Description

Part of the new Foundations of Game Development Series! Almost every video game on the market today is powered by a game engine. But, what is a game engine? What does it do? How are they useful to both developers and the game? And how are they made? These, and other important engine-related questions, are explored and discussed in this book. In clear and concise language, this book examines through examples and exercises both the design and implementation of a video game engine. Specifically, it focuses on the core components of a game engine, audio and sound systems, file and resource management, graphics and optimization techniques, scripting and physics, and much more. Suitable for students, hobbyists, and independent developers, this no-nonsense book helps fine tune an understanding of solid engine design and implementation for creating games that sell. Scroll down to the Samples tab to preview Chapter 1: Game Engines - Details and Design Provides a comprehensive exploration of Game Engine design and implementation accessible to students, hobbyists, and novice game programmersExamines how general purpose engines can be tweaked for specific game genres such as Action, RPG, Strategy, and AdventureExamines both 2D tile-based and real-time 3D enginesProvides tips on how to make games cross-platformExplores input, audio, game tools, map editors, scripting, and moreIncludes self-tests, questions, exercises, and source code examples Appropriate courses include Game Programming, Game Engine Programming, and Game Engine Development. (c) 2011 594 pages