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Beginning DirectX Graphics Programming (Game Development)
 
 
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Beginning DirectX Graphics Programming (Game Development) (Paperback)

by Wolfgang Engel (Author) "Before Widows, DOS was the most popular operating system for the PC ..." (more)
2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 528 pages
  • Publisher: Prima Tech; Pap/Cdr edition (15 Mar 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0761531912
  • ISBN-13: 978-0761531913
  • Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 18.7 x 3.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,041,622 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #31 in  Books > Computing & Internet > PC & Video Games > Programming > Graphics
    #42 in  Books > Computing & Internet > PC & Video Games > Programming > Direct
    #49 in  Books > Computing & Internet > Microsoft Windows > Programming > Direct3D & DirectX

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Product Description

Book Description
Approximately 50 to 60% of videogames published this year were written with Direct3D, now called DirectX Graphics. With DirectX, programmers are able to expose graphics to their Windows system and create real-time graphics applications. Beginning DirectX Graphics Programming covers everything that beginning game programmers are hungry to learn about 3D graphics programming using Microsoft's DirectX. You will learn how to use visual effects using multi-texturing bump mapping. Taking users from a history of DirectX Graphics and its functionalities to hardcore programming topics such as collision detection and physics modeling, the information contained in this book makes it a must-have tool for any serious game programmer's library.
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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
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 (2)
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 (1)
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 (1)
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 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.8 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Useless as a reference, 10 Jul 2001
By Michael Platings (Cambridge, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This book tends to skip over large parts of the Direct3D API, such as basic initialisation and one of the most interesting aspects of Version 8 - vertex & pixel shaders. Instead of covering those aspects, a large portion of the book is wasted by the C++ and Windows programming appendices - if you're trying to learn Direct3D before you learn those then you're trying to run before you can walk. The book is very poorly structured ("The Basics" is chapter 5), making it difficult to navigate.

If you're looking to make fairly simple graphics programs with minimal learning effort, this could be the book for you. If you want a firm understanding of the syntax and semantics of Direct3D then I recommend you stick with the various (free) resources around the internet.

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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars This is less of a book, more the authors notepad of ideas..., 16 Jul 2001
By A Customer
I foolishly bought this book because it is one of the few "beginner" books available for DX8. What a mistake.

Firstly, the layout of the book is awful. Side notes and important boxouts are littered across the pages, at seemingly random points, so you cannot logically read through the text. A basic typesetting program seems to be unavailable, as text starts inches from the top of the page and runs off the bottom.

Secondly, it seems as though this is a "first draft" - at the bottom of one of the pages is the sentance "Need to put this in caps", clearly referring to an important statement previous.

Thirdly, the words "logical progression" seem to escape the author. He jumps randomly from topic to topic, never fully explaining himself. And worse, he commits the cardinal sin - includes totally irrelevant "example" source code whilst explaining other examples.

Fourthly, with computers, the watchword is "precision". Under a certain condition, your PC will either do something or it won't. 1 or 0. Thats how it works. So when you read a sentance that starts "Direct3D -may- return a value", you know the game is up. "May Return"?!?! Does it or doesn't it? Under what conditions?..Luckily I was able to return the book. I suggest you look elsewhere for a DX8 resource.

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3 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Could be better, 23 Aug 2001
By Norman (In a computing lesson) - See all my reviews
I have given this book 5 stars because it deserves about 3-4, and u all gave it 1 or 2.

It may jump around eraticaly and miss large chunks... but have u found any beter??

It is not realy an intermediate guide but it is way better than the SDK Docs and covers many aspects of DX Graphics. It may not cover pixel shaders but as a beginner i am not interested in writeing assembly code for my graphics card!!

The iratic writeing style is unavoidable due to the vast intercenectivity of the subject.

In conclution it is perfect for what i wan't - a breef overvew and litle bits of detale on the simpler parts.

PS Mind my spelling (it can often cause perminant eye damage)

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Full of holes and errors
This book covers Direct3D 8 - which is great. However it overlooks the most revolutionary features of Direct3D 8: vertex shaders and pixel shaders. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2001

3.0 out of 5 stars Like the title suggests its a beginners book
It's a good book for getting started with Direct3D and it covers DX8 which is bang up to date as I write this, but doesn't teach you to do anything very exciting. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and very easy to read.
This book is very well written and has the same informal writing style common to Andre LaMothes books (probably because he was the editor). Read more
Published on 4 May 2001 by martinuhrin@lineone.net

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