   Anyone know a book that covers making a complete game?
  Hi guys,I'd like to find a book that will hold my hand all the way through, creating an entire game (something between a 2D sidescroller or very basic 3D shooter would be nice).(I've got experience programming and doing 3D modelling. I've written a good bit of larger graphics-related software and a few simple 2D games. I haven't done too 3D much but tinker around with OpenGL and Java3D.)I'd like something to help me put a more complicated project together, but also help me finish it.Any advice?   
  Firstly, There isn't 'one almighty book' that guides you through all steps of software development. Rather, there are books that focus on certain aspects of software development, such as the waterfall process, extreme programming, etc. If you do find a book that gives you a general flow of software design, it will be very generic and will not dive into the complexities of the design process. Secondly, you did not specify how you will be going about creating your game? Which graphics library will you use? how are graphics created? What is your timeline? etc.If you give us more detail, we can correctly guide you to a book that meets your specific needs. Also, there are tutorials on the web that have just as much information as any book. I would suggest using those first, to narrow down your idea.   ;  I don't really have a preference as to OpenGL/DirectX/Java3D.I'm good with Java, pretty good with C++, and ok with Scheme and a coupleother languages.As for a time frame... maybe 3 months. I'm going to work on it as a summer project. I don't really care whether it takes less/more time though. For the game itself, I'm willing to go along with the book's idea.If it were up to me, I'd create something similar the older Zelda games. (Though, I'm pretty interested in doing a simple 3D shooter too...)   ;  The closest book I know that would suit your needs is Game Coding Complete 2nd Edition if you can still get hold of it.   ;  For Game Coding Complete, the 3rd edition has been released. Don't bother trying to find the 2nd edition. I am not sure this book is really what you want, though.For an other book maybe take a look at "Beginning Game Programming: A GameDev.net Collection", but I haven't read it yet.   ;Programming Role Playing Games with DirectX is pretty all-encompassing on the topic of RPG games.  I seem to remember it covered 2D RPGs (top-down perspective with tiling, like zelda), 2.5D RPGs (3d with pre-rendered backgrounds, like Final Fantasy VII), and Fully-3D RPGs.It also covers scripting, which is pretty killer.The above link is not the newest edition, but it is the one I own, and the used price can't be beat!  Also, the new edition has lower ratings on Amazon, and I think they cut out large portions of the material.   ;Quote:Original post by BTownTKDProgramming Role Playing Games with DirectX is pretty all-encompassing on the topic of RPG games.  I seem to remember it covered 2D RPGs (with tiles, like zelda), 2.5D RPGs (3d with pre-rendered backgrounds, like Final Fantasy VII), and Fully-3D RPGs.It also covers scripting, which is pretty killer.The above link is not the newest edition, but it is the one I own, and the used price can't be beat!  Also, the new edition has lower ratings on Amazon, and I think they cut out large portions of the material.I wouldn't really recommend that - sure, it's a good book (I own a copy), but it's a bit dated, and the code won't compile with the latest DirectX SDKs, which could be a bit frustrating and confusing for beginners.   ;  I have Game Coding Complete, and I enjoy reading it, but it covers maybe more than I'm interested in at the moment (and it's a 900 page monster).[Edited by - meteorstorm42 on April 27, 2009 10:18:24 PM];So... any other suggestions?;Quote:Original post by meteorstorm42I don't really have a preference as to OpenGL/DirectX/Java3D.I'm good with Java, pretty good with C++, and ok with Scheme and a coupleother languages.As for a time frame... maybe 3 months. I'm going to work on it as a summer project. I don't really care whether it takes less/more time though. For the game itself, I'm willing to go along with the book's idea.If it were up to me, I'd create something similar the older Zelda games. (Though, I'm pretty interested in doing a simple 3D shooter too...)This book actually walks you through creating a Zelda clone using C++ and DirectX so it sounds like this is the one you should be looking at.Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming with DirectX in 21 DaysOnly downside it that is uses DX8 so it might take some work to get it to work with the latest DX SDK or port it to another API of your choice.Ron Penton's Data Structures book also creates bits and pieces of a Zelda 2D clone using SDL but it's not a complete game at the end of the book like the first book I mentioned.Finally, there is Game Programming All in One, Third Edition which walks you step by step in creating a complete 2D Attank clone using Allegro.