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.

If you have a good understanding of Unity's core functionality and a decent grasp of C# scripting in Unity (although not essential if you are just using the Editor with the new UI), you'll be well placed to take advantage of the new UI feature set.

Design and code your own 2D and 3D games efficiently using OpenGL and C++ About This Book * Create 2D and 3D games completely, through a series of end-to-end game projects * Learn to render high performance 2D and 3D graphics using OpenGL * Implement a rudimentary game engine using step-by-step code Who This Book Is For If you are a prospective game developer with some experience using C++, then this book is for you. Both prospective and experienced game programmers will find nuggets of wisdom and practical advice as they learn to code two full games using OpenGL, C++, and a host of related tools. What You Will Learn * Set up your development environment in Visual Studio using OpenGL * Use 2D and 3D coordinate systems * Implement an input system to handle the mouse and the keyboard * Create a state machine to handle complex changes in the game * Load, display, and manipulate both 2D and 3D graphics * Implement collision detection and basic physics * Discover the key components needed to complete a polished game * Handle audio files and implement sound effects and music In Detail OpenGL is one of the most popular rendering SDKs used to develop games. OpenGL has been used to create everything from 3D masterpieces running on desktop computers to 2D puzzles running on mobile devices. You will learn to apply both 2D and 3D technologies to bring your game idea to life. There is a lot more to making a game than just drawing pictures and that is where this book is unique! It provides a complete tutorial on designing and coding games from the setup of the development environment to final credits screen, through the creation of a 2D and 3D game. The book starts off by showing you how to set up a development environment using Visual Studio, and create a code framework for your game. It then walks you through creation of two games-a 2D platform game called Roboracer 2D and a 3D first-person space shooter game-using OpenGL to render both 2D and 3D graphics using a 2D coordinate system. You'll create sprite classes, render sprites and animation, and navigate and control the characters. You will also learn how to implement input, use audio, and code basic collision and physics systems. From setting up the development environment to creating the final credits screen, the book will take you through the complete journey of creating a game engine that you can extend to create your own games. Style and approach An easy-to-follow guide full of code examples to illustrate every concept and help you build a 2D and 3D game from scratch, while learning the key tools that surround a typical OpenGL project.

A detailed guide to the complex new animation tools in Unity, packed with clear instructions and illustrated with original content in the context of a next generation zombie apocalypse adventure game About This Book * Create and export models and animation sequences to Unity from 3ds max and Maya * Prepare character models and animation for games using Mecanim's rigging tools * Retarget, adjust, and mix and match motion capture and other animation data * Write and edit scripts compatible with Mecanim Animation Controllers Who This Book Is For If you are a Unity developer looking to get to grips with the character animation specific tools, a 3D software user who is new to Unity, or a beginner game developer who is interested in character animation and interaction, this book is ideal for you. Some experience with either the Unity interface or basic 3D coordinates is recommended, but not required. What You Will Learn * Learn how to prepare a rigged character model to receive animation within Unity * Acquire efficient techniques to refine and optimize motion capture data * Retarget animation sequences between different character rigs * Discover how to rig a humanoid character and export for use in Unity * Script character interaction for a First Person character model * Create dynamic animation sequences from scratch using keyframe techniques, in a variety of 3D software packages * Learn Project Management in Unity * Understand how to set up a complex facial rig for speech * Set up Animation Controllers with masked states and blend trees to create seamless and additive animation transitions * Construct a ragdoll game object and instantiate it in a game * Devise Mecanim animation integration for the player and AI driven animation for enemy characters In Detail Game animation for independent developers has taken a giant leap forward with Unity 5's Mecanim toolset, which streamlines the import/export, retargeting, and many other aspects of the character animation workflow. Unity Character Animation with Mecanim is a great primer for getting to know the nuts and bolts of Mecanim and other character animation related tools in Unity 5. It offers you step-by-step instructions for preparing and exporting rigged models and animation sequences from commonly used 3D packages, such as Maya, 3ds Max and Blender. This book explores the new set of animation tools introduced with Mecanim in Unity 5. Approaching its subject matter through a typical genre-a zombie action game, character animation techniques are explored using real examples of player input and interaction, enemy behavior, and other aspects of game dynamics. As the book progresses, the reader will understand how these elements fit together in a small game development workflow. We will begin with a demonstration of the process of getting a rigged character into Unity 5 and setting it up to use provided animation sequences. We will also consider a few industry standard 3D packages and how these can be used to rig a humanoid character for use in Unity 5. We will demonstrate the retargeting capabilities of Mecanim's Humanoid Animation type by adjusting motion sequences to fit disparate character types in our game. After this, we will look at Ragdoll physics and the implementation of this commonly used technique in a Mecanim workflow. The book culminates with a thorough dissection of the enemy character AI script incorporating the Mecanim elements detailed in the previous chapters. Unity Character Animation with Mecanim will provide you with a detailed exploration of the interaction between game development and character animation, and will broaden your understanding of the rich animation toolset within Unity 5. Style and approach A comprehensive guide, featuring step- by- step practical tutorials using sample assets, showing you how to build fully controllable characters and non-player characters/enemies.

Build exciting games with Unity on iOS and publish them on the App Store About This Book * Take advantage of Unity 5's new tools to create a fully interactive mobile game * Learn how to connect your iTunes developer account and use Unity 5 to communicate with it * Use your Macintosh computer to publish your game to the App Store Who This Book Is For This book is for iOS developers who want to learn how to build games with Unity for the iOS platform. Some prior experience in game development would be useful. What You Will Learn * Create your own iTunes Connect Developer account and create an app within it * Set up iTunes Game Center features in iTunes Connect so you can use them within Unity 5 * Construct a game using C# that allows users to interactively control the game character * Use Unity 5's editor window to create a custom editor tool specific for the game made in the book * Store and keep track of data so the player is able to collect in-game pick-ups that can be used to purchase in-game goods * Use all game features so the player is able to fully navigate menus between the front menu and in the game state * Make, test, and finally release builds so you can play on your device and then submit the game to Apple for review In Detail Over recent years, the market for mobile game development using Unity has grown multi-fold with an overwhelming 600 million gamers playing games developed using Unity engine. The newly launched Unity 5 offers a wide range of dedicated and powerful tools for iOS developers who intend to follow the basics and gradually elevate their skills to revolutionize the way they design and publish games for the App Store. From beginners, to those who are experienced making video games, this book goes through the steps of using Unity 5 to make a game from the ground up and setting the game up with iTunes Game Center features. The book begins with an introduction to setting up an iTunes Connect developer account, this will allow you to use Unity to its full potential with iOS. You will create a new app in iTunes Connect with the settings for Apple approval. You will learn, in detail, how to use Unity 5 and the programming language C# to make a fully interactive game that keeps track of player progress, Game Center Leaderboards, and Achievements, as well as displaying iAds and offering In-App purchases. Moving on, you'll discover how to create development and release builds, enabling you to test the game on your device before finally submitting the game for Apple's approval. By the end of the book, you will have a complete understanding of how iTunes and Unity can be used in combination to build and publish a fully interactive and reliable game to the App Store. Style and approach This is a step-by-step guide that covers the fundamentals of gaming and reveals the secrets of building and monetizing games for the iOS platform.

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.

Create and develop exciting games from start to finish using SFML About This Book * Familiarize yourself with the SFML library and explore additional game development techniques * Craft, shape, and improve your games with SFML and common game design elements * A practical guide that will teach you how to use utilize the SFML library to build your own, fully functional applications Who This Book Is For This book is intended for game development enthusiasts with at least decent knowledge of the C++ programming language and an optional background in game design. What You Will Learn * Create and open a window by using SFML * Utilize, manage, and apply all of the features and properties of the SFML library * Employ some basic game development techniques to make your game tick * Build your own code base to make your game more robust and flexible * Apply common game development and programming patterns to solve design problems * Handle your visual and auditory resources properly * Construct a robust system for user input and interfacing * Develop and provide networking capabilities to your game In Detail Simple and Fast Multimedia Library (SFML) is a simple interface comprising five modules, namely, the audio, graphics, network, system, and window modules, which help to develop cross-platform media applications. By utilizing the SFML library, you are provided with the ability to craft games quickly and easily, without going through an extensive learning curve. This effectively serves as a confidence booster, as well as a way to delve into the game development process itself, before having to worry about more advanced topics such as "rendering pipelines" or "shaders." With just an investment of moderate C++ knowledge, this book will guide you all the way through the journey of game development. The book starts by building a clone of the classical snake game where you will learn how to open a window and render a basic sprite, write well-structured code to implement the design of the game, and use the AABB bounding box collision concept. The next game is a simple platformer with enemies, obstacles and a few different stages. Here, we will be creating states that will provide custom application flow and explore the most common yet often overlooked design patterns used in game development. Last but not the least, we will create a small RPG game where we will be using common game design patterns, multiple GUI. elements, advanced graphical features, and sounds and music features. We will also be implementing networking features that will allow other players to join and play together. By the end of the book, you will be an expert in using the SFML library to its full potential. Style and approach An elaborate take on the game development process in a way that compliments the reader's existing knowledge, this book provides plenty of examples and is kind to the uninitiated. Each chapter builds upon the knowledge gained from the previous one and offers clarifications on common issues while still remaining within the scope of its own subject and retaining clarity.

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 want to make your own game but don't know how to start or don't have the technical skills to do it, then this is the book for you. You don't need to have a programming background to understand the concepts explained.

If you are a Unity 3D developer who wants to create an effective and user-friendly GUI using NGUI for Unity, then this book is for you. Prior knowledge of C# scripting is expected; however, no knowledge of NGUI is required.

Develop your first interactive 2D platformer game by learning the fundamentals of C# About This Book * Get to grips with the fundamentals of scripting in C# with Unity * Create an awesome, 2D platformer game from scratch using the principles of object-oriented programming and coding in C# * This is a step-by-step guide to learn the fundamentals of C# scripting to develop GameObjects and master the basics of the new UI system in Unity Who This Book Is For The book is targeted at beginner level Unity developers with no programming experience. If you are a Unity developer and you wish to learn how to write C# scripts and code by creating games, then this book is for you. What You Will Learn * Understand the fundamentals of variables, methods, and code syntax in C# * Get to know about techniques to turn your game idea into working project * Use loops and collections efficiently in Unity to reduce the amount of code * Develop a game using the object-oriented programming principles * Generate infinite levels for your game * Create and code a good-looking functional UI system for your game * Publish and share your game with users In Detail Unity is a cross-platform game engine that is used to develop 2D and 3D video games. Unity 5 is the latest version, released in March 2015, and adds a real-time global illumination to the games, and its powerful new features help to improve a game's efficiency. This book will get you started with programming behaviors in C# so you can create 2D games in Unity. You will begin by installing Unity and learning about its features, followed by creating a C# script. We will then deal with topics such as unity scripting for you to understand how codes work so you can create and use C# variables and methods. Moving forward, you will find out how to create, store, and retrieve data from collection of objects. You will also develop an understanding of loops and their use, and you'll perform object-oriented programming. This will help you to turn your idea into a ready-to-code project and set up a Unity project for production. Finally, you will discover how to create the GameManager class to manage the game play loop, generate game levels, and develop a simple UI for the game. By the end of this book, you will have mastered the art of applying C# in Unity. Style and approach This is a step-by-step guide to developing a game from scratch by applying the fundamentals of C# and Unity scripting.

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An example-based practical guide to get you up and running with Unreal Engine 4.X About This Book * A unique resource on Unreal with an interactive example based approach that is sure to get you up and running immediately * Will feature four unique game projects that increase in complexity which will enable readers to build their game development skills using Unreal Engine 4 and the C++ programming language * Will be the most up to date book in the market on Unreal with full coverage of the new features of UE4 Who This Book Is For Unreal Engine 4.X by Example was written for keen developers who wish to learn how to fully utilise Unreal Engine 4 to make awesome and engrossing game titles. Whether you are brand new to game development or a seasoned expert, you will be able to make use of the engine with C++. Experience with both C++ and other game engines is preferred before embarking on the Unreal by Example journey, but with a little external research into the basics of C++ programming, this book can take a complete game development novice to an Unreal Engine Developer! What You Will Learn * Use C++ with Unreal Engine to boost the development potential of any Unreal Engine project * Vastly improve workflow and content creation with the visual scripting system blueprint * Design, test, and implement interesting game worlds using Unreal Engines built-in editor * Build a networked, feature-rich first person shooter that you can play with others over LAN * Build design-centric game worlds that play to needs of your game ideas * Paint your game worlds via the creation and modification of visual shaders called materials * Gain knowledge of other game development disciplines through the use of the Animation and Material tool sets * Create feature-rich game projects with a sophisticated visual quality and feature set In Detail With Unreal Engine 4 being made free to use, for any keen game developer it is quickly becoming the most popular game engine in today's development industry. The engine offers a rich feature set that can be customized and built upon through the use of C++. This book will cover how to work with Unreal Engine's tool set all the way from the basics of the editor and the visual scripting system blueprint to the in-depth low-level creation of content using C++. This book will provide you with the skills you need to create feature-rich, captivating, and refined game titles with Unreal Engine 4. This book will take you through the creation of four unique game projects, designed so that you will be ready to apply the engine's rich development capabilities. You will learn not only to take advantage of the visual tools of the engine, but also the vast and powerful programming feature set of Unreal Engine 4. Style and approach The best resource that any beginner level game developer can dream of with examples on leveraging the amazing graphics engine, beautiful character animation and game world generations etc. by means of exciting real world game generation.This book would be a very unique resource for any game developer who wants to get up and running with Unreal. The unique example-driven approach will take you through the most basic games towards the more complex ones and will gradually build your skill level.

Create stunning 3D multiplayer games with integrated cloud-based features About This Book * Build a multiplayer 3D game from scratch using the features of Amazon's Lumberyard * Explore the world of Lumberyard along with Twitch and various key Amazon Web Services to build a game * This step-by-step practical guide will teach you how to build cross-platform games using Lumberyard Who This Book Is For The book caters for those who have an interest or desire to create their own games, either as a hobbyist or to enhance their skills as a professional games developer. The book requires previous knowledge of software development. Experience with C++ will also be beneficial. What You Will Learn * Explore Lumberyard's graphical user interface * Create stunning game worlds * Use Geppetto editor to create 3D characters * Create and animate game characters using Lumberyard's toolset * Create impressive gameplay to add multiplayer functionality to your game * Debug and play your 3D game * Add multiplayer functionality to your game using Amazon GameLift * Integrate with Amazon cloud services to support cloud computing and storage * Engage your users during gameplay with Twitch In Detail Amazon's Lumberyard is a 3D cross-platform game development engine for building high-quality AAA games. It makes the process of creating multi-player games and adding realistic characters, stunning terrains, and special effects much faster and more efficient. This book will show you how to use Lumberyard to create a multiplayer 3D game with cloud computing, storage, and Twitch integration for user engagement. We will start with an introduction to Lumberyard and provide an overview of its capabilities and integration options. Once the game engine is installed, we'll guide you through the creation of an immersive game world with characters. You'll add animations and audio to bring the game to life. We'll explore external interactions to support live multiplayer game play, data storage, user engagement, and the back end. By the end of the book, you will be efficient in building cross-platform games using Lumberyard. Style and approach This step-by-step tutorial is filled with practical examples that will introduce you to the game engine's interface, as well as setting up your development environment.

Brenda Laurel is best known for her work with Purple Moon, the pioneering game company she cofounded in the 1990s. Purple Moon's games were based on years of research Laurel completed in an effort to understand why computer games seemed to be of so little interest to girls. Using diverse archival sources such as trade journals, newspapers, and recorded interviews, alongside Laurel's completed games and own writings and an original interview with Laurel herself, this volume offers insight into both the early development of the games for girls movement of the 1990s and the lasting impact of Laurel's game design breakthroughs. In her work with Purple Moon, Laurel drew on her background in theatre as well as her expertise in human computer interaction and qualitative research. By relying on this interdisciplinary background, Laurel made significant contributions to our understanding of the design and development of games as a medium for emotional rehearsal and storytelling. Additionally, her dedication to research-informed design has had a longstanding impact as companies and designers increasingly rely on audience research and metrics to shape their practices. The newest in Bloomsbury's Influential Video Game Designers series, Carly Kocurek highlights the contributions of a designer whose work has had a profound impact on the development of both games for girls and empathy games.