CosmicDashie

This is a thread about matrices, not about API choice.

CosmicDashie, I suggest a copy of Mathematics for 3d Game Programming and Computer Graphics. It's a bit expensive, but it's worth every cent because it explains everything about a ton of different topics from vectors to matrices all the way to the more advanced stuff, and how it all fits together. And it will be a great reference to have on your shelf.

the book you mention here, is this the one? http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Programming-Computer-Graphics-Edition/dp/1435458869/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Glad i posted about this here though, lots of helpful websites, thanks everyone! gonna be something i really need to learn now

also  slicer4ever...

(\

In order to understand what a matrix is and why matrices are important in graphics and game development, you need to understand what a vector is. Do you understand what a vector is in mathematics? -- (a vector in mathematics not in the C++ standard library in which a 'vector' is a confusing name for a dynamic array) If not I would start there.

Now if im understanding right (quite a few concepts im remembering here from physics and math) math vectors are these: v = (a, b, c) in which case yes i do have an understanding of them

Can I just quickly mention that microsoft will no longer support XNA, so it's sort of dead - http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/186001/reflections_on_xna.php

 

As to your real question, there are many resources to learn about matrices, or linear algebra in general.

 

I personally really enjoyed these three:

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/math/linear-algebra

2. http://programmedlessons.org/VectorLessons/vectorIndex.html

3. http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~gewang/projects/darth/stuff/quat_faq.html

I did hear about XNA being discontinued, but i understand there is an open source version out there too, aside from all that im messing with it just so i can get better with programming as a whole