Black Art Windows Programming Book

A text/CD-ROM guide to using WinG, Microsoft's game programming toolkit, for intermediate to advanced C programmers with some DOS game programming experience. Tutorial chapters provide development examples, discuss code-writing concepts, and explain how to manage memory and incorporate graphics and sound. The CD-ROM contains code, bitmaps, sound files, and utilities, plus a battle game based on the sprite engine developed in the book. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This book is an introduction to Computer Science and the craft of computer programming. The book is a little outdated now as it focuses on third generation languages such as C rather than modern languages such as Java however it is still a good general introduction to Computer Science and programming..

Until recently, most independent or hobbyist game programming took place on the Microsoft Windows platform. Mac OS and Linux weren't nearly as popular, and programming on home game consoles was out of the question. Today's game-programming world is more diverse. THE BLACK ART OF MULTIPLATFORM GAME PROGRAMMING is for developers working across a variety of platforms-Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, etc. Using SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer), a cross-platform software library, this book features demos and video tutorials for each chapter, and, in addition to multiplatform game programming, covers game engine development, software design, and programming a complete game. Get started in cross-platform development today with THE BLACK ART OF MULTIPLATFORM GAME PROGRAMMING.

Written by a master programmer, this book explains in detail what's behind the programming of those complex, mesmerizing video games. LaMothe makes clarity a priority, discussing math, projections, hidden surface removal, lighting, and transformation in an easy-to-understand language, and concludes by showing how to assemble all the pieces of a game into a complete product. 30 screen dumps.

The first part of this book covers playing-field design, creating and moving objects using the Windows BitBlt API, detecting collisions, and adding sound, with example code given with each topic. Part 2 covers in-depth everything that game developers should know to create addicting action games. Part 3 contains several game projects.

Often referred to as the “black art” because of its complexity and uncertainty, software estimation is not as difficult or puzzling as people think. In fact, generating accurate estimates is straightforward—once you understand the art of creating them. In his highly anticipated book, acclaimed author Steve McConnell unravels the mystery to successful software estimation—distilling academic information and real-world experience into a practical guide for working software professionals. Instead of arcane treatises and rigid modeling techniques, this guide highlights a proven set of procedures, understandable formulas, and heuristics that individuals and development teams can apply to their projects to help achieve estimation proficiency. Discover how to: Estimate schedule and cost—or estimate the functionality that can be delivered within a given time frame Avoid common software estimation mistakes Learn estimation techniques for you, your team, and your organization * Estimate specific project activities—including development, management, and defect correction Apply estimation approaches to any type of project—small or large, agile or traditional Navigate the shark-infested political waters that surround project estimates When many corporate software projects are failing, McConnell shows you what works for successful software estimation.

Written by Computer Scientist Andre' LaMothe, the world's best selling game programming author, The Black Art of Video Game Console Design breaks new ground in game development by bridging the alien worlds of hardware and software together for the first time! The Black Art of Video Game Console Design is written for the programmer and/or hobbyist interested in software game development, but also wants to understand the hardware games are implemented on. This book assumes no prior knowledge of Electrical Engineering or Computer Architecture, but takes you on a breathtaking journey from atomic semiconductor theory to the design and construction of basic video game consoles that you can build and write your own games for! Included in the book is the entire design of numerous embedded game systems including the XGameStation systems and much more. The Black Art of Video Game Console Design with 800+ pages covers everything you need to know to design your own game console including: * Basic atomic physics and semiconductor theory primer. * Introduction to circuit analysis; current, voltage, and resistance. * Analog design using discrete components. * Digital electronics and Boolean algebra. * Physical hardware construction and prototyping techniques. * Combinational logic and advanced integrated circuit building blocks. * Finite state machine design. * Computer architecture and design. * Understanding and using microprocessors and microcontrollers. * Developing software for embedded systems. * Designing video (NTSC/VGA), audio, and input device systems. * Interfacing and communications. * The complete design and discussion of numerous game systems including the XGameStations! CD-ROM Contains * PCB and circuit simulation tools. * All necessary data sheets. * Demos and source code. * Complete designs to numerous embedded systems including the XGameStations.