Books to buy?

i suggest u buy :
1-ansi c++ in 21 days
2-Introduction to 3d game programming with directx9
3-Mathematics for 3d game programming and computer graphics
and it would be faster if u remember some of ur old physics and math stuff

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1- Beginning C++ Game Programming (Game Development Series) [Paperback] By: Michael Dawson 4- Swords & Circuitry: A Designer's Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Game Development) [Paperback] By: Neal Hallford, Jana Hallford

1-- Good book. I really liked it to start. However I also have 1.5 years of Java expirience under my belt.

4-- This has nothing to do with programming. Only development. You could try Programming Role Playing Games with DirectX second edition, but I am not sure how good it is.

EDIT: Guess I misread the book name the first time.

teach yourself ansi C++ in 21 days is sold out. curse you amazon ><

since it sold out, should i go with

Beginning C++ Game Programming (Game Development Series) - Michael Dawson? I got the rest suggested.

If you are new to programming, I would say stick with 1,2 and 5. 3 and 4 can come in if you are ok with programming.

As far as C++ books go, the following five will take you a long way.

1. Accelerated C++ (Koenig, Moo)
   
2. C++ Primer (Lippman, Lajoie, Moo)
   
3. The C++ Standard Library (Josuttis)
   
4. C++ Common Knowledge (Dewhurst)
   
5. The C++ Programming language (Stroustrup)

kk

Try getting "Teach Yourself Game Programming with DirectX in 21 Days"

It advances on a 2D RPG game showing new skills as you go.

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Original post by Fruny As far as C++ books go, the following five will take you a long way. Accelerated C++ (Koenig, Moo) C++ Primer (Lippman, Lajoie, Moo) The C++ Standard Library (Josuttis) C++ Common Knowledge (Dewhurst) The C++ Programming language (Stroustrup)

I was reading some of the comments of those books and they seem pretty advanced for me. I will just start out with the simple stuff first and build myself up to those when i understand the rest fully.

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Original post by Xpyder Try getting "Teach Yourself Game Programming with DirectX in 21 Days" It advances on a 2D RPG game showing new skills as you go.

ahh now im confused lol

1- Beginning C++ Game Programming (Game Development Series) [Paperback]
By: Michael Dawson

2- Mathematics for 3D Game Programming and Computer Graphics, Second Edition (Game Development Series) - Eric Lengyel

3- Introduction to 3D Game Programming with DirectX 9.0 - Frank D. Luna

4- Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming with DirectX in 21 Days

K, Iam going to stick with that unless anyone thinks there is a serious mistake.

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Original post by StartingPoint I was reading some of the comments of those books and they seem pretty advanced for me.

Not really, no. "The C++ Standard Library" and "The C++ Programming Language" are references. "Accelerated C++" and "C++ Primer" are beginner C++ books though Accelerated C++ is rather steep. "C++ Common Knowledge" is an intermediate C++ book.

A "pretty advanced" book would be something like "C++ Template Metaprogramming".

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I will just start out with the simple stuff first and build myself up to those when i understand the rest fully.

Beware of books with incomplete or inaccurate language coverage. I have also seen far too many books bog you down with pointers and memory management when all you wanted was a string. Sure, that's how they are done internally, but that's not the way to approach them initially.

To say nothing of their dismal standard library coverage.

Actually, IIRC, C++ for Game Programming (take a look at the contents/intro) had areas devoted to the SC++L, and even weighed pros and cons about using various options. I glanced through it at a bookshop, and I remember thinking "If I was starting out, this would be a pretty good book to get".

Actually, after looking at that contents, I would say definately check it out. It's rare to find a beginning book about games (and I distinctly remember the author pointing out where applications of techniques would work in a game) that even mentions the SCL. Also, I remember the style being very approchable.

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Original post by StartingPoint 1- Beginning C++ Game Programming (Game Development Series) [Paperback] By: Michael Dawson 2- Mathematics for 3D Game Programming and Computer Graphics, Second Edition (Game Development Series) - Eric Lengyel 3- Introduction to 3D Game Programming with DirectX 9.0 - Frank D. Luna 4- Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming with DirectX in 21 Days K, Iam going to stick with that unless anyone thinks there is a serious mistake.

I personally own and have read all these books except #2. I don't regret buying any of them except "acclerated c++" which is no longer on your list so I don't think you are making any mistakes now except maybe read book 4 before 3 since it's a lot gentler and easier intro to directx. Only bad thing is you'll be in a chicken/egg dilemma though since book 4 uses dx 8 so you'll probably run into a lot of confusing errors if you use latest dx 9 sdk. book 4 complied fine with latest microsoft sdk when I read it though it is a bit terse since it is a small book. If you get stuck with 3 or 4 I recommend you get "Beginning DirectX 9" by Wendy Jones since it's the easiest book out right now that teaches dx 9 and works with latest DX SDK. It helped me update the code in book 4 to directx version 9 any ways.
p.s. The reason I don't recommend "accelerated c++" unlike alot of others is the number of typos in book spans over 10 pages when I tried reading it and distracted from learning c++ not to mention book uses some very advanced stuff like loop invariants for beginner's intro to c++. Dawson book does same job of teaching c++ the way it's meant to be used by staying away from arrays and preferring vectors and use of STL in a way more enjoyable book.

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Original post by StartingPoint 1- Beginning C++ Game Programming (Game Development Series) [Paperback] By: Michael Dawson 2- Mathematics for 3D Game Programming and Computer Graphics, Second Edition (Game Development Series) - Eric Lengyel 3- Introduction to 3D Game Programming with DirectX 9.0 - Frank D. Luna 4- Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming with DirectX in 21 Days K, Iam going to stick with that unless anyone thinks there is a serious mistake.

#1 is good, but is simply a learning guide to C++. It could be replaced with the highly rated Accelerated C++. I'd drop #4 personally. #2 is on my to readlist, and I've commented that its highly math oriented - reading the reviews again, yeah I its deep into 3D math.. so you'd be expected to know HS math at least. I have it down I should read this first:

Essential Mathematics for Games and Interactive Applications : A Programmer's Guide (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Interactive 3D Technology) (Hardcover)
by James M. Van Verth, Lars M. Bishop

Get #5 without the hesitation since people love to turn it down. It's the best reference book you could ever need on the job. I wouldn't get his earlier editions though.

i just bought

Essential Mathematics for Games and Interactive Applications, First Edition : A Programmer's Guide

Beginning C++ Game Programming (Game Development Series)

C++ Primer (4th Edition)

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After that I intend to pratice a bit and go futher with

Algorithms in C++, Parts 1-4: Fundamentals, Data Structure, Sorting, Searching (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

and will see from there.

C++ Primer (4th Edition)? Why didn't you get 5th edition?

Good choices btw, a c++ beginners book, a good beginners c++ reference, a good math beginners book, and Algorithms in C++ looks good.

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Original post by Dae C++ Primer (4th Edition)? Why didn't you get 5th edition? Good choices btw, a c++ beginners book, a good beginners c++ reference, a good math beginners book, and Algorithms in C++ looks good.

Fruny told me that the 5th edition was different from the 4th. What books should i get after finishing the beginner books?