3D Game Creation (Cyberrookies)

Rating:
Summary: 3D Game Creation by Luke Ahearn
Review: I think this is a nice game maker for rookies I got this book but pie in the sky software was old on mine so it wouldn't go because a have a new computer. The games Factory is a fun way to make 2d games. I've made a level on a game and its pretty good. I think this is good for rookies that want to become game makers. It talks you through the different games and walk you through carefully I like it.

Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Review: There is absolutely NO CODE in this book. This publication is geared towards the newbie (I should have known... CyberRookies!) gamer who wants to build a game but has never gone through the process of developing anything. (...) Hence, the level of freedom you can get is severely curtailed. Sure, there is good software in this book, but if you must buy it, I suggest you don't open the CD packet so that you may return the book WHEN (not IF) you dislike it.

To the book's credit, the title isn't terribly misleading... He should have said "(...bad) 3D Game Creation with No Programming Required". You can't possibly make something worth playing (or getting money for) with no programming effort required! It's not possible!

Bottom line: if you want to build a (...bad) game in 20 minutes with graphics quality like the early 90's, with rookie software, then this book is for you...

Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Review: This book teaches you how to use some pretty amazing software: Clickteam's "The Game Factory". If your goal is to quickly learn how to make 2D games, then this book is for you. The software (which comes with the book) includes a large number of graphics including animated characters, which you can make walk around the screen, fall, jump, kick or die. The 3D section is also good, and shows you how to use Pie-in-the Sky 3D software. This book is not for you if you are a hard-core programmer, but if your goal is to make some pretty good games easily, then this is it. I had a great time with this book.

Rating:
Summary: An embarrasment
Review: To me it seems like this is merely an attempt to get kids who don't know about how professional games are made to think that they will be able to make comercial quality 3D games. I have run demo versions for the software in the book and can tell you personally that it's useless. I looked at it at this book store for a short time, but it was long enough for me to realize that all it was was an alternative "manual" for some lame software. I would only recomend buying this if you are under the age of 9, and want to experiment with 3D graphics. I can tell you that anyone over nine who wishes to become a professional game programmer or hobbyist will not have trouble using computer languages like C and C++ along with API's like OpenGL (although you will be making text games for quite a while, it's well worth it), because I myself started at that age. I feel that if I had tried to use this book first, I would have wasted a large amount of time getting nothing productive done. I only give it two stars because of it's value for younger children, and those not serious about large projects.

Rating:
Summary: An embarrasment
Review: To me it seems like this is merely an attempt to get kids who don't know about how professional games are made to think that they will be able to make comercial quality 3D games. I have run demo versions for the software in the book and can tell you personally that it's useless. I looked at it at this book store for a short time, but it was long enough for me to realize that all it was was an alternative "manual" for some lame software. I would only recomend buying this if you are under the age of 9, and want to experiment with 3D graphics. I can tell you that anyone over nine who wishes to become a professional game programmer or hobbyist will not have trouble using computer languages like C and C++ along with API's like OpenGL (although you will be making text games for quite a while, it's well worth it), because I myself started at that age. I feel that if I had tried to use this book first, I would have wasted a large amount of time getting nothing productive done. I only give it two stars because of it's value for younger children, and those not serious about large projects.