Beschreibung:
It’s hard to believe the runaway popularity XNA has achieved in the short period of time since it was released in late 2006. At that time, I got together with a couple friends to check out (with some trepidation, I must confess) whether games really could be written in managed code. We were very excited, and everyone wanted to know if you could get the same benefits you obtain from writing games using managed code as you do when creating standard Windows programs. We knew people in the game programming community were worried about managed code’s execution speed, and many people simply didn’t believe a “real” game could be created using XNA. As time passed, though, more and more people began to realize the truth: there are a great number of benefits to using managed code, and the performance concerns are exaggerated. You haven’t experienced the full potential of the Xbox 360 or, indeed, Windows until you’ve created your own homegrown games for these innovative systems—and with the XNA Framework, the only limit is your imagination! From an educational perspective, due to its simplicity, XNA is also a great choice for anyone who wants to learn or teach the C# programming language. That’s not to mention the fact that game development offers an excellent common ground for collaboration between computer science students and their counterparts in other disciplines such music, the arts, design, and so on.
XNA programming is an increasingly popular way to create games for the Microsoft Xbox 360, and the latest version, XNA 3.0, is due for release early in 2009. This book provides a fast-paced introduction to XNA 3.0 and the C# language used with it.
Would you like to create your own games, but never have the time to dig into the details of multimedia programming? Now you don't have to! XNA 3.0 makes it simple to create your own games, which will run on your PC and Xbox 360 console. Even if you don't know how to program at all, Beginning XNA 3.0 Game Programming: From Novice to Professional will teach you the basics of C# 2008 programming along the way. Don't get overwhelmed with details you don't need to know—just learn what you need to start creating your own games right now!
This fast–paced introduction to XNA 3.0 and the C# language provides you with a quick–start guide to creating high–quality XNA games. You'll be introduced to the key concepts and ideas you need to know in a gradual fashion so that you master one concept before using it as a foundation for the next. Before long, you will have the skills to create smooth, professional–looking results in a range of gaming genres. By the end of the book, you will have constructed several working games and have an excellent knowledge base from which to investigate more advanced techniques.
Game Planning and Programming Basics.- 2D Graphics, Audio, and Input Basics.- Creating Your First 2D Game.- Improving Your First 2D Game.- Basics of Game Networking.- Rock Rain Live!.- Rock Rain Zune.- 3D Game Programming Basics.- Rendering Pipeline, Shaders, and Effects.- Lights, Camera, Transformations!.- Generating a Terrain.- Skeletal Animation.- Creating a Third-Person Shooter Game.- Closing Words.
