Rating: 
Summary: Great book! More than enough to get you started
Review: I had been programming in C++ for a while when i started to read this book, and it's helped me go from knowing barely anything about game programming to being able to write simple games (and i'm only on chapter 5!!) a definate buy for the beginner programmer, but more experienced game programmers might want to look somewhere else.
Rating:
Summary: talk about a book that has everything!
Review: this book is simply the best book out there...if will teach you how to do some simple win32 programming, and directx as well. Plus don't forget about AI, multithreading, graphics...it also comes with a cd full of other articles about game programming and direct 3d, etc... this is proably the most comprehensive books our there...which makes sense since andre wrote it. Although getting throught this think book will take alot of time and patience...it will all be worth it!
Rating:
Summary: Top of the Line
Review: If you're looking for a book to learn about game programming this book is for you. Not only the Author is very funny but he is very miticulous. You will go thru a whole bunch of stuff and you will find an excellent explanation about windows programming that you would not find anywhere else. This guy not only is a genious but also knows how to explain things unambigiously. Windows programming is not an easy subject and I had rather seen a better approach. Things are better explained when they are explained in details, and Andre Lamothe made sure all the details are covered..... he has a very good sense of humour too.
Rating:
Summary: THE place to start Windows game coding
Review: I think we should all give Andre a hand for writing such a good, easy to read book on how to start coding games for the Windows platform. When I first got this book, I started reading and didn't put the book down till halfway through, it's that easy to read.Although I do have to complain about his use of 8-bit palletized mode (Andre, more bits are BETTER), his code is very easy to convert to more advanced 16 or 24-bit modes. This book is THE comprehensive source on how to start game writing for Windows. It walks you through beginning Win32 coding, starts into basic DirectDraw and then into much more advanced topics like DirectSound/DirectMusic, computer AI, special effects and other cool topics. Overall, thanks for writing such a great book Andre.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but has a little to many flaws
Review: If you are new to game programming, this is a great book. However, before you buy this book, you should know this: This is not a book for complete beginners in c. You should at least know console programming pretty well. It is possible to finish this book without knowing any c, but it is much more difficult. There is some quite advanced math here, but maybe its just I that is a bad mathematican. The example 7.13 is corrupt, ask Andre at ceo@xgames3d.com and you get the working example. He, as one of the last book writers, actually answers the mails you send to him (besides if it has to do with the compiler) The book has tree parts: 1. Windows programming 2. DirectX prgramming 3. Hardcore game programming Mostly, this is great written. Andre uses a humorous style of writing, but you still feel how experienced the writer is. He should, however, not wrote 3d on the front. Much of the book is also written before Andre decided to split the book, so you hear a million times at the first 10 chapters. But after you read this, you can actually write a tile based game with quite advanced AI and physics. After all, a good, but not great buy. I will recomend it to new game programmers. More experienced game programmers trying to learn Direct3D(DirectX Graphic) has to wait for the next volume... Or, you can get this so you know more of wat to come... I don`t know, but I think it`s worth it...
Rating:
Summary: This Book is GRREEAAAT
Review: well, this books is just as everybody else said, doesnt cover 3D, but.. how can a beginner start by learning 3D? this book is for who are still beginners in game programming, it goes step by step from the ground level of windows programming and builds every concept after the other, i tried to read in 3D before reading this book but after that i knew i should master 2D first to digest the 3D stuff, the vector graphics chapter is great and really helpful and the AI and physics and data structres chapters are also really good, also i think it is would be better to code in C++ but i think C is better for starters who are not expert in C++ , if you want to start learning Game Programming , strart by this one, then get any other 3D book..i recommend (advanced 3d game programming using directx7) or wait for volume 2
Rating: 
Summary: sigh
Review: Andre, Andre, Andre.... When will you use a compiler put out in this millenium? All of your books look so informative, and yet you can't write a book using a tool we can all buy in the store. You make me so sad.
Rating:
Summary: Misleading Title, but an amazing beginner's book
Review: Many people have complained about the title, and yes, there is NO coverage of 3D game programming in this book. The articles on the CD don't really do that well, and as such I realize that people SHOULD be upset that this book has the words 3D in the title. However, the book is, hands down, the greatest BEGINNER'S game programming book of all time. Have you gone through C or C++ books, have mastered the syntax, but are completely stumped on where to go now? BUY THIS!!! He starts you on basic Windows programming, teaching you the outer shell of any program and a small sample of Windows GUI drawing to get you up to speed enough to make you own Paint program. Then he spends a short amount of time on COM objects, giving the reader an essential basic understand of what DirectX objects are, and then spends over 600 pages explaining DirectDraw, DirectSound, DirectMusic, DirectInput, and basic physics models. This is the book that gets you from stumped to understand enough of DirectX to plunge into 3D programming, which can be taught by any number of books on the market, not the least of which being Volume 2 of this series, to be published January 1, 2002. This is the essential beginner's book to DirectX, despite the title. All you newbies (and me) need this book! Luckily I have my copy ;)
Rating:
Summary: Great Book for the Beginnning Windows Game Programmer
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book but I was surprised when I realized there was no coverage of 3D graphics. Throughout the book the author talks about how some material will be particularly useful when he discusses 3D, but he fails to explain that he means Volume 2! Aside from the lack of 3D info, the Windows and 2D material is excellent. The author starts from the beginning (WinMain) and builds up each concept gradually so it's easy to follow. And every concept has an associated demo with source code which is pretty impressive. Other than the DirectX interaction, the code is mostly C not C++. I would have liked good examples of how to use C++ effectively for writing games. Also, STL isn't used at all. Instead the author spends several pages describing his own linked list and tree classes. Unless there is a good reason (e.g., performance) STL should have been used. Another thing I liked was the personal insight the author provides. Although sometimes his writing style can be fun and even goofy, his vast experience is obvious.
Rating:
Summary: Great Beginner Book
Review: When i first looked up this book i was so skeptical and unsure of what this book would contain or teach me, however, after reading it I was more than pleasently Surpized with this book. This book gives a very good and slow step by step introduction of game programming, beginning of course with an introduction to windows programming. Being a novice to programming for windows this was an great help and was worth the time he took to write it so i wasnt just thrust with little premature knowledge into directX. I loved how he would go slowly and explain things in great detail, so that its difficult not to follow him. One of the best things about this book is the broad range of materials that he delves into and not just the coding examples but the reasoning behind his actions are all explained to show many different aspects of game programming. Definately recommended as a read for anyone who wants to get into game programming, however be warned that knowledge of C or C++ is a must for this book.
| 
