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Cocos2d-x Game Development Essentials
Create iOS and Android games from scratch using Cocos2d-x About This Book
Create and run Cocos2d-x projects on iOS and Android platforms.
Find practical solutions to many real-world game development problems.
Learn the essentials of Cocos2d-x by writing code and following step-by-step instructions.
Who This Book Is For
Set up Cocos2d-x to create games
Create a new project in Cocos2d-x
Learn to run a project on iOS and Android platforms
Implement the core game structure using Cocos2d-x tools and techniques
Add gameplay using general coding practices and built-in functions within Cocos2d-x
Manipulate the game items to provide gameplay using Cocos2d-x actions
Overcome common problems faced during the game development phase with Cocos2d-x
In Detail
Create and run Cocos2d-x projects on iOS and Android platforms.
Find practical solutions to many real-world game development problems.
Learn the essentials of Cocos2d-x by writing code and following step-by-step instructions.
Who This Book Is For
This book is designed to help existing developers who are looking to learn this amazing framework, which provides cross-platform development. It is also perfect for developers who already have an existing C++ foundation and would like to learn game development using Cocos2d-x, or those who are coming from another framework.
What You Will LearnSet up Cocos2d-x to create games
Create a new project in Cocos2d-x
Learn to run a project on iOS and Android platforms
Implement the core game structure using Cocos2d-x tools and techniques
Add gameplay using general coding practices and built-in functions within Cocos2d-x
Manipulate the game items to provide gameplay using Cocos2d-x actions
Overcome common problems faced during the game development phase with Cocos2d-x
In Detail
Cocos2d-x is the C++ port of the most popular open source 2D framework in the world. Cocos2d-x is an amazing open source game engine that allows developers to exploit their existing C++, Lua, and JavaScript knowledge for cross-platform deployment into iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Tizen, and HTML5, saving you time, effort, and cost.
You will learn the essentials of Cocos2d-x through examples, by creating a game from scratch. The book starts with adding scenes and menus to the game. Furthermore, you can learn more about the varied features such as scene transitions, game sprites, moving the spaceship, and adding audio to make your game livelier. By the end of the book, you will be able to solve problems that may arise during the entire game development phase.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
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4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 9, 2014
This review is derived using a review copy of the e-book version of this title.
Overall this book is excellent for what it is, an essentials book, the language and structure used is clear and precise with no unnecessary and unwarranted extras. It provides a good basis, of the Cocos2d-x programming language, from which to learn and is suitable for novices and for people with some experience. I would definitely recommend this book for anybody who wants to learn how to develop their own games /apps for mobile devices.
Anyway, to the book. I like that the authors, took nothing for granted and truly wrote the essentials, it provides a good basis from which to start your learning. They explain everything in sufficient detail, whilst admitting the unnecessary topics which are not essential and would not be suitable for this type of text. The authors do not make the mistake some books, supposedly for beginners, make in assuming the reader has come from another programming language and is both suitable for the novices and also the people with some experience in this language.
The book is structured expertly, in both the content ordering and the chapter layout .The content is ordered in such a manner which allows the reader to understand the reasoning behind using any given function and demonstrates how to use the given functions and tools. The chapters are structured in a manner, where they always start with a defining summary which informs the reader what will be happening in that particular chapter and thus showing its relevance to your particular needs. The chapter then goes through step by step demonstrating how to metaphorically get from point A to point B. Stages/ chapters take the readers, from simply setting up a project, to a simple 'Hello World' program, all the way through to a full example game which runs efficiently and contains scenes, audio and physics. This essentials book demonstrates the whole process of making a game, short of the planning phase, and allows you to learn the process in a manner which will result in you being able to undertake a project of your own.
It is particularly impressive to see that the authors, Sonar Systems, have not only made the game available on the store, like here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... , but also have other games on both the google app store and the iTunes app store, such as 'Glo Breaker'. This demonstrates that the authors really understand the Cocos2d-x programming language and process of creating apps. It is also interesting to see that they have over 400 videos/ tutorials on the website: https://www.youtube.com/user/sonarsys... which provides an extra layer of content that they have made available for people to learn from.
My only criticism is that the screenshots which contains some of the code in the application can be a bit blurry and hard to read, however I did notice that the authors have made the code that they use in the game freely available in a convenient location available to download.
Overall this book is excellent for what it is, an essentials book, the language and structure used is clear and precise with no unnecessary and unwarranted extras. It provides a good basis, of the Cocos2d-x programming language, from which to learn and is suitable for novices and for people with some experience. I would definitely recommend this book for anybody who wants to learn how to develop their own games /apps for mobile devices.
Anyway, to the book. I like that the authors, took nothing for granted and truly wrote the essentials, it provides a good basis from which to start your learning. They explain everything in sufficient detail, whilst admitting the unnecessary topics which are not essential and would not be suitable for this type of text. The authors do not make the mistake some books, supposedly for beginners, make in assuming the reader has come from another programming language and is both suitable for the novices and also the people with some experience in this language.
The book is structured expertly, in both the content ordering and the chapter layout .The content is ordered in such a manner which allows the reader to understand the reasoning behind using any given function and demonstrates how to use the given functions and tools. The chapters are structured in a manner, where they always start with a defining summary which informs the reader what will be happening in that particular chapter and thus showing its relevance to your particular needs. The chapter then goes through step by step demonstrating how to metaphorically get from point A to point B. Stages/ chapters take the readers, from simply setting up a project, to a simple 'Hello World' program, all the way through to a full example game which runs efficiently and contains scenes, audio and physics. This essentials book demonstrates the whole process of making a game, short of the planning phase, and allows you to learn the process in a manner which will result in you being able to undertake a project of your own.
It is particularly impressive to see that the authors, Sonar Systems, have not only made the game available on the store, like here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... , but also have other games on both the google app store and the iTunes app store, such as 'Glo Breaker'. This demonstrates that the authors really understand the Cocos2d-x programming language and process of creating apps. It is also interesting to see that they have over 400 videos/ tutorials on the website: https://www.youtube.com/user/sonarsys... which provides an extra layer of content that they have made available for people to learn from.
My only criticism is that the screenshots which contains some of the code in the application can be a bit blurry and hard to read, however I did notice that the authors have made the code that they use in the game freely available in a convenient location available to download.
November 11, 2014
https://www.packtpub.com/game-develop...
Good to have one more in sparse English books on cocos2d-x but at beginner's level. As the book title says, yes it is a basic book on cocos2d-x. Might be good for beginners who are looking out for a basic game implementation in cocos2d-x. Concepts are nicely explained but I think the same are available at author's YouTube series. But if you still want to add more (by implementing 'Just Playable game') to your game development appetite at a beginner level then this would be nice.
Not recommended to the person looking out for earning money out of the games by putting in-game ads or other ways as this is beginner's book.
Only for beginners or hobbyist.
I would've appreciated if the book would have covered saving user's data like scores because this is one of the most important aspect of game development..
Looking out for more advance books on cocos2d-x by this author as he explained concepts very nicely.
Good to have one more in sparse English books on cocos2d-x but at beginner's level. As the book title says, yes it is a basic book on cocos2d-x. Might be good for beginners who are looking out for a basic game implementation in cocos2d-x. Concepts are nicely explained but I think the same are available at author's YouTube series. But if you still want to add more (by implementing 'Just Playable game') to your game development appetite at a beginner level then this would be nice.
Not recommended to the person looking out for earning money out of the games by putting in-game ads or other ways as this is beginner's book.
Only for beginners or hobbyist.
I would've appreciated if the book would have covered saving user's data like scores because this is one of the most important aspect of game development..
Looking out for more advance books on cocos2d-x by this author as he explained concepts very nicely.
November 18, 2014
I'm an intermediate level programmer in the game development. This book gave me the foundation I needed to take full advantage of what Cocos2dX has to offer. Every chapter is very clearly written, and teaches step by step the necesary to learn how to work with this Game development Platform.
I like to learn by doing, so I was glad that examples with sample data are included in every chapter. You learn and try it out.
The writing is very clear, and the editing is clean. The author is concise, specific, and never wasteful. This book has been a tremendous help at my job, and the skills I've learned have allowed me to take on many new responsibilities.
If you are like me, new to cocos2dx this is a very usefull book.
I like to learn by doing, so I was glad that examples with sample data are included in every chapter. You learn and try it out.
The writing is very clear, and the editing is clean. The author is concise, specific, and never wasteful. This book has been a tremendous help at my job, and the skills I've learned have allowed me to take on many new responsibilities.
If you are like me, new to cocos2dx this is a very usefull book.
October 13, 2014
The book Cocos2d-x Game Development Essentials is very well made and it is suitable for every developer who has experience in the programming and now begins to learn how to make games.
The book consistently goes through several stages, step by step, the authors introduce us to the concept of engine and how to approach in their work. From basic hello world program through scene making, adding audio, physics and so on, everything for your development start is in this book.
I recommend this book to all who are just starting the development of games with the cocos2d-x engine. In the end of the book you will know how to make cross platform games which could run on Android, iOS and etc.
The book consistently goes through several stages, step by step, the authors introduce us to the concept of engine and how to approach in their work. From basic hello world program through scene making, adding audio, physics and so on, everything for your development start is in this book.
I recommend this book to all who are just starting the development of games with the cocos2d-x engine. In the end of the book you will know how to make cross platform games which could run on Android, iOS and etc.
December 5, 2014
i am game developer in thailand, I have read "Cocos2d-x Game Development Essentials". Good job man, Very well described C++ suitable game developer for beginners
November 22, 2015
Very basic book on Cocos2d-x development for the beginner. Doesn't go into too much depth but covers enough of the basics to get you started.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews