In the past forty years we have seen huge technological leaps: computers, the Internet, and mobile phones, among many other fantastic things. The human nature to play and the need to be challenged mingled with these technologies, and videogames were the result. A whole generation has grown up with videogames; to them, holding a joystick is as natural as holding as pencil. Videogames have survived economic setbacks, refusing to be destroyed by a fickle market, always managing to evolve into something new to capture the imagination and find some way to take over lives and homes. Sonic, Mario, PlayStationa these terms are now part of the cultural lexicon. It isn't uncommon to find a console lurking under televisions but at the same time, this newly emerged media has come under attack by those looking to find a cause for society's ills. Part rock 'n' roll, part multibillion dollar industry, videogaming is the fastest growing media in modern culture. Clearly, it is here to stay. The Pocket Essential Videogaming contains: a complete history of videogames; cultural essays on branding, popular culture, violence and female gamers; and reviews of over 120 of the most important videogames of the past thirty years.

Although the number of commercial Java games is still small compared to those written in C or C++, the market is expanding rapidly. Recent updates to Java make it faster and easier to create powerful gaming applications-particularly Java 3D-is fueling an explosive growth in Java games. Java games like Puzzle Pirates, Chrome, Star Wars Galaxies, Runescape, Alien Flux, Kingdom of Wars, Law and Order II, Roboforge, Tom Clancy's Politika, and scores of others have earned awards and become bestsellers.

Java developers new to graphics and game programming, as well as game developers new to Java 3D, will find "Killer Game Programming in Java" invaluable. This new book is a practical introduction to the latest Java graphics and game programming technologies and techniques. It is the first book to thoroughly cover Java's 3D capabilities for all types of graphics and game development projects.

"Killer Game Programming in Java" is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know to program cool, testosterone-drenched Java games. It will give you reusable techniques to create everything from fast, full-screen action games to multiplayer 3D games. In addition to the most thorough coverage of Java 3D available, "Killer Game Programming in Java" also clearly details the older, better-known 2D APIs, 3D sprites, animated 3D sprites, first-person shooter programming, sound, fractals, and networked games. "Killer Game Programming in Java" is a must-have for anyone who wants to create adrenaline-fueled games in Java.

Transnational Play approaches gameplay as a set of practices and a global industry that includes diverse participation from players and developers located within the global South, in nations outside of the First World. Players experience play in game cafes, through casual games for regional and global causes like environmentalism, through piracy and cheats, via cultural localization, on their mobile phones, and through urban playful art in Latin America. This book offers a reorientation of perspective on the global developers who make games, as well as the players who consume games, while still acknowledging geographically distributed socioeconomic, racial, gender, and other inequities. Over the course of the inquiry, which includes a chapter dedicated to the cartography of the mobile augmented reality game Pokemon Go, the author develops a theoretical line of argument critically informed by gender studies and intersectionality, postcolonialism, geopolitics, and game studies, problematizing play as a diverse and contested transnational domain.

From the one-bit beeps of Pong to the 3D audio of PlayStation 5, this book examines historical trends in video game sound and music. A range of game systems sold in North America, Europe and Japan are evaluated by their audio capabilities and industry competition. Technical fine points are explored, including synthesized v. sampled sound, pre-recorded v. dynamic audio, backward compatibility, discrete and multifunctional soundchips, storage media, audio programming documentation, and analog v. digital outputs. A timeline chronicles significant developments in video game sound for PC, NES, Dreamcast, Xbox, Wii, Game Boy, PSP, iOS and Android devices and many others.

In this book, XNA expert Reimer Grootjans brings together a selection of the hottest quick-start recipes in XNA programming for the Xbox and Windows PC. Advanced XNA programmers, experienced coders new to games development, and even complete beginners will find XNA Game Programming Recipes an invaluable companion when building games for fun or as commercial products. Numerous problem-solving recipes cover topics from cameras and angles, to textures, models, and lighting and shadowing, and will get you over the common hurdles encountered in both 2D and 3D XNA application design.

In depth investigation into a famous series of video games In just three episodes, the Bioshock series managed to score some big points amongst players' hearts. Spiritual successor of System Shock 2, the first Bioshock was an Irrational Games' game, lead by Ken Levine. Set in the 50's ambiance, with Art Deco levels, progression in Bioshock is possible through open and smart game mechanics, inciting the player to be creative and to use its environment. The saga is also filled with many profound and philosophical themes, while involving the player in every one of its aspects, many things granting the triptych of an iconic saga.

At the edge of one of America's most defining eras in its history, salvation comes from the most unlikely source: video games. Playin' To Win: A Surgeon, Scientist and Parent Examines the Upside of Video Games, is inspired, in part, by many edgy titles that have previously probed the expanse of what could be. It is a Freakanomics with a more grassroots subject matter that elicits an instantaneous visceral response from citizens of every walk of life. It is an Everything Bad Is Good For You with grittier details on how the unexpected can be incorporated into raising our society to the next level. Ultimately, it makes a case that video games can promote a Tipping Point with a focus on contributing to real world solutions. It is direct, thought-provoking and consistently challenges perceptions of the boundaries of reality. It has to be! Because the readers will be the first to bear witness: this is a call for the start of a second American Revolution!

A comprehensive introduction to the latest research and theory on learning and instruction with computer games. This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the latest research on learning and instruction with computer games. Unlike other books on the topic, which emphasize game development or best practices, Handbook of Game-Based Learning is based on empirical findings and grounded in psychological and learning sciences theory. The contributors, all leading researchers in the field, offer a range of perspectives, including cognitive, motivational, affective, and sociocultural. They explore research on whether (and how) computer games can help students learn educational content and academic skills; which game features (including feedback, incentives, adaptivity, narrative theme, and game mechanics) can improve the instructional effectiveness of these games; and applications, including games for learning in STEM disciplines, for training cognitive skills, for workforce learning, and for assessment. The Handbook offers an indispensable reference both for readers with practical interests in designing or selecting effective game-based learning environments and for scholars who conduct or evaluate research in the field. It can also be used in courses related to play, cognition, motivation, affect, instruction, and technology. Contributors Roger Azevedo, Ryan S. Baker, Daphne Bavelier, Amanda E. Bradbury, Ruth C. Clark, Michele D. Dickey, Hamadi Henderson, Bruce D. Homer, Fengfeng Ke, Younsu Kim, Charles E. Kinzer, Eric Klopfer, James C. Lester, Kristina Loderer, Richard E. Mayer, Bradford W. Mott, Nicholas V. Mudrick, Brian Nelson, Frank Nguyen, V. Elizabeth Owen, Shashank Pawar, Reinhard Pekrun, Jan L. Plass, Charles Raffale, Jonathon Reinhardt, C. Scott Rigby, Jonathan P. Rowe, Richard M. Ryan, Ruth N. Schwartz, Quinnipiac Valerie J. Shute, Randall D. Spain, Constance Steinkuehler, Frankie Tam, Michelle Taub, Meredith Thompson, Steven L. Thorne, A. M. Tsaasan

This book provides readers with an introductory resource for learning how to create compelling games using the open source Python programming language and Pygame games development library. Authored by industry veteran and Python expert Will McGugan, readers are treated to a comprehensive, practical introduction to games development using these popular technologies. They can also capitalize upon numerous tips and tricks the author has accumulated over his career creating games for some of the world's largest gaming developers.

Learn iPhone and iPad cocos2D Game Development provides a rock-solid introduction to the cocos2d iPhone game engine and related tools. It focuses on the process of creating several games made entirely with cocos2d and little-to-no iPhone SDK and OpenGL code. By creating 2-3 sample games over the course of the book, you'lllearn key concepts of the cocos2d game engine and relevant tools like Zwoptex (TextureAtlas), ParticleDesigner (Particle Effects), and others. The example games are modeled after popular App Store games so that they are relevant, recognizable, and immediately fun and inspiring. The games increase in complexity andhighlight common recurring cocos2d beginner questions.As you move along, you'll learnabout possible stumbling blocks and how to navigate them successfully.As you move frombeginning to advanced, you'llencountergeneral game programming wisdom, tips for performance improvement, as well as pointers to alternative implementations and further reading. What you'll learn Familiarity with the core cocos2d game engine API and the Box2d physics engine Understanding of the process and best practices of game development, in the context of cocos2d and its related tools Enthusiasm and excitement to createyour own games paired with a realization thatyou areable to create games which can compete on the App Store Where to go from here: further information and alternative implementations Who this book is for

The book is aimed at beginning game developers looking for an easier and even more powerful way to create compelling 2D graphics using OpenGL and Objective-C. It is assumed that the reader will have some knowledge of object-oriented programming and the Apple and iPhone/iPad developer environment. Check out the forum for Learn iPhone and iPad cocos2D Game Development: http: //cocos2d-central.com Table of Contents Introduction Getting Started Essentials Your First Game Game Building Blocks Sprites In-Depth Scrolling with Joy Shoot 'em Up Particle Effects Working with Tilemaps Isometric Tilemaps Physics Engines Pinball Game Game Center Out of the Ordinary

Castlevania is a multi-generational video game series developed and published by Konami. The franchise was first released in 1986, but has evolved from a side-scrolling platformer into a full-scale adventure series - and has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. The series is a fan-favourite, and has influenced generation after generation of games since first being released.

In this latest work, Selfe and Hawisher explore the complexly rendered relationship between computer gaming environments and literacy development by focusing on the stories of computer gamers in the United States at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Using the words and observations of individual gamers, this book offers historical and cultural analyses of literacy development, practices, and values.

In Respawn Colin Milburn examines the connections between video games, hacking, and science fiction that galvanize technological activism and technological communities. Discussing a wide range of games, from Portal and Final Fantasy VII to Super Mario Sunshine and Shadow of the Colossus, Milburn illustrates how they impact the lives of gamers and non-gamers alike. They also serve as resources for critique, resistance, and insurgency, offering a space for players and hacktivist groups such as Anonymous to challenge obstinate systems and experiment with alternative futures. Providing an essential walkthrough guide to our digital culture and its high-tech controversies, Milburn shows how games and playable media spawn new modes of engagement in a computerized world.

Take it to the next level! Bursting with the biggest games, latest trends, and hottest news, Next Level Games Review 2023 is the ultimate annual gaming guide. Inside you'll discover a recap of the last twelve months in gaming and a preview of what's coming soon, plus an exclusive intro written by YouTube, TV, and radio presenter Julia Hardy. Whether you want to relive the action in Deathloop, learn about the exciting new Steam Deck, get a head start in Switch Sports, explore Minecraft biomes, become an MMO champion, join the Guardians of the Galaxy aboard the Milano, catch new Diamond and Pearl Pokemon, check out indie adventures, build your Ultimate Team in FIFA, or return to The Lands Between in Elden Ring, this guide is a game-changer! 200+ GAMES: Find out surprising stats and entertaining facts on over 200 games, including Mario, Demon Slayer, Forza, Call of Duty, Genshin Impact, Roblox, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, Sonic, Final Fantasy, Madden NFL, and The Legend of Zelda. PERFECT FOR NEW GAMERS: Packed with tips and tricks for new and young gamers, plus a special glossary section so you can learn the lingo. ESPORTS CHAPTER: Catch up on all the news and read fascinating trivia on the top eSports games, including League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite, Dota 2, and Overwatch. INSIDER INFO: Get the inside take from gaming experts and learn all about your favourite game studios, including FromSoftware, EA, Bandai Namco, 343, Eidos Montreal, and Gearbox Software.

Understand what shaders are and what they're used for: Shaders are often seen as mystical and difficult to develop, even by skilled programmers, artists, and developers from other game design disciplines. This book dispels that idea by building up your shader knowledge in stages, starting with fundamental shader mathematics and how shader development mindset differs from other types of art and programming, and slowly delves into topics such as vertex and fragment shaders, lighting, depth-based effects, texture mapping, and Shader Graph. This book presents each of these topics with a comprehensive breakdown, the required theory, and some practical applications for the techniques learned during each chapter. The HLSL (High Level Shading Language) code and Shader Graphs will be provided for each relevant section, as well as plenty of screenshots. By the end of this book, you will have a good understanding of the shader development pipeline and you will be fully equipped to start making your own aesthetic and performant shader effects for your own games! You Will Learn To* Use shaders across Unity's rendering pipelines* Write shaders and modify their behavior with C# scripting* Use Shader Graph for codeless development* Understand the important math behind shaders, particularly space transformations* Profile the performance of shaders to identify optimization targets Who Is This Book For This book is intended for beginners to shader development, or readers who may want to make the jump from shader code to Shader Graph. It will also include a section on shader examples for those who already know the fundamentals of shaders and are looking for specific use cases.

Game Programming Algorithms and Techniques is a detailed overview of many of the important algorithms and techniques used in video game programming today. Designed for programmers who are familiar with object-oriented programming and basic data structures, this book focuses on practical concepts that see actual use in the game industry. Sanjay Madhav takes a unique platform- and framework-agnostic approach that will help develop virtually any game, in any genre, with any language or framework. He presents the fundamental techniques for working with 2D and 3D graphics, physics, artificial intelligence, cameras, and much more. Each concept is illuminated with pseudocode that will be intuitive to any C#, Java, or C++ programmer, and has been refined and proven in Madhav's game programming courses at the University of Southern California. Review questions after each chapter help solidify the most important concepts before moving on. Madhav concludes with a detailed analysis of two complete games: a 2D iOS side-scroller (written in Objective-Cusing cocos2d) and a 3D PC/Mac/Linux tower defense game (written in C# using XNA/ MonoGame). These games illustrate many of the algorithms and techniques covered in the earlier chapters, and the full source code is available at gamealgorithms.net. Coverage includes Game time management, speed control, and ensuring consistency on diverse hardware Essential 2D graphics techniques for modern mobile gaming Vectors, matrices, and linear algebra for 3D games 3D graphics including coordinate spaces, lighting and shading, z-buffering, and quaternions Handling today's wide array of digital and analog inputs Sound systems including sound events, 3D audio, and digital signal processing Fundamentals of game physics, including collision detection and numeric integration Cameras: first-person, follow, spline, and more Artificial intelligence: pathfinding, state-based behaviors, and strategy/planning User interfaces including menu systems and heads-up displays Scripting and text-based data files: when, how, and where to use them Basics of networked games including protocols and network topology

Masters of Doom is the true inside story of the Lennon and McCartney of the video game industry: John Carmack and John Romero. Together they created an empire, ruled a multibillion-dollar industry, and provoked a national controversy. They lived a unique American dream, escaping their broken homes to co-create the most innovative and notoriously successful video games in history - Doom and Quake - until the games they made tore them apart. David Kushner has been covering the video game industry for ten years and knows all the angles. Even those with no interest in video games will be fascinated by this vastly entertaining tale of friendship, betrayal and the genesis of a multibillion-dollar popular art form.

The Ultima legacy is unquestionably vast in its own right, but over the years it has inspired many other fine works as well. This Companion Guide covers everything beyond the scope of the main Ultima & Ultima Online guides: - Ultima Dragons - A diverse collection of 826 unofficial remakes, add-ons, editors, tools, and much more. Primarily the work of the UDIC fan group. - Wing Commander - Origin's hugely popular sci-fi series. Includes 571 listings. - Origin Worlds - The many other Worlds that Origin Systems created. Includes 555 listings. - Destination Worlds - A sampling of 131 games from the legendary designers at Origin after they left. From Looking Glass to Portalarium and beyond. - Tabula Rasa - The complete collector's guide to Richard Garriott's second epic MMOG. 62 items. - Origin Legends - Gameographies for 35 designers, programmers, artists, musicians and more. - 2013 Addendum - Updates and new additions to the 2012 Ultima Collector's Guide. Black & White Edition. For the complete Ultima Saga be sure to check out the entire book series: Ultima: The Ultimate Collector's Guide - 2012 Edition Ultima Online: The Ultimate Collector's Guide - 2013 Edition Ultima Online: The Ultimate Collector's Guide - 2013 Gold Edition Ultima: The Ultimate Companion Guide - 2013 Edition Ultima: The Ultimate Companion Guide - 2013 Gold Edition

The unusual marriage of Romantic ballet and artificial intelligence is an intriguing idea that led a team of interdisciplinary researchers to design iGiselle, a video game prototype. Scholars in the fields of literature, physical education, music, design, and computer science collaborated to revise the tragic narrative of the nineteenth-century ballet Giselle, allowing players to empower the heroine for possible "feminine endings." The eight interrelated chapters chronicle the origin, development, and fruition of the project. Dancers, gamers, and computer specialists will all find something original that will stimulate their respective interests. Contributors: Vadim Bulitko, Wayne DeFehr, Christina Gier, Pirkko Markula, Mark Morris, Sergio Poo Hernandez, Emilie St. Hilaire, Nora Foster Stovel, Laura Sydora

Improve your game's code to make it more readable, reusable, modular and optimized following design patterns, and enhance your overall use of C++ with Unreal Engine Key Features * Explore the fascinating world of design patterns and their application to game development in Unreal Engine 5 * Learn how to translate code from Blueprint to C++ to produce performant solutions for your game's development * Discover best practices for clean code and apply them to Unreal Engine 5 and C++ Book Description Design patterns are a series of tools and practices by which we can learn to write faster and easier to work with code. With this book, you will explore a range of design patterns and how they can be applied to projects developed in Unreal Engine 5. The book begins by exploring the key principles which underpin code and develop an understanding of the concepts, challenges, and key benefits of using patterns in your code. We'll then move on to identifying patterns which are woven into the core of Unreal Engine 5 such as Double Buffer, Flyweight and Spatial Partitioning, then explore some of the existing tool sets which embody patterns in their design and usage including Component, Behaviour Tree and Update. You'll then start to develop a series of gameplay use cases through C++ to implement a range of design patterns including Interface and Event based Observers to build a decoupled communications hierarchy and explore Singleton, Command and State, as well as Behavioural Patterns, Template, Subclass Sandbox and Type Object. The final section of the book will introduce the use of design patterns for optimization including Dirty Flag, Data Locality and Object Pooling. By the end of this book, you will be able to design systems with the perfect C++/Blueprint blend for maintainable and scalable systems. What you will learn * Understand what a design pattern is and why it is useful * Understand the layers within UE5 and how they work together * Develop an understanding of the relationship between C++ code and Blueprint in Unreal Engine 5 * Translate code from Blueprint to C++ in Unreal Engine 5 * Understand design patterns found within existing Unreal Engine 5 functions * Explore design patterns to understand their purpose and application within Unreal Engine 5 * Creatively apply design patterns to existing code to simplify common problems * Apply best practice principles for clean code Who This Book Is For If you are a beginner or intermediate game developer who is working with Unreal Engine and would like to improve your C++ coding practices, this book will help you produce clean, reusable code using design patterns. The book will cover introductory tasks to show the key fundamentals of using Unreal Engine 5 however learning Unreal Engine from scratch is not the purpose of this book. You would benefit from having some experience of the Unreal Engine but deep working knowledge is not required as activities will introduce the tools and features when needed.

DAVID AHL'S CLASSIC BASIC COMPUTER ADVENTURES is back in a Special 25th Anniversary Microsoft Small Basic Edition The Small Basic text based computer adventure simulations you will develop in this tutorial are based on historical personalities like Marco Polo, Amelia Earhart, and on historical events like the Tour de France, The Longest Automobile Race 1908, and the 1847 Oregon Trail. We have also included some fiction adventure simulations like Voyage to Neptune and the Hong Kong Hustle. We even included all the original "GOTO" subroutines for your nostalgic programming enjoyment. To grasp the concepts presented in DAVID AHL'S SMALL BASIC COMPUTER ADVENTURES, you should possess a working knowledge of Windows and have had some exposure to Microsoft Small Basic programming (or some other programming language). We offer two beginning programming tutorials (MICROSOFT SMALL BASIC FOR KIDS and BEGINNING MICROSOFT SMALL BASIC) that would help you gain this needed exposure. This tutorial requires Windows 8, Windows 7, XP or Vista, and Microsoft Small Basic (Version 1.0). The Small Basic source codeis available for download from the publisher's website (www.ComputerScienceForKids.com) after book registration. "Philip Conrod has a passion for writing tutorials and books aimed at beginner programmers and he's done an excellent job of covering all the fundamentals of Small Basic programming. He has also published a faithful port of David Ahl's Computer Adventures for Small Basic. Check it out for some cool game ideas " - Vijaye Raji, Creator of Microsoft Small Basic "Philip Conrod has done a great job porting my original BASIC COMPUTER ADVENTURES book to the latest version of Microsoft Small Basic. The Small Basic Computer Adventures play just like my original adventures. I highly recommend Philip Conrod's new "Small Basic Computer Adventures" book to both kids and adults " -David H. Ahl, Founder of Creative Computing

Get a thorough and practical introduction to Unity development for Android devices with no previous experience with game development needed. In this book, you'll go through every step from downloading and installing Unity and the Android SDK, to creating fully functional games. The bulk of Learn Unity for Android Game Development is a simple project to create a 2D platform game complete with touchscreen controls, physics, enemies, respawning, collectibles and more. The book closes with a brief introduction to creating 3D games, virtual reality games for the Gear VR, and other more advanced applications. It also provides some guidance on publishing and marketing, as well as thinking about game design and mechanics. Resources including sprites and scripts are provided in the code download. What You Will Learn Install Unity with the Android SDK Understand and use scripts, prefabs and Android Studio Design a great game Build a game app Add a bit of polish Deploy for various Android devices Build and deploy for 3D games, virtual reality and more Promote your game and make money Who This Book Is For This book requires no previous experience with programming or game development of any kind. Prior experience with the Android ecosystem recommended.