Beginning 3D game programming (with CD-ROM)

A practical, example driven approach to learning the unique art of 3D Game Development that even beginners can grasp.

• Makes 3D Game development easy for the beginning programmer by using Microsoft's standard 3D programming libraries - most intro game books address only 2D.
• 3 fully functional 3D games and complete source included with book.
• Written by the creator of the Managed DirectX API.
• Full source code in both C# and Visual Basic .NET.

There are many programming hobbyists who write 2D games but there are far fewer that grasp the concepts of 3D programming. Although there are also quite a few 'game development' books on the market, few deal with 3D game development. Those that do are mainly aimed at advanced readers. This book provides a practical, example driven approach to learning the unique art of 3D Game Development that even the beginner can grasp. It doesn't get bogged down in page after page of boring theory but instead teaches through many interesting hands on examples. Tom Miller brings years and years of 3D game programming to the table and couples that with an engaging writing style to mentor readers in the intricacies of game development. The book starts out with a crash course in game programming concepts and then progresses into developing 3 different types of games with many useful tips, notes, and cautions along the way. This title will serve as a useful guide to either current 2D game developers or programmers that want to learn to program games. Tom Miller is the development lead for Managed DirectX, as well as the designer of the API. He has worked on the DirectX team for the last four years, including the SDK team writing samples, as well as the DirectX for Visual Basic team. Previously at Microsoft, he worked on the Visual Basic and Office teams.

Introduction.

So You Want to be a Game Developer.

Who Should Read This Book?

Why Would I Want to Use the .NET Framework.

Why This Book?

I. INTRODUCTION TO MICROSOFT .NET.

1. Game Development and Managed Code.

What Is .NET?

What Is Managed Code?

Writing Code with the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 IDE.

The C# Code.

The VB .NET Code.

Compiling .NET Code on the Command Line.

Introducing Game Development.

The Developers.

The Process.

The Tools.

Summary.

II. INTRODUCING GRAPHICS, GAME.

2. Planning Your First Game.

Coming Up with the Game Idea.

Detailing the Proposal.

Understanding the Need for a 3D Game.

The Specification.

Summary.

3. Understanding the Sample Framework.

Creating Your Project.

Enumerating All Device Options.

Summary.

4. Show Something Onscreen!

Creating Your Device.

Time to Render.

Loading and Rendering a Mesh.

Adding a Camera to Your Scene.

Summary.

5. Finishing Up the Support Code.

Understanding the High-Resolution Timer.

Handling Lost Devices.

Adding Frame Rate Output.

Designing a UI Screen.

Designing a Button.

Summary.

6. Implementing the User Interface.

Designing the Main Menu.

Plugging into the Game Engine.

Selecting Your Character (Loopy).

Updating the Game Engine with This New Screen.

Summary.

7. Implementing the Player and Blocks.

Writing the Player Object.

Moving the Player.

Designing the Blocks.

Summary.

8. Implementing the Level Object.

Implementing the Level.

Controlling Player Movement.

Handling Level Updates.

Summary.

9. Putting the Pieces Together.

Including the Player.

Hooking Up the Level.

Implementing the Quit Screen.

Finishing Up.

Summary.

III. BASIC MATH PRINCIPLES.

10. A Quick 3D-Math Primer.

2D? 3D? What Are You Talking About?

Left-handed? Right-handed?

Using These 3D Points.

Manipulating 3D Objects.

Translating (Moving) Objects.

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