Beginning C++ Game Programming by Michael Dawson
Published May 2004
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Summary Interactivity—the unique feature that sets games apart from other forms of entertainment. The power of interactivity lies in the programming that occurs behind the scenes. If you’re ready to jump into the world of programming for games, "Beginning C++Game Programming" will get you started on your journey, providing you with a solid foundation in the game programming language of the professionals. As you cover each programming concept, you’ll create small games that demonstrate your new skills. Wrap things up by combining each major concept to create an ambitious multiple player game. Get ready to master the basics of game programming with C++!
Features
Learn C++, the standard language of game programming professionals as well as hobbyists, game programming from this unique gaming perspective
Written for the beginner, this book assumes no previous programming experience
Presented in a friendly, but professional, tone
Includes projects to emphasize what has been learned
Table of Contents Introduction
Chapter 1 – Types, Variables, and Standard I/O: Lost Fortune
Chapter 2 – Truth, Branching, and The Game Loop: Guess My Number
Chapter 3 – For Loops, Strings, and Arrays: Word Jumble
Chapter 4 – The Standard Template Library: Hangman
Chapter 5 – Functions: Mad-Lib
Chapter 6 – References: Tic-Tac-Toe
Chapter 7 – Pointers: Tic-Tac-Toe 2.0
Chapter 8 – Classes: Critter Caretaker
Chapter 9 – Advanced Classes and Dynamic Memory: Game Lobby
Chapter 10 – Inheritance and Polymorphism: Blackjack
Having been in the industry a while, I often get emails or instant messages from new programmers who are looking for some direction. The most often-asked question I get is "what kind of game should I start writing?" My standard suggestion, and one that's 100% guaranteed to disappoint, is "Tic Tac Toe". Unfortunately, most new programmers are weaned on top-shelf game titles and don't want to start with anything less than something a bit more ambitious than the latest 3D shooter or real-time-strategy offering. . .and nine times out of ten, those newbie programmers ignore my advice to start with Tic Tac Toe and start designing their 3D magnum opus.
And not yet has one returned to me to show me his completed masterpiece, go figure.
And that's where I must commend Beginning C++ Game Programming. It doesn't show you how to make the latest whiz-bang 3D shooter. It doesn't even show you how to make an arcade game. Heck, it doesn't even show you how to make a game with graphics! It does, however, show you how to make Tic Tac Toe. . .in chapter six.
Beginning C++ Game Programming is about programming for beginners. It's all about the foundational stuff that's second nature to a seasoned programmer --stuff like if-then statements, while-loops, variable types, function calls, classes and objects. It's the bedrock foundation that every programmer needs but so many game programmers want to skip in favor of the sexier stuff like 3D graphics and sound and other things that are a recipe of failure if your foundation is wobbly.
Beginning C++ Game Programming has plenty of good examples, virtually all of which are text-based word games. The games, however, are complete and playable and easy to follow and show off progressively greater and greater technique. The most advanced technique in the book is object-inheritance/polymorphism, which I consider sufficiently advanced for a user to graduate to bigger and better things.
Also nice is how the author treats STL as a given and doesn't give it second-class-citizen status by placing it in an appendix or an "advanced techniques" chapter. STL is a great solution for a lot of head-scratching questions that new programmers have (like "why can't I resize an array?"), so teaching it early on is a definite plus.
In years past I used to recommend Who's Afraid of C++ and its sequel for new programmers. It was the first text I found that passed "the wife test", which is to say that my wife could follow it easily. Beginning C++ Game Programming should similarly pass "the wife test" and, as a bonus, has game-oriented examples to make it more palatable to wannabe game programmers. My only "want" for this book is a sequel. The book is just about the right length (330 pages) for someone to learn without losing interest or becoming lost. A second book for the ambitious would be welcome.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, a couple of those newbie programmers have returned to me to show off their completed Tic Tac Toe game. They were actually pretty good.
I am experienced in programming in php so alot of the concept were not foreign to me. However the concepts that were new were explained well and I was able to follow along and create every code in the book and have it compile under the Compiler that comes with Dev-C++. I learned alot and I feel this book is a great stepping stone for the begginer.
If you are already an experienced programmer in other languages and familiar with most basic concepts like variable, arrays, functions, etc. but aren't comfortable with c++ syntax, then this book is for you!
The author quickly takes you through the basic syntax for the various aspects of c++ programming required by game developers and gives you concise descriptions and examples. The book delivers on what it promises.
If you are an absolute beginner to programming, this book is probably above your level as the topics are covered very quickly in order to squeeze the sheer volume of topics the author covers into 300 pages that include many code examples. I can't stress this enough, the perfect audience for this book are experienced programmers who know little or no c++ but want to dive right in.
If your a 'newb' to the development scene, I can honestly say I know exactly what your going through to find a book that doesnt start you in a quick-sand pit.
I am -very- happy with the way that this book presented itself and I highly encourage anybody with the desire to program games to pick it up. What I really get a kick out of is that every example in the book is revolved around games.
By the time your finished with this book you will easily be able to code a text based RPG using TONS of concepts.
I read this book and knew nothing about programming when I started, now that I'm finished I know the basics of game programming and have moved on to "Beginning OpenGL Game Programming". So if you know nothing about game programming and really want to learn, this will get you started. BTW, I've heard people say that some of the code doesn't compile, I have found some typos but I wouldn't reduce the rating because of it.
This book was recommended to me, and i'm glad it was. Teaches you how to do even the simplist of tasks, but doesnt make you feel stupid at the same time. Excellent book if you know nothing at all about programming.
I'll admit, I was someone who wanted to dive headfirst into making Half-Life 2 to start. But I'm glad I held back. This book has proved to be a perfect tutorial to get started with. It remains challenging and interesting while not boring you, especially since each new concept is linked with how it applies to game development.
Very nice book to read. Quite interesting to read. Now I mainly use it as a reference to check if my code is right or not. I think it was pretty easy to understand, as the author explains all of the code. However, I wish that this book could have gotten into some simple 2d graphics. Other than that, it was really quite good! Go and buy it if you are new to C++.
I've recently finished this book a week ago and I'm well on my way to learning about Win32 now. The book gave me everything I needed to know in order to get me up and running smoothly with C++. The chapters are very well organized and all the projects are very well explained. Not to mention, the ‘traps’ will tell you about pitfalls you can encounter if you’re not too careful.
I'd highly recommended this book to anyone who is thinking about learning C++ whether or not they plan to go into game development.
I used it as a secondary text and so it was a great supplement to my coursework. I especially appreciated his modular approach from the beginning - some of the other C++ books out there weren't as OOP friendly as this one seemed to be (or maybe it was just that it helped open my eyes as to what classes are really for and can do)...
I highly recommend it...
And the author answers questions directly on his website...
This is a very good book, great for beginners. There are better choices but this book would get anybody programming in no time. I would recommend buying it
I have recently tried to begin C++ with the hope of moving ingo games asap. I bought "C++ Primer" which this site recommends as a first book, but it kinda threw me in the deep end and I'm not that good of a swimmer. Then I tried "C++ for dummies" which is really basic and as the title suggests, its for dummies :-) Then I was looking through some of the titles available at a local dymocs store and was browsing over Beginning C++ Game Programming and thought it was a fairly straight foreward book with SIMPLE GAMING concepts for the COMPLETE BEGINNER and reconed it was for me, but when I put it back on the shelf to come back to I realised that the author had the exact same name as me, Michael Dawson, so I really had to buy it, and I must say that it has been the single biggest help in my jouney into game programming.
Got this book as part of the XGDX 2004 book package this year. Before I even left the hotel room for home, the night before I left San Jose, I cracked the book open, download Dev-C++ for the first time and was up and coding in no time. I have quite a growing library of game programming and C/C++ books, but I have to admit this is the best one I've seen for new game programmers. The first few chapters basically get you up and started with the Dev-C++ Compiler, which is free. I was a bit concerned when it advised not using Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 (this is what I've used all along up till now). But after getting use to Dev-C++ its not my 2nd favorite alltime compiler. I give this book 5 stars for introducing me to worthy new compiler and having code that actually works with the compiler it recommends. Something that MVC++ can not always claim.
i thought this book was a great resource for a beginner. most c++ books out there teach you banking software or a teachers grading system but this book uses only game examples which keeps gamers interested in the topics. every chyou must chapter was well explained and virtually every line of code explained. he shows every way to declare and use things in the same example and never lets you get lost. every chapter ends with a game that you must create and leaves any noob feeling like they accomplished something at chapters end. i even did the practice excercises at the end of the chapters.
the only thing that i wish this book did was maybe go into some simple 2d graphics. other than that i am looking in to "beginning opengl" by the same publishers. if it is explained as well as this book i will get it in no time.
Well Ive recently got this book on the reviews that this site has and I must say they arn't lieing. This book is great for a beginner. Topics that my "Learn C++ in 21 days" gave me a head acke where well explained here and I began to esialy pick them up. And even the ones I havn't even gotten too with that book are easy to pick up. Though the book is much smaller (Mostly because the appendacies most books have are on CD not in the actual book.) It Doesn't seam to leave out any important info required for understanding.
In short if your a wanabe game programer and want something to get you started and not give you pains. Get this book. ^^ Then maybe a more complete book like the 21 days book.
This book assumes you have zero knowledge on the C++ langauge and also assumes you'd like to learn programming for the purpose of making games in the end.
It starts you out on the ground floor with the very basics of programming; variables, loops, arrays, and into the STL. Every other page are very short and simple examples, and nearly every single line is explained in a very clear manner and they ALL deal with a game of some sort making it VERY easy to swallow.
I have picked up many many Beginning C++ books, but i've never made it through more than a few chapters without being lost, or completely bored with the topics. This book, is simply amazing if you're into games and want to learn - It wont bore you at all, and leaves you craving for more after every chapter. Every example in the book is clearly explained nearly line by line.
Being a newcomer to C++, this book has amazed many times with how simple some topics are that other books have made look so hard.
For me, I think this was a great place to start with C++ - Period. Not just for games, but for the whole language. The games within the book were just a vehical to get the points across in a format that is great for the Nintendo generation and beyond who want to check it out.
I am currently teaching myself c++. I have read "C++ programming - for the absolute beginner" , "Visual C++ 6 for Dummies" , the actual manual that comes with Borland C++ compiler and the teach yourself C++ builder that also came with Borland C++. None of which did the absolute beginner any justice. That being me. This book on the other hand starts from the very begining. Showing examples, traps, and tips. It gives you enough material to help one understand the concept behind every single term, operator, and keywords. It prepares the unknowing for the tough task of unerstanding pointers by first showing you iterators. This book is also of a smaller size so you arent shocked. But still maintains the ability to show you what you need to know. And I mean step by step. Preparing you for more indepth alternatives as you progress. Alot of the other books show you how to do it in Visual C++ which is fine if you already know how to code. This book is also organized in a manner that allows you to find help when you need it. The only workaround I had to use was making things work in Visual C++. Which isnt that big of a deal because it was only smaller details. And since this book actually comes with a compiler even the newest of the newest will be able to compile programs. The author made sure I knew that there was a free compiler on the included CD ..... several times. And another one of the best features of this book is the fact that it waits until the very end of the book to show you how to use classes. I feared classes after reading the other books. But I can see how they make life easier and reading code mush easier. So am I programming yet? simply yes. I actually finally got a program to compile with shooting errors at me on every single line. Nothing worthy of posting mind you, but programs none the less. This book in a unspoken manner shows you to start small making it easier to work into the bigger stuff and build your creativity while giving you the tools and knowledge to complete even the most daunting task. OH before i forget ... its not boring either. The borland manual wasnt meant to be read I dont think. This book, however, motivates you and holds you in suspense. Not to knock the other books but including code in the beginning of a book that you dont discuss until later isnt wise. It makes for mass confusion. I hope by reading this you have gotten my point. If not .. here Ill make it plain n simple ... If you DO NOT know how to code and want to learn read this book, use this book to PRACTICE. Its worth every penny.
This is a great book to buy in addition to a more comprehensive C++ book (it covers alot of material in a small amount of pages). While I already new most of the material in this book (although I did learn a few things I didn't know before), it's nice to actually see how the language can be applied to make a game.
I am a Java programmer who did some C and C++ about 4 years ago, wanted to get into gaming and thought I should refresh my knowledge of C++. This book looked like it would do a little bit of both, and it certainly did remind me how much (ie everything) I had forgotten about C++. Easy to read and pretty concise I have flown through it and found it a great help.
It really doesn't have a great deal to do with game programming though as it is mainly a C++ beginners guide, with a tiny bit of game programming hints and tips thrown in.
All in all I would say a misleading title (hence no 5 stars), but an excellent C++ introductory text and I would buy from this author again in a heartbeat.
An excellent book for both beginners and programmers with only a little experience. Teaches you everything from displaying text to the screen to dynamic memory and advanced classes. Is very easy to follow. Shows you the code and breaks down every line of it with a thorough explanation. Definatley a worthy buy.
G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit 2006
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