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The Awesome Power of Direct 3D/Direct X
 
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The Awesome Power of Direct 3D/Direct X [Illustrated] (Paperback)

by Peter J. Kovach (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 702 pages
  • Publisher: Manning; illustrated edition edition (April 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1884777473
  • ISBN-13: 978-1884777479
  • Product Dimensions: 22.4 x 17.8 x 4.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,345,748 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #54 in  Books > Computing & Internet > Microsoft Windows > Programming > Direct3D & DirectX
  • See Complete Table of Contents

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Product Description

Product Description
By showing how the various commands should be used and how they should interact, this book teaches not just what Direct 3D commands are available, but why they do what they do and how to put them to best use. The CD included contains approximately 150 3D objects.

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Customer Reviews

42 Reviews
5 star:
 (11)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (9)
1 star:
 (10)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.0 out of 5 stars (42 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to learn the Direct3D SDK and more...., 15 Oct 1997
By A Customer
This book is excellent for anyone who has a firm understanding of C/++ programming. Pros: Source code well commented, EVERYTHING explained, no wrapper classes (YAY), author maintains GOOD website, More than just Direct3D ways to use what you learn, Microsoft's Direct3D Retained mode reference is in the back. Cons: Code not written in C++, but in C, couple of bugs on the CD (however the author's web site solves all that), Not good for inexperienced programmer. That's all this book rools. buy it if you wanna learn Direct3D Retained mode. email me if you've got questions
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Code is quite confusing but some topics are a bit helpful., 16 Dec 1999
By A Customer
Its a book thats aimed for a person who has a lot of time to waste in the understanding of code not making any sense, especially the code pertaining to terrain generation, which is very confusing and without any explanation. Secondly this book focuses basically on the retained mode and just copies the documentation of DirectX5 SDK help for immediate mode. One good thing about it is code and explanation handling of joystick and sound. Apart from it I don't find it any more useful. One can learn better reading the SDK help and code for other things.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Basically weak., 20 May 1998
By A Customer
If you are looking for this book to actually help you jumpstart into the world of Direct3D, you are going to be disappointed.

He just starts firing through various API calls without giving the reader the fundamental background necessary to understand the why's of the API calls.

One of my favorite examples, from chapter 3 is:

"Destination color keying is probably a new concept to many of you. Destination color keying is used to specify a color, or color range, which will either be replaced, during blitting, or covered up, when using overlays, on our destination. When a destination surface has an associated color key, only the pixels matching the specified color key will be changed (during blitting), or covered up (when using overlays)."

Of course, in chapter 3, he is just trying to teach you how to initialize the library. What destination color keying has to do with creating a window escapes me. Apparently it escapes Mr Kovachs as well, because he doesn't mention it again.

I suppose that if your goal is to cut and paste someone elses code to make a working application, his works (almost) as well as anyone's. Unless you have inhuman patience, you aren't actually going to learn anything from this book.

Oh yeah, the install program throws the samples and DirectX SDK into seemingly random locations of your hard disk. Even better, they don't compile, at least not under MSVC++ 4.x.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Retained Mode is Great!!
...Well, if you want to use retained mode. And if you do, this book is an adequate introduction. Sadly this is not the panacea for people longing for a book to explain... Read more
Published on 31 Jul 2001

1.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the Money!
This book is nothing more than a rewrite of the D3D SDK documents. Funny it mentions the chrome wrap feature but never expalins how to implement it. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars Sorry. I couldn't find the MINUS five stars option.
When I decided to buy this book, I was excited because it covered a lot of ground. Before you click the "Add to Shopping Cart" button, there are some points you should... Read more
Published on 9 Jun 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars It was alright. I had to look over some of the code though..
Basically, it was a good book. The code the author gives you, is somewhat confusing and some of the lines are totally pointless. Read more
Published on 4 Jun 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource to get you into the world of Direct3D
This books starts you out on the intricacies of Windows programming in several chapters then launches you head on, straight into building your first Direct3D program. Read more
Published on 16 April 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Execellent information on Direct3D Retained Mode
Execellent information on Direct3D Retained Mode and some good information on Direct3D Immediate Mode. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars PURE CHEESE
CHEESE CHEESE CHEESE. I learned more from watching south park than from reading through these examples, and trying to compile the code. Read more
Published on 3 Mar 1999

2.0 out of 5 stars Good Reprint of the API.
Literally half of this book was devoted to reprinting the interface methods for the various Direct3D COM objects. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Waste Your Time
I have many problems with this book.

First, it deals primarily with D3D Retained Mode. There just aren't that many uses for the Retained Mode, other than writing useless... Read more

Published on 23 Feb 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars Useless, Simple Useless
I really feel sad for the trees that had to be sacrificed to print this book. The information here is more of a hindrance than help as NOTHING much is explained (unlike other 3D... Read more
Published on 18 Feb 1999

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