D Game Programming", so I figured that he would succeed where others failed! I could not have been more right. This book kicks !@#. Like Andre's other books it basically provides you with a first class game engine, then writes a book around it. Using this book I wrote my first DirectX game (a space invaders clone) in about 8 hours, and most of that time was spent drawing the graphics! Yup, this book is that good. Do not hesitate to buy this book. At 23 bucks it's about half the price of other DirectX books and it is a far, far better book. If I had one complaint it would be that Andre! ' was constrained by the IDG Dummies style, the ridiculous little icons, and even the title. But rest assured that this is not a book for the computer illiterate! or for the stupid! But if you have a reasonable understanding of programming and want to write killer windows 95/98 games, this is most certainly the book for you.

The book starts out great, with clear step-by-step explanations about everything. One really begins to feel like they're getting somewhere. However, just over half way through, the author abandons this step-by-step approach and dumps a massive 'library' of code in front of you with little explanation, and leaves you for dead. From here, one is expected to tinker with the existing code, making alterations as necessary to fit one's own idea for a game. A very disappointing conclusion to what started out as a great book.