Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus Hi Im in the second year of my comp sci degree. I know some C, C++, and Java. I have not made any program so far that uses any sort of graphics. I would like to learn the basic of game programming. Will this book help me? Will this book be to advanced? would you recommend i purchase his book or another? thank-you

It''s a pretty good book for DirectX (minus D3D). I recommend it.

I have it, and it is a pretty good book, except that I think it uses an outdated DirectX. I''m not sure about that, though. It was a good book to learn Windows graphics from.

------------------------------
Omnipotent_Q
"Poor people are crazy. I''m eccentric."

I know have a few design books building up in my corner and I must say out of them all Tricks of the Window Game Gurus is the best for a begginer. The only things it doesnt really cover is Direct3D and DirectPlay.

I seriously suggest the book. After that try and get a hold of a newer book, but after reading TOTWGPG learning other graphical game books will be a sinch.

Conan Bourke.

Yep - I am going with the crowd on this one. Tricks is great. You may also consider "OpenGL Game Programming" as a resource. That is a great book as well.

Landsknecht

I have TOTWGPG and "OpenGL Game Programming" too, and I have to agree with everybody here that they are both excellent books (even though I''m not very far into OpenGL GP). If TOTWGPG seems a little too daunting (it''s one massive book), "Windows Game Programming for Dummies" is basically a scaled back version of TOTWGPG. If you''ve got the $$$, go ahead and buy all 3 . I would suggest you start with WGPFD or TOTWGPG first and get a solid understanding of more general game design before adding 3D to the mix.

"I will crush you with my bare hands and throw you into the wind!"

-Majin Vegeta

Tricks does go into some of the more varied aspects of game creation than OGL Game Programming, though. The sound and input and physics sections in OGL-GP are a little thin, but Tricks has rather extensive coverage of those - and the AI parts are worth their weight in latinum strips! (sorry - Star Trek fan...)

I am a firm believer that you can NEVER have to many reference books!

Landsknecht

i was wondering abt this>

if the "Tricks" book uses DX6,
does one find it easy to "transcend" from DX6 to DX7?

Stuff DirectX 7, after I finish TOTWGPG im going straight to directX 8!

CEO Plunder Studios

Tricks uses 7, not 6. And besides, the DX portions are not the main reason to get that book.

Landsknecht