I want to know if getting the Game Programming Kit 5.0 is worth it. I think it comes with Game Studio. I downloaded the demo version of Game Studio and it seems pretty powerful for a fifty dollar program. What I want to know if it is worth getting or should I just save for the more popular 3DS Max and a nice terrain creator like Bryce 5 (or can 3DSMAX do terrain?)? I''m going to be a programmer ''cause my artistic talents aren''t very powerful. I also want to be using the same software (or at least a compatible one) as everyone that will work in my makeshift group after I finish this C++ book (if I finish, I still need to do the exercises from chapter 2-6). Midnight Gaming - www.midnightgaming.com

I believe that kit comes with Lamonthe''s ''Tricks ...Windows Game Programming..." book. If it does, then its well worth it.

I think it also comes with the intro version of MSVC.

I''d stay away from Game Studio if I were you. You won''t learn how to program using it.

I had them send it to me to review. I haven''t really dug into it yet, but I can at least tell you what it includes:

1. Game Studio 5.12 Standard. As far as I can tell, it''s the full version. As the others have said, if you''re trying to become a game programmer, this won''t help you much, but it''s kinda fun to play with.
   
2. Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0, Introductory Edition. The only problem with the Intro edition is that, AFAIK, you can''t distribute anything you make with it, but it''s good for learning.
   
3. Game Design: Secrets of the Sages, Third Edition. I liked the two previous editions. They weren''t must-have books, but they''re interesting.
   
4. DirectX 8.0 SDK. Saves you the download time, but I''m not sure why they used 8.0 and not 8.1.
   
5. Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus on the CD. Obviously, this is a highly recommended book, but the fact that it''s on CD in this package limits the value of the package somewhat.
   

To me, VC++ is the most valuable thing in the package. If you don''t mind reading TotWGPG on CD (or printing it out), then it''s a good edition as well. The other elements are nice extras, but other than Sages (which only retails for about $15-20, at least for the previous versions), they don''t add much value to the package, IMO.

Overall, I''d say that if you''re a total beginner, don''t have a compiler, and don''t mind reading Tricks on CD, you might consider picking this up. On the other hand, Tricks *also* comes with the same version of VC++, for about the same overall price (maybe even a bit cheaper). I guess it just depends on whether you''d rather have the extras, or Tricks in actual book format.