As their prominence in the news cycle a from Gamergate to the burgeoning smartphone market to the VR realm and beyond a would indicate video games and gaming have rocketed from a fairly fringe existence to a central position in the everyday lives of millions. Whether you're a casual reader with an interest in the subject or an experienced gamer scrounging for obscure facts and stories Mark Wolf's E Video Games FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Games and Gaming CultureE is an indispensable resource touching on all aspects of this techno-cultural phenomenon. Wolf's info-dense account traces video games from their earliest renditions as blocky abstractions to the photorealistic worlds of the present day exploring the games systems technologies companies and inventors who transformed a novelty into a worldwide industry and major imaginative force along the way. In lively prose intended for a general audience the book examines the many ways video games have entered our lives impacted popular culture and evolved through innovations and technological advances. More than just a history this book which can be read from cover-to-cover or a stand-alone chapter at a time is also packed with fun thought-provoking video game trivia touching on the origins of handheld games the first first-person shooting games famous characters named after a landlord and an attorney the birth of third-party development and the best and worst selling systems of all time. Whether discussing the pedigrees of games and systems sequels franchises and series the console wars the home computer revolution or leading companies and their strategies EVideo Games FAQE serves as a fascinating concise and comprehensive window into the past present and future of video games and everything connected with them.

Utilize proven solutions to solve common problems in game development About This Book * Untangle your game development workflow, make cleaner code, and create structurally solid games * Implement key programming patterns that will enable you to make efficient AI and remove duplication * Optimize your game using memory management techniques Who This Book Is For If you are a game developer who wants to solve commonly-encountered issues or have some way to communicate to other developers in a standardized format, then this book is for you. Knowledge of basic game programming principles and C++ programming is assumed. What You Will Learn * Learn what design patterns are and why you would want to use them * Reduce the maintenance burden with well-tested, cleaner code * Employ the singleton pattern effectively to reduce your compiler workload * Use the factory pattern to help you create different objects with the same creation logic and reduce coding time * Improve game performance with Object Pools * Allow game play to interact with physics or graphics in an abstract way * Refractor your code to remove common code smells In Detail You've learned how to program, and you've probably created some simple games at some point, but now you want to build larger projects and find out how to resolve your problems. So instead of a coder, you might now want to think like a game developer or software engineer. To organize your code well, you need certain tools to do so, and that's what this book is all about. You will learn techniques to code quickly and correctly, while ensuring your code is modular and easily understandable. To begin, we will start with the core game programming patterns, but not the usual way. We will take the use case strategy with this book. We will take an AAA standard game and show you the hurdles at multiple stages of development. Similarly, various use cases are used to showcase other patterns such as the adapter pattern, prototype pattern, flyweight pattern, and observer pattern. Lastly, we'll go over some tips and tricks on how to refactor your code to remove common code smells and make it easier for others to work with you. By the end of the book you will be proficient in using the most popular and frequently used patterns with the best practices. Style and approach This book takes a step-by-step real-life case studies approach. Every pattern is first explained using a bottleneck. We will show you a problem in your everyday workflow, and then introduce you to the pattern, and show you how the pattern will resolve the situation.

Collision Detection and Rigid body physics for Game Development Key Features Get a comprehensive coverage of techniques to create high performance collision detection in games Learn the core mathematics concepts and physics involved in depicting collision detection for your games Get a hands-on experience of building a rigid body physics engine Book DescriptionPhysics is really important for game programmers who want to add realism and functionality to their games. Collision detection in particular is a problem that affects all game developers, regardless of the platform, engine, or toolkit they use. This book will teach you the concepts and formulas behind collision detection. You will also be taught how to build a simple physics engine, where Rigid Body physics is the main focus, and learn about intersection algorithms for primitive shapes. You'll begin by building a strong foundation in mathematics that will be used throughout the book. We'll guide you through implementing 2D and 3D primitives and show you how to perform effective collision tests for them. We then pivot to one of the harder areas of game development-collision detection and resolution. Further on, you will learn what a Physics engine is, how to set up a game window, and how to implement rendering. We'll explore advanced physics topics such as constraint solving. You'll also find out how to implement a rudimentary physics engine, which you can use to build an Angry Birds type of game or a more advanced game. By the end of the book, you will have implemented all primitive and some advanced collision tests, and you will be able to read on geometry and linear Algebra formulas to take forward to your own games! What you will learn Implement fundamental maths so you can develop solid game physics Use matrices to encode linear transformations Know how to check geometric primitives for collisions Build a Physics engine that can create realistic rigid body behavior Understand advanced techniques, including the Separating Axis Theorem Create physically accurate collision reactions Explore spatial partitioning as an acceleration structure for collisions Resolve rigid body collisions between primitive shapes Who this book is forThis book is for beginner to intermediate game developers. You don't need to have a formal education in games-you can be a hobbyist or indie developer who started making games with Unity 3D.

Build a tower defense game and earn delectable C# treats by baking cupcakes and fighting fearsome sweet-toothed pandas About This Book * Build a complete and exciting 2D Tower Defense game from scratch. * Understand and learn to perform each phase of the game development pipeline * Homework and exercises to improve your skills and take them to the next level Who This Book Is For If you are looking forward to get started with 2D game development, either if you are a newcomer to this world, or you came from 3D games or other game engines, this book is for you. Although there are many references to other resources throughout the book, it is assumed that you have a general understanding of C# and its syntax and structure. What You Will Learn * Import and set up assets for 2D game development * Design and implement dynamic and responsive User Interfaces * Create and handle complex animation systems * Unlock all the potentiality of the physics engine * Implement Artificial Intelligence algorithms to give intelligence to your NPCs * Script gameplay and overall bring your ideas to life In Detail Want to get started in the world of 2D game development with Unity? This book will take your hand and guide you through this amazing journey to let you know exactly what you need to build the games you want to build, without sacrificing quality. You will build a solid understanding of Unity 5.x, by focusing with the embedded tools to develop 2D games. In learning about these, along with accurate explanations and practical examples, you will design, develop, learn how to market and publish a delectable Tower Defense game about cupcakes versus pandas. Each chapter in this book is structured to give you a full understanding on a specific aspect of the workflow pipeline. Each of these aspects are essential for developing games in Unity. In a step-by-step approach, you will learn about each of the following phases: Game Design, Asset Importing, Scripting, User Interfaces, Animations, Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Gameplay Programming, Polishing and Improving, Marketing, Publishing and much more. This book provides you with exercises and homework at the end of each chapter so that you can level up your skills as a Unity game developer. In addition, each of these parts are centered on a common point of discussion with other learners just like you. Therefore, by sharing your ideas with other people you will not only develop your skills but you will also build a network. Style and approach This is a fun step-by-step approach in the whole pipeline of 2D game development in Unity, which is explained in a conversational and easy-to-follow style. Each topic is explained sequentially, allowing you to experience both basics and advanced features of Unity. By doing this, the book is able to provide you with a solid grasp on each of the topics. In this way, by engaging with the book's content, exploring the additional references to further readings and completing the homework sections, you are able to challenge yourself and apply what you know in a variety of ways. Once you have finished reading this book, you will be well on your way to developing games from start to finish!

Create complex and visually stunning games using all the advanced features available in SFML development About This Book * Build custom tools, designed to work with your specific game. * Use raw modern OpenGL and go beyond SFML. * Revamp your code for better structural design, faster rendering, and flashier graphics. * Use advanced lighting techniques to add that extra touch of sophistication. * Implement a very fast and efficient particle system by using a cache-friendly design. Who This Book Is For This book is ideal for game developers who have some basic knowledge of SFML and also are familiar with C++ coding in general. No knowledge of OpenGL or even more advanced rendering techniques is required. You will be guided through every bit of code step by step. What You Will Learn * Dive deep into creating complex and visually stunning games using SFML, as well as advanced OpenGL rendering and shading techniques * Build an advanced, dynamic lighting and shadowing system to add an extra graphical kick to your games and make them feel a lot more dynamic * Craft your own custom tools for editing game media, such as maps, and speed up the process of content creation * Optimize your code to make it blazing fast and robust for the users, even with visually demanding scenes * Get a complete grip on the best practices and industry grade game development design patterns used for AAA projects In Detail SFML is a cross-platform software development library written in C++ with bindings available for many programming languages. It provides a simple interface to the various components of your PC, to ease the development of games and multimedia applications. This book will help you become an expert of SFML by using all of its features to its full potential. It begins by going over some of the foundational code necessary in order to make our RPG project run. By the end of chapter 3, we will have successfully picked up and deployed a fast and efficient particle system that makes the game look much more 'alive'. Throughout the next couple of chapters, you will be successfully editing the game maps with ease, all thanks to the custom tools we're going to be building. From this point on, it's all about making the game look good. After being introduced to the use of shaders and raw OpenGL, you will be guided through implementing dynamic scene lighting, the use of normal and specular maps, and dynamic soft shadows. However, no project is complete without being optimized first. The very last chapter will wrap up our project by making it lightning fast and efficient. Style and approach This book uses a step by step approach by breaking the problems down into smaller, much more manageable obstacles, and guiding the reader through them with verified, flexible, and autonomous solutions.

Create amazing games with solid gameplay features, using a professional-grade workflow inside the Unity engine! About This Book * Become a Unity master by creating a practical, in-depth game-development project with Unity * Use advanced C# scripting to unlock the complete potential of Unity 5 * Use Version Control to Effectively Manage and Scale your workflow Who This Book Is For If you are a Unity developer who now wants to develop and deploy interesting games by leveraging the new features of Unity 5.x, then this is the book for you. Basic knowledge of C# programming is assumed. What You Will Learn * Explore hands-on tasks and real-world scenarios to make a Unity horror adventure game * Create enemy characters that act intelligently and make reasoned decisions * Use data files to save and restore game data in a way that is platform-agnostic * Get started with VR development * Use Navigation Meshes, Occlusion Culling, and the Profiler tools * Work confidently with GameObjects, Rotations, and Transformations * Understand specific gameplay features such as AI enemies, inventory systems, and level design In Detail Do you want to take the leap from being an everyday Unity developer to being a pro game developer? Then look no further! This book is your one stop solution to creating mesmerizing games with lifelike features and amazing gameplay. This book takes an in-depth focus on a practical project with Unity, building a first-person game with many features. You'll dive deep into the architecture of a Unity game, creating expansive worlds, interesting render effects, and other features to make your games special. You will create individual game components, use efficient animation techniques, and implement collision and physics effectively. Specifically, we'll explore optimal techniques for importing game assets, such as meshes and textures; tips and tricks for effective level design; how to animate and script NPCs; how to configure and deploy to mobile devices; how to prepare for VR development; and how to work with version control, and more. By the end of this book, you'll have developed sufficient competency in Unity development to produce fun games with confidence. Style and approach This book takes a step-by-step, practical tutorial approach. You will create an advanced level Unity game with an emphasis on leveraging the advanced Unity 5 features. You will make the most of the Unity 5 advanced features while you develop the game in its entirety.

If you are interested in creating your very own 2D games from scratch, then this book will give you all the tools you need to succeed. Whether you are completely new to Unity or have used Unity before and would like to learn about the new 2D features of Unity, this book is for you.

Create your own augmented reality games from scratch with Unity 5 About This Book * Create your own augmented reality game from scratch and join the virtual reality gaming revolution * Use the latest Unity 5 VR SDK to create pro-level AR games like Pokemon Go * Innovate and explore the latest and most promising trend of AR gaming in the mobile gaming industry Who This Book Is For This book is for those who have a basic knowledge of game development techniques, but no previous knowledge of Unity is required. Some basic programming knowledge would be desirable, but the book is an introduction to the topic. The book is also suitable for experienced developers new to GIS or GPS development. What You Will Learn * Build a location-based augmented reality game called Foodie Go * Animate a player's avatar on a map * Use the mobile device's camera as a game background * Implement database persistence with SQLLite4Unity3D to carry inventory items across game sessions * Create basic UI elements for the game, inventory, menu, and settings * Perform location and content searches against the Google Places API * Enhance the game's mood by adding visual shader effects * Extend the game by adding multiplayer networking and other enhancements In Detail The heyday of location-based augmented reality games is upon us. They have been around for a few years, but the release of Pokemon Go was a gamechanger that catalyzed the market and led to a massive surge in demand. Now is the time for novice and experienced developers alike to turn their good ideas into augmented reality (AR) mobile games and meet this demand! If you are keen to develop virtual reality games with the latest Unity 5 toolkit, then this is the book for you. The genre of location-based AR games introduces a new platform and technical challenges, but this book will help simplify those challenges and show how to maximize your game audience. This book will take you on a journey through building a location-based AR game that addresses the core technical concepts: GIS fundamentals, mobile device GPS, mapping, map textures in Unity, mobile device camera, camera textures in Unity, accessing location-based services, and other useful Unity tips. The technical material also discusses what is necessary for further development to create a multiplayer version of the game. At the end, you will be presented with troubleshooting techniques in case you get into trouble and need a little help. Style and approach This book shows you how to create every step of the game and gives practical examples.

Four years ago I started playing videopoker. As a lark I started to analyze hands and came up with my crib notes which I am sure help to get a winning hand. But unfortunately the machine has the last say. I studied the most common videopoker games but not all. My family felt I should include these in a book and so I have. I tried to put my knowledge on paper so it could be easily understood but I am not the best of writers. This book includes the best strategies for playing different poker hands for twenty -four video poker games.