Rating: 
Summary: A well written book.
Review: This book is great for beginners. If you know C++ and want to write (2d) games this is the best book you can get. And at that price, it's something you shouldn't miss ! ... You get everything from Windows programming to AI concepts, DirectDraw, DirectSound, DirectInput (with joystick enumeration) and DirectSetup.Really what a beginner needs. But if you aren't a beginner, don't buy it. It won't do you much good. If you're like me you'll find this book to be too easy. But since it's a beginner book I still give it 5 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a good book
Review: Lamothe should be ashamed of himself. The book s**ks. Many statements made are either completely incorrect and just plain ignorant. For instance, the author assumes that all 16-bit modes are 5-5-5, when they are most definately NOT. If you program with his method, your game will NOT work.
Rating:
Summary: I needed this book!!
Review: I bought this book after a few weeks of C coding looking to get into some cool programming. Previously I've explored web programming, html JavaScript and some java. Im 24 and picked up this digtal portal 9 months ago and I enjoy toying with it to no end. I also just purchased Visual C 6.0. I would recommend this book if you have a grasp at programming structure. You'll be lost if you want a book that takes you from no progamming knowledge to the christmas product line. This is a book that needs patience if your not well ground in the C/C++ language. I found it to be and excellent introduction to Windows programming. I'm only a couple of chapters in but I've only had a few problems. Look around here for the change to (HBRUSH)GetStockObject(BLACK_BRUSH) ou'll an get error. Apart from that, everything compiles fine. I dont know why people are complaining about this book being too hard. You only get out what you put into it, so if you dont know C.. that's life. If you want to be a mechanic, you have to know about the structure of an engine. How could you put together an engine without knowing why that particular part needs to be there. Learn C, and it's mechanical strucure. Anyway, Im getting there.. and Quake3A sure is cool.
Rating: 
Summary: good, but has NO DIRECT3D
Review: It's a good book, but has absolutely no info on Direct3D. I think it should have at least an index of Direct3D functions. It also requires a small amount of knowledge on C or C++. However, it is great for beginners.
Rating:
Summary: HELP...WILL MY 12 YEAR OLD SON BE ABLE TO USE IT?
Review: My 12 year old son is a fanatical game/computer junkie who is pretty familiar with all aspects of games and their codes etc., and has expressed an interest in writing his own games...is this book comprehensible enough for his agegroup? he is smart, but he hasn't written any real programs, although he does figure out all the secret codes for nintendo, but i am intinidated by the references to C and CC+ in the reviews of this book.any advice would be great...thanks
Rating: 
Summary: Great book, but code wont compile
Review: I really think this is the best book to start learning Directx, but the directx code won't compile for me :-(
Rating:
Summary: Great book, but had code problems
Review: The book itself was great, but it had some code problems. The code wouldn't compile without minor changes in MSVC++ 6. Also, it would not display 24bit images properly. It would be nice if the author updated his code *hint* *hint* :) Besides these problems the book is great and well thourght out, it is a great book for anyone beggining in DirectDraw programming. Oh, and one other thing to get the code to compile you need to change the line: winclass.hbrBackground = GetStockObject(BLACK_BRUSH); To: winclass.hbrBackground = (HBRUSH)GetStockObject(BLACK_BRUSH);
Rating:
Summary: A really great book for beginners, just like me =)
Review: This is a really great book for beginners in the Windows programming enviroment, I know a little bit of C and alot more of C++, but i'm faaar away from being a good c++ programmer. Eversince I began programming I've heard that win programming is really difficult. Well I think its not so very difficult but I do not mean I havent had my nights without sleep, This book teaches the fundamentals of win programming and DirectX. I have'nt got through the whole book yet but I really think it is an outstanding book! But with this I dont mean you could just go the the bookstore and get yourself a copy and then think you're going to get home making games, you need patience! As when I think one section in the book is boring I jump mabe 5 pages forward and realise I really need to read those boring sections because I do'nt understand what the hell he is talking about. You are required to know C, atleast be familiar with it. and if you also know c++ it's a plus!
Rating:
Summary: Otherwise titled DirectX for Beginners
Review: I was looking to dive into DirectX and start programming Games in Windows as opposed to DOS. I bought Inside DirectX, and wow, way over my head, it goes into Device Enumeration and explains everything in a very complicated way. Don't get me wrong, it is a good book, but only after you have an understanding of DirectX which LaMothe was able to provide. WGPDumb was the ultimate DirectX beginner book, he explained everything in a clear, concise, understandable manner and made DirectX seem like the easiest thing I ever saw. He changed my perception of DirectX which I though was incredibly complicated but was actually very very easy. Afterwards I read Inside DirectX easily and understood all of the more advanced concepts. I recommend that no one ever reads the SDK Documentation unless it is for reference, it is terrible. Instead, get this book, I guarantee it will pay for itself in about 3 days which is how long it took me to read it. =)
Rating:
Summary: Helping others...
Review: Andre Lamothe's book is just like all his other books...Once I start reading I cant put it down. The book had excellent coverage on programming in DX and then after covering the technical details of DX he makes a nice wrapper for us to use to avoid the "DX Side" of DX :-) The sound engine wrapper he wrote was great...allowing up to 64 sounds to be played at once and the AI coverage totally kicked @$$ for anyone out there that had half a brain. Keep up the good work Andre. Xtreme Games 4-ever!!!
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