Hello, I bought Game Programming Starter Kit, Version 4.0 about a week ago and I haven''t got a clue about what I''m doing. I''m trying to build characters first, but that''s not even working. However, the software gave me an example character. I''m trying to build over it, but I need skin for it and I don''t know how to make or find some. So if anyone can send me a site telling me how or one that lets you use their skins, I''d really appreciate it. I think it has to be in a TGA format, but I''m not sure. Thanks in advance. Digital Dreams.

I got that book yesterday and I am thiking it is time to return it. All the book is is a long bunch of interviews with people from the game industry and nothing hard core to do with the coding and theory. I would suggest getting a different book. I have not bothered installing the stuff they provide as I want to return the thing however I can assure you there are better programs out there you can get and use.

I wish the box had let me know before hand (since I could not get a good review on the book) that it was just a load of crap. As for skins and such, try doing a search at google or excite, even yahoo (how I found this site). You should get a few hits from there.

gluck

I picked up that kit a while ago myself and personally, it was not very helpful at all...it provides much of the tools necessary to develop a simple game, but very little documention is included. From the back of the box it is very misleading...even to someone who "thinks" they know what they''re talking about...so i put it on my shelf for a while....still useful, just not right now...i''m working out of another great book for the time being....Tricks of the windows Game Programming Gurus by Lamothe....

Check it out

Commando_337

I bought that kit a while back and i havent found a single use for it. I never figured out how to use the software so i shelfed it. The book wasnt much help either. Oh-Well. If you know how to use this stuff, please share with us.

Edited by - conundrum07 on August 6, 2001 4:35:55 PM

Well I believe it works like this:

You use Visual C++ 6 to compile your game, using the Direct X 7 SDK as a framework so that you dont need to learn how all the drivers on all the hardware configurations in modern pcs work, and use the genesis 3d engine to make your game 3d.

i picked the same thing up a few months ago (when it came out in NZ) and found the following about it:

a) the book is essentially just hype and ego-inflation for the people interviewed, except for the rocket launcher ai code which inspired me so much...

b) there''s next to no documentation, save for a thing that teaches you the theory behind blocks and importing helicopter models...

c) an absolute beginner (as the box suggests it''s geared for) would have no chance in hell of getting anywhere other than modifying the lighting color in the technology demo...

d) i''d trade VC++ 6 for a good new version of Delphi anyday...

Well I finished reading almost all the book but the best I can say is that the thing suggests making textures and skins in Photoshop. Now how to do this and all that... don''t ask I am ahem needing my new hard drive and I have some other coding to do before I pick up that thing again for a few days or longer.

gluck I will try and remember to post anything useful here. Oh yeah my suggestion would be to check the links they provide in book on how to do different things. That and when you get the chance email the publisher like I am going to a nice and nasty complaint letter about the misleading nature of their product.

later
me out