Starting Out with Games and Graphics in C++

by Tony Gaddis

Tony Gaddis’s accessible, step-by-step presentation helps beginning students understand the important details necessary to become skilled programmers at an introductory level. Gaddis motivates the study of both programming skills and the C++ programming language by presenting all the details needed to understand the “how” and the “why”—but never losing sight of the fact that most beginners struggle with this material. His approach is both gradual and highly accessible, ensuring that readers understand the logic behind developing high-quality programs.

In Starting Out with Games and Graphics in C++, Gaddis covers the essentials of programming for a novice using the C++ language. Like all Gaddis books, it covers each and every step. Throughout the book, programming topics are illustrated with graphical examples, including full chapter long case studies that implement simple, but complete, video games. This approach insures that students remain motivated by the material, while still getting a solid CS1 foundation. Only enough game- and graphics-theory is covered for students to understand the examples.

Genres: Programming

703 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2009

Reviews

[Muhammad Maqbool · Rating 5 out of 5]

....???

[Ray Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introductory book for people interested in learning C++
using DarkGDK as a vehicle. DarkGDK was really the draw
for me reading this book because I wanted a book that introduced
DarkGDK for a course titled Software Practice which is about
keeping students programming and we needed something motivational.
DarkGDK is capable of a lot more than this book manages to cover.
It really needs a 3D more advanced follow up. But for what it is
it's quite reasonable. Students reading this book should be
able to program rather sophisticated 2D games with a little practice.

[Domonique Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was ok and I really enjoyed some of the graphic programs that I was able to create but I found that the book was a little lacking in the number of examples when it came to specific points in the book. I was bit confused at one point in time and had to spend a lot of hours working on a particular program in order to understand it but all in all I would say that the book is a good read. I just wish the DarkGDK had not been so frustrating.