Windows Game Programming with Visual Basic and DirectX [With CDROM]

by Wayne S. Freeze

Book Overview

The combination of Visual Basic and DirectX should give readers the ability to design and program intricate and appealing simulation games. This volume covers game programming code in Visual Basic... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0789725924
• ISBN13: 9780789725929
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: Que
• Length: 394 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

worth its weight in gold

In the context of showing you how to make a simulation game, this book shows you how to load meshes from outside sources like 3dsmax. What's more it's done simply and clearly explained. It also shows how to make your game scriptable and is a very good example of how to make your code object orientated. Every thing talked about in the book while shown in the use of a simulation game would apply to any other type of game with a little creative thinking. This book is a must, the price seals the deal.However, it's not without its faults. One thing to remember though is that you will need to refer to the cd, because the author cut the size of the book by only showing the relevant portions of the code to the topic in the book not the whole picture. However since the code makes use of a debug log you can't run the code from off a cd. You need to copy it to a space on your hard drive first and then open it in vb and run it. Lastly the modeling package featured in the book seems to be another me too product.

A great book for all

"Windows Game Programming with Visual Basic and DirectX" is one of the best sources for game programming with Visual Basic. It is rare to find a nice VB book these days, and this one covers everything to make a sim kinda game. you make a mall and try to run it, teaching you how to Program games on the way. This is a must have for any Game programmer that wants to use VB for thair game.

Comprehensive Approach, Great Support!

I see some reviewers faulted the book for developing a single simulation game example (which the book does clearly advertise on the cover), yet this was one of the things I liked most about the book. Rather than develop a series of simplistic arcade-like games, you worked your way from game design planning up through a finished product that's easy to customize based on your imagination, artistic abilities, and such. It was much easier to delve into the subtleties of VB/DirectX that way, and I really appreciated having everything on CD rather than having to schlep off to a web site to download sample code. I encountered some funky issues with my old video card, but Mr. Freeze actually took the time via e-mail to help me through it. Wow, it was the first time an author ever actually took the time to answer one of me e-mails! This guy won't leave you hanging like some, and his writing style is very clear and makes complex topics a breeze to understand.

A Great Start!!!!

This book is way ahead of other VB/DirectX offerings in that it offers a complete 3D application, deals with DirectX head on instead of a mere appendix, and gives you a CD full of goodies to get started including the DirectX 8.1 SDK, Microsoft's Speech 5.1 SDK, and demos of trueSpace, Photoshop, and Paint Shop Pro. Complete source code is included as well so you don't have to go digging through a Web site for it. And unlike most authors, this one answers e-mail questions from readers, too--a true rarity in the field. You won't be left hanging with this book! Enjoy!

The book I've been dreaming of.

As the Technical Editor of this book you think I would have an unjust view of the quality, but I am just another VB game programmer who fell into the job. This book not only covers the basics of directX but it takes you through the making of a fully playable 3D simulation game. I have done some reviews and read some reviews of other VB game programming books and one thing that was always mentioned was that there was never enough info on DirectX, Well here it is. You will also learn the basics of trueSpace 5 for the making of the graphics, Work with MS Speech API to make your characters talk, And Learn to play MP3s as background music for you games. I have to say I have been waiting for this book to be written for a long long time. Pick it up and learn to make some great games, From Beginner to advanced this book holds a lot for everyone to learn.