Books on game programming

Game programming books for DOS? I think you''ve been locked away in a closet too long :p Anyway,if you insist on a DOS book,then I would recommend Andre''s "Black Art of 3D Game Programming" However,as a brand-spanking new newbie to the games arena,I would suggest "Windows Game Programming for Dummies" Don''t be intimidated by the title.This is an EXCELLENT book to get you understanding about what goes on in the game world and what goes into a game.

Umm...did that answer your question? :p

Hmm, I don''t really like the idea of starting with Win programming. I''ve seen how it works and making my first game is complicated enough! Are there any good online tutorials?

That is not dead which can eternal lie,
And with strange aeons even death may die.

Well, I am assuming you are very familiar with C/C++, or another language of your choice before you start game programming. And game programming in DOS, isn''t nearly as easy as windows. In windows, and more specifically DirectX for games, you have nice functions to get you into any full screen resolution that you would like, where as in DOS, you are looking at "some fun in the world of Assembly language programming." Which is hard as heck.

Anyway, after that long disertation, make sure you have a language down good. Then once you do, I would suggest Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus (Andrè better thank me one of these days... I plus his book to everyone I meet, but it is a GREAT book). That should give yuo a nice start.

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ShiningKnightDX
NovaStorm Games
Project: Neo Phoenix

A good book to get is "Programmming HOLD MY HAND and SUCK ME OFF on occasion". by: Jack handy.

He is great in telling you all he knows and has a great CD full of recreational porn for taking breathers in the learning process. I highly recommend this book for all new-bees espeically game MANAGERS with a great RPG idea...

Thanks

I started with The Black Art of 3D Game Programming by Andre Lamothe (as mentioned by TheGecko).

It was a decent way to get grounded in the basics of game programming (ie. double buffering, basic game structure), but the results were, well......DOS . Looking back though, I probably would have done something like:

1. Get a good handle on C/C++
2. Learn Windows programming (thoroughly)
3. Learn DirectX

Instead of:

1. Learn Java
2. Decide Java sucks (speed wise)
3. Learn C++
4. Learn game programming in DOS
5. Write a game that looks pretty decent on your video card once you figure out how to implement bank switching, but your friends can''t play it because they all have different video cards (and you don''t know about VESA)
6. Decide DOS sucks
7. Learn Windows programming
8. Try to learn DirectX
9. Give up on DirectX, learn OpenGL
10. Get tired of half assed API calls for sound and input,
learn DirectX
11. Spend your remaining years fine tuning DirectX wrappers, trying to get that interface "just right"

(RabidOcelot gets whacked over the head with a 2x4)

Oh, was I rambing? Sorry.

It''s actually cool that you want to start from the ground up (as most people just jump in wanting to make Diablo/Quake/etc.).

Anyway, at some point do yourself a favor and pick up Programming the Windows API by Charles Petzold. I practically sleep with that thing under my pillow (It''s my hetero life-mate, if you will).

Did I just type hetero life-mate? That''s enough out of me...

Hope that helps.

-Rabid.

So what I should really do is:
1. Get a good grip of C/C++
2. Learn Windows programming
3. Learn DirectX

Is DOS really THAT useless?

Also, should I buy "Tricks of the game programming gurus" or "Tricks of the Windows game programming gurus"?

Edited by - Nyarlathotep on April 14, 2001 9:06:19 AM