tricks of windows game programming

I have not read that book, but have read the first edition. But, I would say it depends on what your trying to learn... I thought the first book was ok, and contained alot of general info.

But, since you say it contains DirectX7... I would suggest you find a newer book which contains at least 8.1. DirectX9 is supposed to be almost the same. But I would say the differences between 7 and 8 are huge. I think 7 still had the direct draw section, whereas in 8, it is combined into the Direct3D system.

In any case, the net probably contains more useful information than you will find in that book... Just my opinion tho

[edited by - pjcast on December 5, 2003 5:15:47 PM]

Does this mean DirectDraw is pretty much obsolete and theres not much point using it? I have tricks edition 2 and he says in his book that DirectDraw is key to understanding Direct3d. and he says that he doesnt think that DirectDraw should have been taken out at all. I am still learning how to use DirectX, and to be honest it seems rather complex.

are there any books like the tricks of windows game programming but teaches directx 9. i searched on amazone, cant really find a good one, any suggestions? need one that is game programming newbie friendly.

It is not a big problem since DirectX is based on COM and all the versions are available. You can learn DirectX7 DirectDraw stuff it will be in DirectX forever. It is just that in DirectX8 DirectDraw was deprecated in the SDK you can not use it in the DX8 SDK. If you download or install the DX7 SDK you can still use it fine.

That book is fine for a general introduction and will teach you the basics of making a 2D video game. Once you learn the basics you can move to DX9 and just have to learn how to do 2D in D3D9 now. If you want to learn specifically how to use DX9 there are a lot of intro books available too.

I have both of those books. If you have the money to get both, I would suggest reading volume 1 (the 2D gurus book) before volume 2 (the 3D gurus book). His 3D book uses a lot of stuff from the first book (including his graphics source code) in the second book. In order to save pages, he doesn't go over his graphics library again. The first book lists the functions of his graphics code, whereas he tells you in the 3D book to refer back to the first book. The functions can be figured out if you don't have the first book by looking at the code. Also, even though the 3D book comes with the DirectX 9 SDK, he uses version 8 for the 3D code.

Regardless of if you want to use DirectX 9 or not, the code from both books will still work. Both books contain a lot of excellent information that can be applied to any future version as well. He teaches a lot of the concepts/theory.

[edited by - Feydrex on December 5, 2003 11:35:41 PM]

Get Trick of The Windows Game Programming Gurus before you get the 3D book unless you have a lot of experience with many game programming subjects(Physics, AI, Graphics, Math) The 2nd edition of the book uses DirectX 8.1 the thing is that Microsoft stopped updating DirectDraw after 7.0 which is not outdated its just finished thats all they cant improve it any further. The book also comes with an eBook that covers 3D with Direct3D. It really all depends on your skill. If you have a lot of experience with C/C++ and have made many games then go for the 3D book otherwise i think you are better off with TOTWGPG. I really dont advise for people to start by making 3D games. TOTWGPG has everythign though. Its my Game Programming Bible. I really recommend it for any begginning game progammer. go for it.

i came across a book called
Game Coding Complete
by Mike McShaffry
is this a good book to start?

I bought TOTWGPG a few years back and can honestly say I haven't found it useful at all. There are many better books.

Assuming you have a solid knowledge of C++, I recommend the following:
OpenGL Game Programming by Dave Astle for graphics and most of the basics.
AI Techniques for Game Programming by Mat Buckland for AI.

If there are any other specfic requirements you have (such as an insistence on using DirectX) I am sure there is another book in the same Premier Press series that would be better. Be careful, though, many of those books are really good, but many are also totally worthless. For example, stay away from Beginning Direct3D Game Programming (at least the 1st ed).

Of course, this is all my opinion. To summarize though, stay away from books written by Lamothe. Get the carefully selected Premier Press game programming series book that meets your needs.

[edited by - jeeky on December 6, 2003 11:01:42 AM]

quote:

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Original post by PeterTarkus
It is just that in DirectX8 DirectDraw was deprecated in the SDK you can not use it in the DX8 SDK. If you download or install the DX7 SDK you can still use it fine.

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Wrong. You can use ddraw with any directx sdk. You don''t need the dx7 sdk.

It''s deprecated in the sense that there won''t be any updates to it in future versions of dx. However the ddraw interfaces, header files and libs will always be in future versions of dx, it''s just that they won''t have been updated since dx7.

Bottom line - use ddraw if you want. However, understand that you will be working with outdated technology. But that''s the nature of the graphics industry. Better get used to it!

Capt Logic

quote:

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Original post by jedi2832
i came across a book called
Game Coding Complete
by Mike McShaffry
is this a good book to start?

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It''s an excellent book, but not for beginners. Check out his website it''s got a good forum for the book.

quote:

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Original post by Captain Logic
Wrong. You can use ddraw with any directx sdk. You don''t need the dx7 sdk.

It''s deprecated in the sense that there won''t be any updates to it in future versions of dx. However the ddraw interfaces, header files and libs will always be in future versions of dx, it''s just that they won''t have been updated since dx7.

Bottom line - use ddraw if you want. However, understand that you will be working with outdated technology. But that''s the nature of the graphics industry. Better get used to it!

Capt Logic

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No. The DirectX SDK gives you all of the DirectX versions, so you can use DirectX 7/DirectDraw, but it''s not a part of DirectX 9.

quote:

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Original post by jeeky
I bought TOTWGPG a few years back and can honestly say I haven''t found it useful at all. There are many better books.

Assuming you have a solid knowledge of C++, I recommend the following:
OpenGL Game Programming by Dave Astle for graphics and most of the basics.
AI Techniques for Game Programming by Mat Buckland for AI.

If there are any other specfic requirements you have (such as an insistence on using DirectX) I am sure there is another book in the same Premier Press series that would be better. Be careful, though, many of those books are really good, but many are also totally worthless. For example, stay away from Beginning Direct3D Game Programming (at least the 1st ed).

Of course, this is all my opinion. To summarize though, stay away from books written by Lamothe. Get the carefully selected Premier Press game programming series book that meets your needs.

[edited by - jeeky on December 6, 2003 11:01:42 AM]

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I kind of agree about LaMothe. His writing style is extremely grating. The way he writes everywhere and tries to make out what a dude he is. However there is no denying that there is good stuff in the books. I just wish he would stop writing for 13-year olds.

quote:

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Original post by cowsarenotevil

No. The DirectX SDK gives you all of the DirectX versions, so you can use DirectX 7/DirectDraw, but it''s not a part of DirectX 9.

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To be precise then, Ddraw is part of the dx9 SDK, but not part of the dx9 spec?

i just brought programming rpg in directx by jim adams, the moderator of the directx forum, it teach u from basic, and its direct x 8.0

<< The way he writes everywhere and tries to make out what a dude he is. >>

That''s the best part of the book. The comic relief.

<< I just wish he would stop writing for 13-year olds. >>

Uh, I''m 38 and love Lamothe''s Tricks book. What does that say about me? I need to grow up....

VazGames.com

Phil P

quote:

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Original post by Captain Logic

quote:

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Original post by cowsarenotevil

No. The DirectX SDK gives you all of the DirectX versions, so you can use DirectX 7/DirectDraw, but it's not a part of DirectX 9.

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To be precise then, Ddraw is part of the dx9 SDK, but not part of the dx9 spec?

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Yes, you would use the DX9 SDK just like it was the DX7 SDK... with the exception (as for as I am aware) that the doc's and sample code are all for the latest version.

You would just use the same includes, and interafces that dx7 requires

[edited by - pjcast on December 6, 2003 11:02:10 PM]