Gamedev


Book Description

If you know nothing about game development, you're basically me before I started working on my first game DARQ. This book assumes no knowledge of game development on the reader's part. As a first-time developer with no prior experience in coding, modeling, texturing, animation, game design, etc., I managed to launch DARQ to both commercial success and critical acclaim. With zero dollars spent on marketing, it was featured in major media outlets, such as IGN, Kotaku, PC Gamer, GameSpot, Forbes, and hundreds of others. Ultimately, DARQ became #42 Most Shared PC Video Game of 2019, according to Metacritic, with the average user rating of 9 out of 10. In my book, I'm sharing with you exactly how I did it. The book guides you through a step-by-step process of making a game: from downloading a game engine to releasing your first commercial title. The book features advice from 15 industry professionals, including Mark Kern (team lead of World of Warcraft), Quentin De Beukelaer (game designer of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Assassin's Creed Unity, Ghost Recon Breakpoint), Bjorn Jacobsen (sound designer of Cyberpunk 2077, Divinity: Fallen Heroes, Hitman), Austin Wintory (Grammy-nominated composer of Journey, ABZÛ, Assassin's Creed: Syndicate), and others. The foreword is written by my mentor John Corigliano, Oscar, Pulitzer Prize, and 5-time Grammy Award-winning composer.




Create Computer Games


Book Description

PUT DOWN YOUR CONTROLLER Why just play videogames when you can build your own game? Follow the steps in this book to learn a little about code, build a few graphics, and piece together a real game you can share with your friends. Who knows? What you learn here could help you become the next rock-star video- game designer. So set your controller aside and get ready to create! Decipher the code build some basic knowledge of how computer code drives videogames Get animated create simple graphics and learn how to put them in motion Update a classic put your knowledge together to put your modern twist on a classic game




Kodu for Kids


Book Description

DESIGN, BUILD, CREATE, AND SHARE YOUR GAME WITH THE WORLD! Ever wanted to create your own video game? With Microsoft’s Kodu, you can. It’s fun! And while you’re having fun, you’ll learn incredible problem-solving, programming, and game design skills as well. Kodu is a simple visual language that’s just for games, and you’ll be amazed at just how much you can do with it. Yes, you! It’s perfect for people who’ve never programmed before—whether they’re 8, 18, or 80. Kodu for Kids teaches you all you need to know to create great Kodu games that you can share with the world! Don’t just read it! See it! New online videos show you what to do! INCLUDES FOUR START-TO-FINISH EXAMPLE GAMES: 1-Player Shooter 2-Player Competition Mission Quest Side-Scroller Experience DO IT ALL—EVERY STEP! Learn how games really work Master Kodu’s easy tools, controls, and programming Imagine your quest and plan your game Script a great story Create your characters and make them move and talk Invent and build new worlds Design weapons, targets, and objects Build enemies and make them fight Add amazing sound, music, and special effects Set up multiple players, levels, and points Discover expert tips and tricks for better games Make everything work together Share your games with players all over the world




The Black Art of Video Game Console Design


Book Description

Written by Computer Scientist Andre' LaMothe, the world's best selling game programming author, The Black Art of Video Game Console Design breaks new ground in game development by bridging the alien worlds of hardware and software together for the first time! The Black Art of Video Game Console Design is written for the programmer and/or hobbyist interested in software game development, but also wants to understand the hardware games are implemented on. This book assumes no prior knowledge of Electrical Engineering or Computer Architecture, but takes you on a breathtaking journey from atomic semiconductor theory to the design and construction of basic video game consoles that you can build and write your own games for! Included in the book is the entire design of numerous embedded game systems including the XGameStation systems and much more. The Black Art of Video Game Console Design with 800+ pages covers everything you need to know to design your own game console including: * Basic atomic physics and semiconductor theory primer. * Introduction to circuit analysis; current, voltage, and resistance. * Analog design using discrete components. * Digital electronics and Boolean algebra. * Physical hardware construction and prototyping techniques. * Combinational logic and advanced integrated circuit building blocks. * Finite state machine design. * Computer architecture and design. * Understanding and using microprocessors and microcontrollers. * Developing software for embedded systems. * Designing video (NTSC/VGA), audio, and input device systems. * Interfacing and communications. * The complete design and discussion of numerous game systems including the XGameStations! CD-ROM Contains * PCB and circuit simulation tools. * All necessary data sheets. * Demos and source code. * Complete designs to numerous embedded systems including the XGameStations.




The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design


Book Description

• Authors are top game designers • Aspiring game writers and designers must have this complete bible There are other books about creating video games out there. Sure, they cover the basics. But The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design goes way beyond the basics. The authors, top game designers, focus on creating games that are an involving, emotional experience for the gamer. Topics include integrating story into the game, writing the game script, putting together the game bible, creating the design document, and working on original intellectual property versus working with licenses. Finally, there’s complete information on how to present a visionary new idea to developers and publishers. Got game? Get The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design.




Game Anim


Book Description

The second edition of Game Anim expands upon the first edition with an all-new chapter on 2D and Pixel Art Animation, an enhanced mocap chapter covering the latest developments in Motion Matching, and even more interviews with top professionals in the field. Combined with everything in the first edition, this updated edition provides the reader with an even more comprehensive understanding of all areas of video game animation – from small indie projects to the latest AAA blockbusters. Key Features • New 2nd Edition Content: An all-new chapter on 2D and Pixel Art Animation, Motion Matching, and more • 20 Years of Insight: Accumulated knowledge from 2 decades of experience in all areas of game animation. • The 5 Fundamentals: Reinterprets the classic 12 animation principles and sets out 5 new fundamentals for great game animation. • Full Production Cycle: Walks through every stage of a game production from the animator’s perspective. • Animator Interviews: Notable game animators offer behind-the-scenes stories, tips, and advice. • Free Animation Rig: Free "AZRI" maya rig, tutorials and other resources on the accompanying website: www.gameanim.com/book About The Author Jonathan Cooper is an award-winning video game animator who has brought virtual characters to life professionally since 2000, leading teams on large projects such as the Assassin’s Creed and Mass Effect series, with a focus on memorable stories and characters and cutting-edge video game animation. He has since focused on interactive cinematics in the latest chapters of the DICE and Annie award-winning series Uncharted and The Last of Us. Jonathan has presented at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco and at other conferences across Canada and the United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Design honors degree in animation.




Video Games


Book Description

Catch a glimpse inside a school bus and you’ll see lots of kids looking down. What are they doing? They’re deciding on strategy, building cities, setting traps for monsters, sharing resources, and nurturing critical relationships. Over 90 percent of kids ages 2–17 play video games. In Video Games: Design and Code Your Own Adventure, young readers learn why games are so compelling and what ancient games such as mancala have in common with modern games like Minecraft. Kids will even create their very own video games using software such as MIT's Scratch! Using a familiar, high-interest subject, Video Games introduces foundation subjects such as geometry, physics, probability, and psychology in a practical framework. Building Tetris pieces out of Rice Crispie Treats and designing board games are some of the hands-on projects that engage readers’ building skills, while writing actual game code opens digital doors readers may not have known existed.




Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, 4th Edition


Book Description

Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python will teach you how to make computer games using the popular Python programming language—even if you’ve never programmed before! Begin by building classic games like Hangman, Guess the Number, and Tic-Tac-Toe, and then work your way up to more advanced games, like a text-based treasure hunting game and an animated collision-dodging game with sound effects. Along the way, you’ll learn key programming and math concepts that will help you take your game programming to the next level. Learn how to: –Combine loops, variables, and flow control statements into real working programs –Choose the right data structures for the job, such as lists, dictionaries, and tuples –Add graphics and animation to your games with the pygame module –Handle keyboard and mouse input –Program simple artificial intelligence so you can play against the computer –Use cryptography to convert text messages into secret code –Debug your programs and find common errors As you work through each game, you’ll build a solid foundation in Python and an understanding of computer science fundamentals. What new game will you create with the power of Python? The projects in this book are compatible with Python 3.




Laying the Foundations


Book Description

Laying the Foundations is a comprehensive guide to creating, documenting, and maintaining design systems, and how to design websites and products systematically. It's an ideal book for web designers and product designers (of all levels) and especially design teams. Paperback ISBN: 9780578540030 This is real talk about creating design systems and digital brand guidelines. No jargon, no glossing over the hard realities, and no company hat. Just good advice, experience, and practical tips. System design is not a scary thing — this book aims to dispel that myth. It covers what design systems are, why they are important, and how to get stakeholder buy-in to create one. It introduces you to a simple model, and two very different approaches to creating a design system. What's unique about this book is its focus on the importance of brand in design systems, web design, product design, and when creating documentation. It's a comprehensive guide that’s simple to follow and easy on the eye.




The Art of Game Design


Book Description

Anyone can master the fundamentals of game design - no technological expertise is necessary. The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses shows that the same basic principles of psychology that work for board games, card games and athletic games also are the keys to making top-quality videogames. Good game design happens when you view your game from many different perspectives, or lenses. While touring through the unusual territory that is game design, this book gives the reader one hundred of these lenses - one hundred sets of insightful questions to ask yourself that will help make your game better. These lenses are gathered from fields as diverse as psychology, architecture, music, visual design, film, software engineering, theme park design, mathematics, writing, puzzle design, and anthropology. Anyone who reads this book will be inspired to become a better game designer - and will understand how to do it.