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Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: This book is excellent! Review: I bought this book 2 or 3 years ago but at that point could make no use of it as I didnt know enough C. Since then, things have changed and I understand it far better. The best feature of the book is the style - it is actually well written. But in many places it does not explain enough about the techinques it introduces. It is not for a total beginner in game programming. Also, in 1999 the DOS-oriented techniques are dated but many things stay the same. Although I give it a high rating, I would not suggest to buy it at this point. Recently, I bought a book on game programming from 94, and a book by Len FDorfman called "Lightning-Fast Animation Graphics", for $4 each at a discount bookstores. They're not nearly as comprehensive as Andre's, but there's something good in each. Anyway, the moral is do not expect everything from this book... It is just one in the series of game programming books released in the mid 90s, but admittedly, it is the better of that class. Also, make sure your knowledge of C and basic computer architecture is solid, or it will not be productive.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: read it Review: I bought this book in 1997, and read through it, even though I didn't have a working C compiler at the time. Even so, I read through it, and started to see what this book tried to teach. I didn't know a single function in C. About 2 years later, I got a compiler, and also know more about my computer in general. This book not only teaches you a lot about game programming, but also memory allocation, and it serves as a good intro to assembly language. If you are new in the game programming area, then this is a very good beginning book.Read it. It's worth it.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: You have to want to learn Review: Reading the reviews, they look mixed. The book is outdated by most standards, but gives the foundations for game design. Don't expect the book to teach you C, C++, assembly, or how to work your compiler, that's not what the book is about. But, don't expect a good book on C to tell you how to do anything more than text input and output. That is where this book comes in, it takes the basics of C, and gives the knowledge needed to move to graphical game programming. The author is very enjoyable to read, and if you find the tone too playful, maybe you shouldn't be wanting to develop games anyway. Anyway, as far as the criticisms of the book being outdated, how would one expect to be able to develop a professional level game if one can't first make a space invaders type game in a most basic video mode. If one wants 3-D games, I have 3 books just on OpenGL alone, and they don't teach any game programming concepts. But, I've had this book for years, and am here mostly looking for newer game programming books by this author. Also, I was kind of curious about seeing the results of the contest mentioned in the book. Final point, this book with a book on C programming is a great intro to game programming, but I would look to newer titles by this author first. Either way, there is still a great deal you can learn from this book. No matter what book you get, though, know the language you are using, know your compiler, and don't expect EVERYTHING from one book!
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Good, solid info for intermmediate programmers. Review: This is basically a very good book. Ignore the people who say the code doesn't work, it's not 32-bit, etc. They need to realize this is about games programming and the book is a little old. You need a DOS C compile (Visual C++ 1.52 works great), not Windows!!! As far as setting all the modes, etc, the author notes that to do complete justice to all aspects of game programming he would need to write a book such as 'Advanced Game Programming in 210 days'. Don't think one Programming book will ever give you everything. If you think that, you are sadly mistaking, but this book gives a good, solid foundation of basics of DOS games programming, out of which I made a semi-decent DOS Space Invaders game with keyboard and Joystick control of my own. If a Space Invaders game isn't enough for you, you will have to do more research of your own, and probably buy more books.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: This book is very old, but I still love it. Review: This is the book that inspired me to be a game programmer years back. I love this book. Its for dos, however dos is still fun. :) It may not have much use today, its still fun to read, because people who know dos programming, rox0r those who don't :P
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