Game Programming Books - Page 8

Defensive Design for the Web: How to improve error messages, help, forms, and other crisis points (VOICES)

37signals

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Let's admit it: Things will go wrong online. No matter how carefully you design a site, no matter how much testing you do, customers still encounter problems. So how do you handle these inevitable breakdowns? With defensive design. In this book, the experts at 37signals (whose clients include Microsoft, Qwest, Monster.com, and Clear Channel) will show you how.

Defensive design is like defensive driving brought to the Web. The same way drivers must always be on the lookout for slick roads, reckless drivers, and other dangerous scenarios, site builders must constantly search for trouble spots that cause visitors confusion and frustration. Good site defense can make or break the customer experience.

In these pages, you'll see hundreds of real-world examples from companies like Amazon, Google, and Yahoo that show the right (and wrong) ways to get defensive. You'll learn 40 guidelines to prevent errors and rescue customers if a breakdown occurs. You'll also explore how to evaluate your own site's defensive design and improve it over the long term.

This book is a must read for designers, programmers, copywriters, and any other site decision-makers who want to increase usability and customer satisfaction.

Illustrator CS2 for Windows & Macintosh (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Elaine Weinmann, Peter Lourekas

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

If you're looking forward to using cool new tools like Illustrator CS2's Live Trace or Live Paint in your vector artwork, or eager to take advantage of its more than 200 professionally designed templates, you'll need to get up to speed on every aspect of Illustrator CS2 now with this Visual QuickStart Guide! As the standard Illustrator text in many design schools, this popular, task-based best seller has taught a generation of users how to make the most out of Adobe's vector-graphics powerhouse. Now it’s back--revised and updated--to teach the next. Using simple step-by-step instructions, loads of screen shots, and an array of time-saving tips and tricks, this volume represents the quickest route to Illustrator CS2 proficiency. Clearly marked locators indicate new and improved features (such as enhanced type capabilities, powerful 3D graphics tools, enhanced PDF support, and more), a 24-page color section, and highly readable text create a winning combination for every level of Illustrator user.

Persuasive Games: The Expressive Power of Videogames

Ian Bogost

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Videogames are both an expressive medium and a persuasive medium; they represent how real and imagined systems work, and they invite players to interact with those systems and form judgments about them. In this innovative analysis, Ian Bogost examines the way videogames mount arguments and influence players. Drawing on the 2,500-year history of rhetoric, the study of persuasive expression, Bogost analyzes rhetoric's unique function in software in general and videogames in particular. The field of media studies already analyzes visual rhetoric, the art of using imagery and visual representation persuasively. Bogost argues that videogames, thanks to their basic representational mode of procedurality (rule-based representations and interactions), open a new domain for persuasion; they realize a new form of rhetoric.

Bogost calls this new form "procedural rhetoric," a type of rhetoric tied to the core affordances of computers: running processes and executing rule-based symbolic manipulation. He argues further that videogames have a unique persuasive power that goes beyond other forms of computational persuasion. Not only can videogames support existing social and cultural positions, but they can also disrupt and change those positions, leading to potentially significant long-term social change. Bogost looks at three areas in which videogame persuasion has already taken form and shows considerable potential: politics, advertising, and education. Bogost is both an academic researcher and a videogame designer, and Persuasive Games reflects both theoretical and game-design goals.

Illustrator CS for Dummies

Ted Alspach

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Good Book Illustrator CS for Dummies 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I have found that this book is a great place for a beginner or someone trying to improve on their graphic abilities to start. This book can be a very good tool to help review and remind you of some thing that my have slipped your mind. If you need to rate this book on the 5 star scale then I would give it a 4 �. The reason it fails for the full 5 stars is that it only had a few full color pages(16) and in some small areas, it is hard to find some things it asked you to process. You have to changed a few things (setup view), then they are where they say they are. One more little bit of info, if you are looking to buy this software and use this book, buy the book only and download the try me version of the "Illustrator CS". This way if you don't like the software then your only out the cost of the book.



Wil Bailey

LaGrange, GA
WGCFUG.org

Editorial Review:

Includes companion Web site with bonus chapters and more!

Here’s how to make friends with the top graphics software for both Mac® and Windows®

So you thought Illustrator should really be called "Intimidator"? Not so! Let this book draw you a map through the jungle of pages, paths, pixels, and Pen tools, and before you know it, you’ll have your creations in print, on the Web, or even on a PDA. Then, just smile mysteriously when folks say "Wow!"

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Adobe InDesign CS2 Bible

Galen Gruman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

If InDesign CS2 can do it, you can do it too ...

Here's everything you need to make the most of the software that's fast becoming the dominant professional tool. Take advantage of dynamic spell-checking, or create anchored objects that follow the text referring to them. Learn new object styles that let you easily apply consistent formatting and easily repeat transformations. Whether you're producing an ad campaign, a magazine, or an interactive PDF file, this comprehensive reference takes you step by step through the processes and techniques you need to create stunning layout projects.

Inside, you'll find complete coverage of InDesign CS2

• Enjoy enhanced integration with Adobe® Photoshop®, Illustrator®, and Acrobat®
• Quickly apply formatting to almost any object with new object styles
• Improve text handling with automatic bulleted or numbered lists, intelligent paragraph alignment, customizable Word import, and footnoting
• Customize InDesign with keyboard shortcuts, workspace arrangements, and other saved presets
• Easily switch presets in multi-user environments
• Use nested styles to apply multiple levels of formatting to text
• Create custom colors and duotone effects
• Learn how to make the switch from QuarkXPress® and PageMaker® painlessly
• Simplify workgroup operations with the InCopy® add-on

Autocad and Its Applications 2002: Basics

Terence M. Shumaker, David A. Madsen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Supervisor Drafting & Graphics Services, City of Winnipeg 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 16 people found this review helpful.

I have used Terence Shumakers books for teaching for the last eight years. This latest one covering AutoCAD 2000 is no exception. It is one of the best books to teach from, excellent subject explanations and easy to follow samples exercises. I do disagree with the order Terence follows, but it is easily overcome and does not reflect on the book its self.

An excellent book for beginners and intermediate level. 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

I have had a chance to review sections of this publication in our local library. I found that it is truly a well written book with lots of exercises and helpful hints for the drafting/design discipline. However, I did not find anything on 3D modeling. Perhaps, you can mention a similar publication (same authors?) with the 3D modeling feature, treated with the same details. Thanks for the info. Is this book available in Toronto, Canada? (bookstore please?).

Editorial Review:

Provides instruction for mastering AutoCAD Release 14 basic commands and drawing and dimensioning techniques. In-depth discussions of new and existing AutoCAD features, commands, and options are provided with step by step instructions. Covers Release 14. Softcover.

C++ For Game Programmers (Game Development Series)

Mike Dickheiser

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

C++ for Game Programmers, second edition is a completely updated and expanded edition of this best-selling reference. As with the first edition, the book is not intended to replace foundational C++ books and reference material: instead, it supplements them by putting everything into perspective from a game-development point of view. The book points out the most effective C++ practices and steers you away from the potentially dangerous ones. It describes common C++ techniques to solve specific problems most game developers face. The second edition includes a wide variety of new, improved examples and illustrations, while preserving the core material from inheritance, performance, memory management, and STL to object creation, object serialization, and scripting languages. In addition, three new chapters have been added to meet the needs of today's game programmers. The first new chapter, C++ Design Patterns, covers the high-level problem-solving constructs that are most commonly found in games and other interactive applications. After the introductory chapters on the Standard Template Library, you'll find a new chapter, Beyond STL: Custom Structures and Algorithms, which provides a detailed hands-on discussion of using C++ to create efficient solutions to difficult problems in a highly structured manner. Finally, the new C++ and Scripting chapter covers the ever-increasing use of embedded scripting languages and the many ways scripting can increase productivity without compromising the power and philosophy of C++. This new edition will serve the needs of game programmers better than ever, and provide those who are new to C++ or new to game development with the techniques they need to get up and running quickly.

Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Game Development

Glen Rhodes

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

If you want to take your Flash Professional 8 skills to a new level while learning how to produce games that rival anything available on the web, this is the book for you. Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Game Development is written by a professional game developer. Using the power of Flash and the most recent advancements in ActionScript, the book progresses through the entire development process to teach programmers and Web developers how to create professional quality games quickly. It teaches techniques for producing fast 3D effects that can be used with "cheat" techniques to produce powerful, high-performance results. It details the actual science of game development, including design, character development, the physics and motion of a game, and audio issues. And in this new edition, all of the latest features of Flash Professional 8 are covered, including the new sound channels, bitmap caching, texture pages, and more. The book covers many advanced topics in a simple, easy to understand way. It emphasizes the incredible power of the new BitmapData class and teaches how it can be used to take the performance of Flash games to a whole new level. It has never been easier to get right down to the pixel level and manipulate things at blazing speeds, making previously impossible games a breeze to make. So get to your computer, insert the CD-ROM, and prepare to begin your journey into the world of Flash Professional 8 game development.

Game Design: Principles, Practice, and Techniques - The Ultimate Guide for the Aspiring Game Designer

Jim Thompson, Barnaby Berbank-Green, Nic Cusworth

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

As well thought out as a AAA game 5 out of 5 stars.
19 of 19 people found this review helpful.

Recently I started to entertain the idea for a game prototype I had in mind, since I was a bit green on the process I wanted to find a book that will cover the basics and make it all crystal clear for me. Unfortunately most books on the topic were severely out of date, unnecessarily complex or even too expensive to warrant a purchase. That's when I found Game Design: Principles, Practice, and Techniques and being recently published, it was an added bonus. This book not only takes the reader through the entire process of the production cycle, but it keeps everything light and entertaining with just the right balance of type and a wealth of colored illustrated pages, just the way I like it. And with illustrations on practically every page, it wasn't hard for a visual guy like me to read the book from cover to cover. (Why are there no programming books like this is beyond me)

Jim Thompson, Barnaby Berbank-Green, and Nic Cusworth keeps the book extremely consistent between the three of them, so well in fact that you won't realize when another author took over.

The book is broken up into 3 chapters; the first begins with a brief history in video games and takes you through the genres, styles and popular game mechanics used today, which are broken up with practical case studies.
The second chapter then moves unto elaborating on what you previously learnt and applying it to the real world. Everything from creating a game design document to gathering inspiration for concept art, level design and actually taking you through the process of creating a low poly solider from concept to completion. However keep in mind most of the topics are just the fundamentals to get you going, and rarely spans more than two pages since there's so much to cover, but it's all well written and flows like a gentle summer breeze. The third chapter then takes you through the pitching process, prototyping and a discussion on industry standard tools.

All in all it was a great book to read and money well spent, I've learnt quite a bit, and the only topics I wished they covered more was some programming and asset management, but as it stands the book still makes a great reference and resource.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Especially if you're a bit fuzzy on the process of taking a game from idea to prototype and beyond. Here's hoping for a 2nd edition expanding into more advanced discussions.

Editorial Review:

Practical, complete coverage of game design basics from design process to production

This full-color, structured coursebook offers complete coverage of game design basics, focusing on design rather than computer programming. Packed with exercises, assignments, and step-by-step instructions, it starts with an overview of design theory, then progresses to design processes, and concludes with coverage of design production.

Jim Thompson, Barnaby Berbank-Green, and Nic Cusworth (London, UK) are computer game designers and lecturers in animation and computer game design.

Physics for Game Developers

David Bourg

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Microsoft -> Operating Systems -> Windows - General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Colliding billiard balls. Missile trajectories. Cornering dynamics in speeding cars. By applying the laws of physics, you can realistically model nearly everything in games that bounces around, flies, rolls, slides, or isn't sitting still, to create compelling, believable content for computer games, simulations, and animation. Physics for Game Developers serves as the starting point for enriching games with physics-based realism. Part one is a mechanics primer that reviews basic concepts and addresses aspects of rigid body dynamics, including kinematics, force, and kinetics. Part two applies these concepts to specific real-world problems, such as projectiles, boats, airplanes, and cars. Part three introduces real-time simulations and shows how they apply to computer games. Although you don't need to be a physics expert to understand Physics for Game Developers, the author does assume you have a basic college-level understanding of classical physics. It should also be noted that the examples are written in standard C and use Windows API functions.