Hi guys, I've found a book that sounds appealing but has no reviews (none that I can find anyway), if you have read it could you please tell me the pros/cons of it.

Thankyou.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Game-Engine-Design-Implementation-Thorn/dp/0763784516/ref=sr_1_24?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298021319&sr=1-24

Thanks, it looks very interesting.

I found this very small review:

"This work is a fairly advanced course resource discussing game engine programming; most other related textbooks are at a more introductory programming level. Thorn, an author, a game developer, a mathematician, and a programmer, discusses key components of a typical game engine and provides a valuable examination of game engine architecture. Another significant advantage is that Thorn uses the C++ programming language--an excellent choice because most commercial game engines are written in C++. Students who are thinking about careers in game engine programming must know C++ at an expert level. Other key components discussed are graphics libraries and physics algorithms...This work is a very good course resource for intermediate-level programmers and an excellent stepping-stone to more advanced topics."[/quote]

However it was from the publishers website (http://www.jblearning.com/catalog/9780763784515/), so it might be a little biased.

Thanks. I have this book but wanted something with a concrete implementation. And thanks for letting me know the american site has some reviews, it didn't a few weeks ago when I last checked.

Thanks. I have this book but wanted something with a concrete implementation. And thanks for letting me know the american site has some reviews, it didn't a few weeks ago when I last checked.

Hi, I have this book and have read it from cover to cover. I like it have much, but there are serious downsides that one should consider.

the great thing that made the book worth every cent to me: it dissected a game engine and implemented it from the main file to the sound and render engine. I was having really a hard time trying to figure out a good game engine design by myself and the book was an eye opener. It cut through a lot of research.

the down side is the implementation. if you follow the code presented in the book you will find that it is buggy and much more simple than the one found at the companion's site. If you don't have a good grasp of C++ and some software architecture under your belt, the code (presented in the book) won't work and you won't be able to extend it further. Anyway, that was a good training for me, albeit a time expensive one.


cheers!

Thanks for that. Really helpful. I have a good grasp on oo and software architecture and know c++ well. Perhaps you no longer have a need for the book and want to sell it? ;-)