Hi everyone, I finally decided to start doing what had initially started my passion for programming - game development. A little background about myself: Started college in basic engineering - meaning taking all the math and physics classical engineers need. After two years transferred to computer science and finished by taking all required CS courses to graduate with the CS degree. After graduation got a job as a software engineer, but kept thinking about game programming since then. Why am I telling you all of the above? To get a more accurate advice on how I should proceed, because I am not a novice programmer and have a pretty good background in math, a bit rusty though, but planning to work on that. I've done some research and found a few books that I think should give me a good start. Listing them in the order in which I am going to read them: 1) http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-XNA-3-0-Game-Programming/dp/1430218177/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top After browsing through this book it seemed like a good introductory book into the game programming techniques and maybe some design patterns. 2) http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-3D-Game-Programming-DirectX/dp/1598220535/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1RGZPMXUKKIYN&colid=24TTA51LWU7HA I liked this book because it explains the math behind the functions, which I really liked and seems to fit in with my final goal. 3) http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Game-Example-Mat-Buckland/dp/1556220782/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I11Z8SYNBT5937&colid=24TTA51LWU7HA Following the previous two books I should have enough knowledge to make some fairly complex games to get involved with the basic AI. My final goal is to have enough knowledge to be a project lead at some point and be involved with the very core of the game being developed, but know it all around as well - game architect I guess would fit the bill. Does this seem like a good approach, or do you think there is a better set of books I should read?

My question was about the books and the order of reading, I guess I should have phrased it better. Thank you for your response. Can you recommend any books on game design patterns to add to my list?