If you were to recommend ONE book to a newbie trying to get started in game programming, specifically DirectX, what book would it be?

Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus
by Andre LaMonthe

It has everything you need to make a 2D game, even if you've never written a windows program before (but maybe not if you have never written a program before)

Edited by - Magmai Kai Holmlor on October 16, 2000 11:19:52 PM

I also recommend "Windows Game Programming For Dummies", also written by Andre LaMothe.

Some of the DirectDraw stuff is obsolete in this slightly older book, but the fundamentals of creating a window, capturing Windows events, building a game loop, and using the Graphic Device Interface (GDI) are all in there even before touching on DirectX.

Most importantly though, always refer to the DX7 SDK and MSDN Visual C++ help when you''re curious about a function. It really helps to understand everything you''re doing as you''re doing it.

Last but not least, this web site is the best source of game development information anywhere. Refer to it often.

I only have about 2 months total time invested in learning C++ and DirectX, but I''m already building my 2D game thanks to all these resources plus "Teach Yourself C++ in 24 Hours".



Todd M. Gillissie
gillissie@yahoo.com

get Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus
its basically an updated version of Windows Game Programming for Dummies

Will the Tricks book help soomeone who knows C/C++ learn how to program a boardstyle wargame in Windows?

yup
it teaches you almost everything you need to know about 2d game programming with DirectDraw

Yeah, ''Tricks of'' won''t teach you programming a specific type of game, It''ll teach you how to make a 2D game
Your going to have to do the thinking and use what you learn from the book to make a game.
The best thing about this book that it teaches you alot more than just DDraw, also DSound and Input, Physics, AI etc.



- Goblineye Entertainment
The road to success is always under construction

yeah, i think the windows programming guru book was pretty cool. I had a little trouble grasping the bitmap loading though, i wish he would have gone into more detail on that in some places. Everything else was pretty damn good though.

Thanks to All of you for the responses!

A big thumbs up from me for LaMothe''s Tricks of the Windows Programming Gurus too