Apple Game Frameworks and Technologies


Book Description

Design and develop sophisticated 2D games that are as much fun to make as they are to play. From particle effects and pathfinding to social integration and monetization, this complete tour of Apple's powerful suite of game technologies covers it all. Familiar with Swift but new to game development? No problem. Start with the basics and then layer in the complexity as you work your way through three exciting - and fully playable - games. In the end, you'll know everything you need to go off and create your own video game masterpiece for any Apple platform. Discover the power of Apple Game Frameworks, Xcode, and Swift by building three exciting games: Gloop Drop - a new twist on a classic arcade game, Val's Revenge - a roguelike dungeon crawler, and Hog - a social player vs. player mobile dice game. With Apple Game Frameworks, you can create high-performance, power-efficient games that work across all Apple platforms, including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. In this book, you'll discover how to... Design and develop rich 2D gaming experiences using Apple's built-in game frameworks. Harness the power of SpriteKit using Xcode and Swift to create engaging player experiences. Use the visual Scene Editor to build complete scenes. Unleash the power of the Particle Editor to create amazing effects. Use GameplayKit to add advanced features to your games like pathfinding, artificial intelligence, and complex rule systems. Build larger, more complex worlds with tile maps and Xcode's visual Tile Map editor. Bring people together using GameKit and Game Center, Apple's social gaming network. Increase revenue with third-party banner ads and rewarded ads using Google AdMob (tm). Monetize your games with StoreKit and in-app purchases. So, grab your gear and get your game on - it's time to level up your skills. What You Need: macOS Mojave 10.14.6 or newer Xcode 11.3 or newer Basic knowledge of Swift 5.1.4 or newer




Beta Test


Book Description

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "An unusually lighthearted apocalyptic tale." Sam Terra is having a bad week. He lost Molly, the woman he secretly loves, when she vanished before his eyes at the exact same time that ten percent of the inhabitants of Earth disappeared. Naturally upset, Sam follows clues about the global vanishing with questionable help from his friends including a misanthropic co-worker and a childhood pal. When Molly reappears in the body of a man during a night of monster-laden devastation, Sam finally learns the truth. Not just about her, but about the planet Earth and the entire cosmos surrounding it. What we consider mundane reality, others consider a game . . . and not a very good one. The whole thing is about to be shut down.




A Practical Wedding


Book Description

A companion to the popular website APracticalWedding.com and A Practical Wedding Planner, A Practical Wedding helps you sort through the basics to create the wedding you want -- without going broke or crazy in the process. After all, what really matters on your wedding day is not so much how it looked as how it felt. In this refreshing guide, expert Meg Keene shares her secrets to planning a beautiful celebration that reflects your taste and your relationship. You'll discover: The real purpose of engagement (hint: it's not just about the planning) How to pinpoint what matters most to you and your partner DIY-ing your wedding: brilliant or crazy? How to communicate decisions to your family Why that color-coded spreadsheet is actually worth it Wedding Zen can be yours. Meg walks you through everything from choosing a venue to writing vows, complete with stories and advice from women who have been in the trenches: the Team Practical brides. So here's to the joyful wedding, the sensible wedding, the unbelievably fun wedding! A Practical Wedding is your complete guide to getting married with grace.




Diagnostic Audiology


Book Description




The Big Exit


Book Description

The acclaimed author of Knife Music delivers “a thriller set in California’s Silicon Valley that has it all . . . [an] exceptionally satisfying murder puzzle” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Richie Forman made his name and his fortune in dot-com marketing . . . but that was before he went to prison for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. Now that he’s been released, Richie wants to rebuild his life in the Bay Area. By day, he works at a law firm dedicated to freeing innocent men from prison. By night, he makes a living impersonating Frank Sinatra. But then his ex-best friend is found hacked to death in his garage, and Richie becomes the prime suspect. “Colorful characters abound” in this murder mystery with more intricate twists than a microchip. The Big Exit is a “first rate crime caper” (Kirkus).




Conning Harvard


Book Description

In 2011 a 24-year-old man pled guilty to falsifying his application to Harvard University, bilking the world’s most prestigious university out of more than $45,000 in prizes and scholarships. Using forged SAT scores, transcripts, and letters of recommendation, Adam Wheeler outsmarted Harvard's admissions office and then went even further. Once accepted into the Ivy League he kept lying, cheating, and succeeding, winning thousands of dollars in prizes and grants. But then he shot too far. During his senior year, Wheeler applied for Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, a gamble that finally exposed his extensive tangle of lies. Alerted that he was under suspicion, Wheeler fled Harvard but did not stop. He successfully filed more fraudulent applications at top-tier schools across the country, until some vigilant admissions officers, Massachusetts police, and even his own parents forced him off his computer and into court. As reporters for The Harvard Crimson, Julie Zauzmer and Xi Yu covered the case from the moment the news of Wheeler’s indictment broke. In the course of their reporting, they interviewed dozens of friends, roommates, teachers, and advisors who knew Wheeler at the many phases of his suspect academic career. Their fascinating account reveals how one serial scammer took on the competitive world of the Ivy League—and almost won.




macOS Mojave: The Missing Manual


Book Description

Answers found here! Apple’s latest Mac software, macOS Mojave, is a glorious boxcar full of new features and refinements. What’s still not included, though, is a single page of printed instructions. Fortunately, David Pogue is back, delivering the expertise and humor that have made this the #1 bestselling Mac book for 18 years straight. The important stuff you need to know Big-ticket changes. The stunning new Dark Mode. Self-tidying desktop stacks. FaceTime video calls with up to 32 people. New screen-recording tools. If Apple has it, this book covers it. Apps. This book also demystifies the 50 programs that come with the Mac, including the four new ones in Mojave: News, Stocks, Home, and Voice Memos. Shortcuts. This must be the tippiest, trickiest Mac book ever written. Undocumented surprises await on every page. Power users. Security, networking, remote access, file sharing with Windows—this one witty, expert guide makes it all crystal clear. MacOS Mojave gives the Mac more polish, power, and pep— and in your hands, you hold the ultimate guide to unlocking its potential.




The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing


Book Description

Within this easy-to-use, need-to-know, no-frills guide to building financial well-being is advice for long-term wealth creation and happiness, without all the worries and fuss of stock pickers and day traders.




More Than Peach (Bellen Woodard Original Picture Book)


Book Description

Penned by the very first Crayon Activist, Bellen Woodard, this picture book will tug at readers' heartstrings and inspire them to make a difference! When Bellen Woodard’s classmates referred to "the skin-color” crayon, in a school and classroom she had always loved, she knew just how important it was that everyone understood that “skin can be any number of beautiful colors.” This stunning picture book spreads Bellen’s message of inclusivity, empowerment, and the importance of inspiring the next generation of leaders. Bellen created the More Than Peach Project and crayons with every single kid in mind to transform the crayon industry and grow the way we see our world. And Bellen has done just that! This moving book includes back matter about becoming a leader and improving your community just like Bellen. Her wisdom and self- confidence are sure to encourage any young reader looking to use their voice to make even great spaces better!




Oh She Glows for Dinner


Book Description

Angela Liddon, author of the New York Times bestselling Oh She Glows cookbooks, returns to offer readers nourishing plant-based dinners bursting with layers of flavor. For more than a decade, Angela Liddon has been one of the biggest names in the healthy cooking blogosphere. Famous for her flavorful, creative, and whole foods approach to plant-based cooking, Angela's recipes are beloved by all, whether you are vegan, plant-based curious, or simply looking to add more energizing ingredients to your meals without sacrificing an ounce of satisfaction. Now, in her third, much-anticipated cookbook, Oh She Glows for Dinner, Angela gives readers her foolproof recipes, tips, and tricks for creating super tasty, always nourishing dinners that will have the whole family glowing from the inside out. In Oh She Glows for Dinner, Angela shares her Glow Getters meal prep plans, helpful make-ahead tips, and favorite seasonal and holiday menus, as well as one-pot and on-the-glow meals that will help streamline your busy week. Storage and reheating instructions remove time-consuming guesswork, and a handy new label index helps you look up dishes based on allergies or food preferences such as gluten-free, freezer-friendly, one pot, nut-free, and more. Angela's thorough, easy-to-follow recipes help you feel like she's cooking with you in your kitchen. With irresistible, light meals like Kitchen Sink Sheet Pan Buddha Bowl and Mediterranean Smashed Chickpea Salad with Tzatziki Aioli and cozy, hearty meals like Portobello Boats with Rosemary-Lentil Crumble and Italian One Pot Buttery Tomato, White Beans, and Farro, dinner can be chock full of flavor and nutritious at the same time. And don't forget dessert: treats like O Canada! Spiced Maple Cream Torte with Warm Apple Pie Compote and Brain Child Cherry-Lemon Coconut Cream Pops make mealtimes (and snack times) a little extra sweet while utilizing ingredients you can feel good about. With its inspiring, yet practical approach, Angela's latest collection of feel good recipes will become a dog-eared staple in your kitchen for years to come!