Rating: 
Summary: Good Book, not for beginners
Review: This book is very helpful, but this book is not intended for the absolute beginner. You should know at least the basics of either C or C++. Other than that, it does a fairly good job of laying down what you need to know, and how to go about doing it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book for all game programmers.
Review: This is a great book for anybody thinking about programming RPGs... And even if your not going to I would at least try to take a peak at the book and think about buying it.First off the book assumes that the reader has a through knowledge of C programming and that you have some experience with coding. And has, like the rest of the series, quite a few pages devoted to C++... (The best thing with this book is you actually make a rpg game following the book and it's practices!) The first part of the book covers what is role-playing, desiging role-playing games and some basic story-telling. The Jim covers basic programming with C++ as well as some engine architecture that is different from most other books - ex. Tricks from the Windows Game Programming Gurus. It introduces concepts like state managers, process managers and data packages - some great stuff for programming big games. The third part covers basic DirectGraphics concepts ("a whirlwind tour", according to the author). The code does the job really well and the concepts are well-explained. After that the book covers information about DirectInput and DirectSound, the chapter on DirectInput includes information on programming joysticks, and other information in the book includes: wrappers for Direct3D, DirectSound and DirectInput, and followed by that, octrees and quadtrees, 2d tile engines, mixed 2d/3d engine, collison detection and so on. The only problem I see is some of the real super newbies will see the book go at a fast rate... It has great explainations but he does move fast. And the author likes to leave out the obvious - so you have to pay attention in the beggining or you'll be turning pages back into the book to see whats up. Basicaly, pick up this book if you are starting DirectX, pick up the book if you plan on crreating RPG games. The book is great, you'll have a working RPG game after going through the book, you will learn alot about DirectX and storytelling at that! 5 Stars.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: This is definitly the best game programming book focus on direct x,I have ever read.
What I have most appreciated is its perfect balance beetwen theory and practice.
Jim Adams explains the basic of Direct x 8.0 without scaring the reader with too many details...straight to the core, we must not forget that the graphic API is just a tool for a game programmer.
you must not be a direct x guru, to write a game.
It make also an extensive use of the the D3DX library.
Why should we waste time with a bloody theory if MS provide a so advanced library for the most important and common tasks?
Same consideration for the 2D and the 3D graphic engine.
Although they are probably the most advanced game engines now available on the market ,at a semi-professional level,no even one word is spent to inform the reader ,how a smart programmer the author is...just the content of each class and its use, nothing more , nothing less...just meat.
But the most valuable part of the book are the , say , "Tricks of ..." In other word all those technics that are a must for a game programmer.
For example ,there is one whole chapter dedicated to the use of the "scripts" or to "Data structure " etc.
No other game programming book , as far as I know, even mention so important topics.
Last a complete game is supplied.
Jim is a moderator of the GameDev.net, the most important comunity on the web for game programming.
He can rely upon a huge list of FAQ'S, so he knows what a beginner \ intermediate programmer really needs, better than a professional game programmer.
My favourite book for opengl is "Opengl game programming ", also a masterpiece, also written by GameDev.net moderators
Rating:
Summary: Best Game Programming Book I've Found Yet!
Review: This is the best game programming book I have found yet, and I have a collection of them to say the least. Its a thick book, but its worth it. It goes into details most others leave out. Some have spoken down on the fact that it starts off with story-writing but, it is about programming role-playing games, and that is a pivotal part. =) Anyway - GREAT BOOK!
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