To even try to keep pace with the rapid evolution of game development, you need a strong foundation in core programming techniques-not a hefty volume on one narrow topic or one that devotes itself to API-specific implementations. Finally, there's a guide that delivers! As a professor at the Spanish university that offered that country's first master's degree in video game creation, author Daniel Sanchez-Crespo recognizes that there's a core programming curriculum every game designer should be well versed in-and he's outlined it in these pages! By focusing on time-tested coding techniques-and providing code samples that use C++, and the OpenGL and DirectX APIs-Daniel has produced a guide whose shelf life will extend long beyond the latest industry trend. Code design, data structures, design patterns, AI, scripting engines, 3D pipelines, texture mapping, and more: They're all covered here-in clear, coherent fashion and with a focus on the essentials that will have you referring back to this volume for years to come.

New Riders' [digital] series is performing a tremendous service to the computer animation and graphics community. The newest addition to this family is [digital] Lighting & Rendering. Author Jeremy Birn has long been regarded as a talented computer graphics artist and generous writer, and he's been sharing his techniques and discoveries for years.

Using computer graphic and 3-D tools to create accurate images is easy; using them to produce beautiful, inviting, memorable images requires more than technical skill. [digital] Lighting & Rendering introduces reasons and techniques for using light, shadow, texture, and composition. The book is not software-specific, but demonstrates techniques that are applicable to almost any 3-D graphics application. It is assumed, however, that your 3-D software of choice supports such basic rendering features as soft shadows, light maps, colored gels, depth-of-field blur, motion blur, and so on.

The first half of the book discusses lighting and shadow: lighting workflow; light types; using lighting rigs, such as three-point lighting; shadows and shadow type; and light quality. Lighting–how it's used, where it's placed, the kind of shadow it casts, its intensity–is critical to any image, whether you're creating a photorealistic computer re-creation or a surreal fantasy picture. [digital] Lighting & Rendering explains not just how to use various lighting techniques, but why.

An outstanding chapter on color and its use through composition and lighting offers insight into how colors are perceived and how color affects a scene. The importance of color, hue, and saturation should not be underestimated, and the examples in this chapter, like in every other, drive home that point.

Additional chapters cover exposure, composition and staging, materials and textures, and compositing. There is no accompanying CD-ROM, but the platform-generic nature of the book (and of the subject matter itself) makes it unnecessary. The book is designed to educate and inform; it is up to readers to apply what they learn to their own projects.

Although fewer than 300 pages long, [digital] Lighting & Rendering is an informative and important book, useful to any computer graphics artist. Each page is filled with fascinating, immediately helpful information about the craft. The publisher spared no expense on the book's production, either–every page is in color, with at least one color photo per page illuminating the text. Mr. Birn's experience and insight are not to be underestimated, and this book is not to be missed. –Mike Caputo.

C++ has grown rapidly in response to the practical need for a programming language that is able to efficiently handle composite and diverse data types. Today, C++ dominates the commercial market and is favored among application developers.

Introduction to C++ Programming and Graphics offers a venue for rapidly learning the language by concisely revealing its grammar, syntax and main features, and by explaining the key ideas behind object oriented programming (OOP), with emphasis on scientific computing.

The book reviews elemental concepts of computers and computing, describes the primary features of C++, illustrates the use of pointers and user-defined functions, and analyzes the construction of classes. Distinctive features include:

• An effective selection and presentation of topics and supporting examples

• A tutorial on the usage of MATLAB® functions in C++ code

• Tables for translating MATLAB® and Fortran 77 into C++ code, illustrating syntactic differences between these languages

• Chapters on graphics and GUI programming based on the VOGLE library and the GLUT, GLUI and GTK+ utility toolboxes

This invaluable resource provides a basic, concise introduction to C++ for the novice, allowing the reader to easily grasp the necessary concepts, rather than trying to absorb an extensive reference book. Scientists, engineers, professionals and students familiar with the general principles of computer programming and proficient in an easy programming

Testing software is a very important and challenging activity. This is a book for people who test software during its development. Our focus is on object-oriented and component-based software, but you can apply many of the techniques discussed in this book regardless of the development paradigm. We assume our reader is familiar with testing procedural software–that is, software written in the procedural paradigm using languages such as C, Ada, Fortran, or COBOL. We also assume our reader is familiar and somewhat experienced in developing software using object-oriented and component-based technologies. Our focus is on describing what to test in object-oriented development efforts as well as on describing techniques for how to test object-oriented software, and how testing software built with these newer technologies differs from testing procedural software.

What is software testing? To us, testing is the evaluation of the work products created during a software development effort. This is more general than just checking part or all of a software system to see if it meets its specifications. Testing software is a difficult process, in general, and sufficient resources are seldom available for testing. From our standpoint, testing is done throughout a development effort and is not just an activity tacked on at the end of a development phase to see how well the developers did. We see testing as part of the process that puts quality into a software system. As a result, we address the testing of all development products (models) even before any code is written.

We do not necessarily believe that you will apply everything we describe in this book. There are seldom enough resources available to a development effort to do all the levels and kinds of testing we would like. We hope you will find a number of approaches and techniques that will prove useful to and affordable for your project.

Pro ASP.NET for SQL Server: High Performance Data Access for Web Developers explains how to use ASP.NET 2.0 and SQL Server 2005 most efficiently together. It covers all crucial performance issues and illustrates optimal techniques with enterprise-quality development.

Performance is always an issue, and optimizing database access is one of the most daunting performance challenges facing web developers. With Brennan Stehling as your guide, you'll explore the many overlaps of web and database technologies, including configuration, programming, performance tuning, and deployment. You’ll learn how to make high-performance database access not just a goal, but a reality.

What you’ll learn

• Discover what impedes ASP.NET 2.0 access to SQL Server 2005 and how to make web applications and databases work blindingly fast together.
• Learn to make the subtle choices between DataSets, DataReaders, and DataObjects, to simplify code and maximize performance.
• Optimize data-bound controls and create your own.
• See when a custom database provider is advisable and how to build one.
• Understand how to monitor and measure web/database performance.
• Learn to build, deploy, and configure enterprise-level web applications against SQL Server 2005.

The only Cisco authorized Lab Companion for the IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software course from the Cisco Networking Academy Program

• New Labs and Study Guide format provides on-line labs from the Academy curriculum as well as challenge labs from the authors
• Study guide sections offer learning and practice exercises
• Alignment to A+ objectives prepares students for certification exam

The IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Labs and Study Guide is designed as a valuable teaching and learning tool for the Academy curriculum, incorporating new features to improve students' hands-on skills and reinforce the key topics of the course. The Labs sections feature the complete collection of the lab exercises specifically written for the ITE1 course in the Cisco Networking Academy Program, reviewed by instructors and formatted and edited by Cisco Press. The Study Guide sections are designed to provide additional exercises and activities to reinforce students' understanding of the course topics, preparing them for the course assessments and focusing on preparing for the associated certifications (A+ and EUCIP). Each chapter is customized to the learning needs of the material and includes some or all of the following types of exercises;

• Vocabulary Matching and Completion
• Skill Building Activities and Scenarios
• HelpDesk Scenarios
• Concept Questions
• Journal Entries
• Internet Research

The study guide is more than just "busy work" and fill-in-the-blank exercises. It contains thought-provoking concept and focus questions for essential review of course content prior to assessments.

It is clear that Visual Studio Team System is the future of development from Microsoft’s perspective. Development is no longer a personal pursuit by one developer in a darkened room; it is a collective effort by a team of peers. VSTS supports this broader vision by providing a complete collaboration platform for the entire project team. VSTS takes a services-oriented approach leveraging Windows SharePoint Services and SQL Server Business Intelligence Suite. Additionally, VSTS brings the life cycle to life by making it part of the integrated suite.

For those seeking to use test-driven development, VSTS is the tool for you. If you’re an architect, there is a new set of domain-specific modeling tools that makes it easy to visualize systems, determine application relationships, and deploy into a logical datacenter. For testers, Microsoft’s new suite of test tools provides a powerful web testing environment with virtually unlimited extensibility. In addition, the new load tools allow you to perform world-class scalability testing.

Even if you are just considering adopting VSTS, Pro Visual Studio Team System with Team Edition for Database Professionals, Second Edition will provide you with a comprehensive overview. Furthermore, you will be able to dive deep into any area with detailed descriptions, samples, and walkthroughs. Roll up your sleeves and get ready for a new way of developing solutions!

The trends and technologies behind Web design are shifting constantly. This fully revised new edition of Effective Web Design builds on the highly successful first edition to bring you up to speed on the latest tools, techniques, and thinking on Web site design. You`ll make a strong start with XHTML, the latest and most powerful Web markup language. Then you`ll learn to create pages that work flawlessly in all commonly used browsers, including the newest releases. You`ll also discover how you can take advantage of progress in other technologies, from style sheets to Flash to MP3. The full-color insert helps you learn about the effective use of color on your site and provides a valuable reference guide you`ll use again and again.

A gentle introduction to game programming on the Windows platform for the complete beginner. Presents the art and science of game programming in fun, easy-to-understand terms using recognized game styles. Reader will build several fully-functional games as well as a game engine to use in future development projects. A CD with the book provides the tools, code, and graphics necessary to complete all exercises. Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours demystifies game programming by providing clear, practical lessons using C/C++, the industry standard in game programming. The book focuses on the Windows API to construct games for the Windows platform and discusses game theory, including double-buffered graphics, sprite animation, and digitized sound effects and music. A fully functional game engine provides readers with the ability to create their own future games. Michael Morrison is a writer and developer with extensive experience in game development. He authored the first book on game programming for Windows, a Java Internet programming game book, and other topics ranging from Java to MFC programming. Currently, Michael develops PocketPC games for his new company, Stalefish Labs. Some of his other titles include: Sams Teach Yourself XML in 24 Hours, Second Edition, ISBN 0672322137, Sams, 12/01, and Sams Teach Yourself Wireless Java Programming with J2ME, ISBN 0672321424, Sams, 6/01.

Create complete 3D games using Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express and this hands-on guide. Written by experienced game developers, Microsoft XNA Game Studio Creator's Guide details the fundamentals of great game programming and offers detailed examples.

Inside, you'll learn to program a game engine, write shader code, create and animate 3D models, and add fluid motion and special effects. You'll also find out how to launch ballistics, add realistic scenery and terrain, and integrate lighting and textures. Step-by-step tutorials on underlying C# code and explanations of vector and matrix techniques are included.