Based on the curriculum guidelines of the IGDA, Introduction to Game Development is the first book to survey all aspects of the theory and practice of game development and design. The book, which might be used as a textbook for an introductory course, or for newcomers to the game development arena, is divided into several independent parts, including game programming, game production/design, and the business of game development. Selected topics include discussions of basic programming in C++ and Java™, visual design, culture and society, mathematics, physics, artificial intelligence, business, level design, game genre, sound, and many more. The accompanying CD-ROM covers tutorials, animations, images, demos, source code, and Microsoft PowerPoint lecture slides to reinforce the concepts presented in the book. Each chapter has been written by leading game developers in their respective areas. This is a must-have resource for anyone looking to understand the entire! game development process.

KEY TOPICS: * Critical Game Studies: The History of Video Games Game Studies (Ludology) Games and Society * Game Design: Conceptual Game Play Play Mechanics Ideas Game Theory Abstract Design Elements Psychological Design Considerations Interface Design Gender Inclusive Design; Practical Game Design Spatial Design Task Design Design Integration Control Schemes Training Play Testing Player Analysis Design Implications of Platform Choice * Game Programming: The Process of Game Programming Practical Game Programming Issues Programming Fundamentals Math and Physics Artificial Intelligence Graphics and Animation Audio Programming Network Programming * Visual Design and Production: Graphics Design User Interface Design 3D Modeling 2D Textures and Texture Mapping Animation Cinematography in Games 3D Environments Lighting and Shadows Surface Effects * Audio Design and Production: Audio Design Skills Fundamentals Interactive Audio Sound Effects;Music 3D Audio * Game Production and Management: Team Make-up Phases of Game Development Group Dynamics Design Documentation Scheduling Quality Assurance Coordinating Efforts Product Post Mortems * The Business of Games: Business of Gaming The Publisher-Developer Relationship Marketing Intellectual Property Content Regulation

More like intro to game management...

This is a very useful book with respect to tying the elements of a game together as well as giving a broad outline of game program flow. It highlights necessary business considerations toward completing the final product.

Sadly, as a programming book, it falls short of the mark with respect to teaching any programming code. It aludes to examples on the included CD but does not explain concepts covered in the code.

This book is useful to a person who already has a strong programming background who is looking for ways to tie things up and market their final product. For a person who is looking for a tutorial for programming games, I would look somewhere else.

Illusion of Usefulness

The book only offers some insight into a realistic game production pipeline; it tries to cover subjects from "Fun" theory to BASIC to small Physics equations to Artistry.

As an introductory book it is -ok- in these respects; however, I just suppose I found myself disagreeing with alot of the subject matter that is presented. Especially when it came to the design section, they try to put in the "waterfall" flow of design into game design which just seems too counter productive to be a realistic methodology for developing a game. Especially if you’re only an ’entry’ level designer.

Probally a Good Classroom Text

This is a good book introducing game programming. It is massive, trying to cover almost every essential aspect of game programming. This book would be a great supplemental text, along with another code specific book, for a two-semester game programming class. If you are a newbie looking for a quick way to learn basic game programming techniques on your own, this book is probaly not for you. (Not that there is truly a quick way.) It is a long read with little code. Let me make it clear this is a good book worth reading: it is just not the quick and dirty introduction that I was looking for. I suggest a step-by-step type book that offers a working game at the end, along with this book.

A book of two halves

This book is a strange combination of general game development theory and ultra-specific programming in C++. The theory covers the historical, physcological, social, commercial, strategic, legal and aesthetic aspects of game development. It addresses everything one might need to know when entering the field. However, a large tranche of the book is devoted to C++ programming, mathematics and game physics which would be OK but for the assumptions made about the knowledge of the reader. Whilst the theory covers everything right from the beginning, the technical chapters move very quickly and start at advanced beginner / lower intermediate stage. Perhaps this is due to different authors writing different chapters.

Not quite what I was looking for but it’s up to date at the time of writing and perfect for a reader with a smattering of C++ and/or mathematics who wants to know more about developing games.

Great Book!

I am a Instructor who adopted this book for a College Course, Intro to Game Design. This book is well organized and goes over numerous major concepts that apply to all interested people in the game field. The only complaint is there is almost no pictures, so that makes the text extremely heavy being 945 pages.

A weighty text based on the curriculum guidelines of the IGDA

Steve Rabin edits Introduction To Game Development a weighty text based on the curriculum guidelines of the IGDA and the first to examine all aspects of the theory and applications of game development and design. It lends to use either as the classroom text or as supplemental college-level reading: a comprehensive overview accompanied by a detailed CD-ROM holding all animations, documents and demos referenced in the text makes for a very detailed presentation packed with tutorials and source code, while almost thirty leading industry game developers and programmers contribute technical chapters. A highly recommended pick, indeed.

Excellent book!

If you want to learn the basics how a game is developed, purchase this book. It is complete since the modelling until the final stages. It also has good information about history of video games.
Put it on your shelf.

A book of two halves

This book is a strange combination of general game development theory and ultra-specific programming in C++. The theory covers the historical, physcological, social, commercial, strategic, legal and aesthetic aspects of game development. It addresses everything one might need to know when entering the field. However, a large tranche of the book is devoted to C++ programming, mathematics and game physics which would be OK but for the assumptions made about the knowledge of the reader. Whilst the theory covers everything right from the beginning, the technical chapters move very quickly and start at advanced beginner / lower intermediate stage. Perhaps this is due to different authors writing different chapters.

Not quite what I was looking for but it’s up to date at the time of writing and perfect for a reader with a smattering of C++ and/or mathematics who wants to know more about developing games.

A very good look around the game development discipline

First of all, for those that think that this book is about game programming: it is not (just to let some of you guys warned).

Now... the book is VERY good for what it proposes itself: a introduction to the process of game development. Like stated on the book description ,it might be used as a text book for a introductory course. It covers all parts of the game development process, from designing to shipment, considering legal issues, such as IP, Copyrights and Trademarks, and development issues like engine programming, model creations, sound, etc.

The book is divided in seven parts:

Part 1 - Critical Game studies: This is an overview of the whole history and concept behind games. It covers the historic of games (where we came from, and to where are we going), social issues, and (my personal favorite) ludology for game development. This is a whole chapter dedicated to discuss what is fun, and how to achieve it. This chapter really made me think about a couple of things :).

Part 2 - Game Design: Expanding on the last chapter of part 1, here is explained HOW to make games fun. Issues like multiple choices, types of fun, characterization of games and such are all presented here.

Part 3 - Game programming: Languages and architecture: To me, this part didn’t bring much new stuff (then again, i’m doing a PhD in computer science, so i have experience in programming). But i recognize some VERY interesting points, and possibilities shown in the first chapters. In special, the chapter that talks about Flash and Action script really got my attention.
The latter chapters about debugging, game architecture and memory I/O, are VERY interesting and offered me many insights about the game development process and needed technology.

Part 4 - Game programming: Math, Collision detection and Physics: Despite the title this part will not teach you how to implement these things in your game (well... not directly). This chapters will give a "brief" introduction about each of the topics mentioned. But be aware, while "introductory", some parts can get really complicated (like the physics part).

Part 5 - Game programming: Graphics, animation, AI, Audio and Networking: Again, lots of interesting stuff here. The chapter about graphics and animation really got me confused at some parts :)
The AI chapters are REALLY cool, and give you some interesting concepts. The only part of the book i think that lacks something is that chapter about networking: it just talks about architecture, no much about programming (but then again, i was already well versed in this topic).

Part 6 - Audio visual design and production: Ok, so we have programmers, but what about the rest?
This part describes lots of technics and areas of expertise that i didn’t even know that existed :)
Musicians, composers, modelers, texturers... everything is described here.

Part 7 - Game production and the business of game: Another VERY interesting part. With tons of infos from the people already familiar with the industry. What is publisher, how to get one, why do your game costs 50 bucks when it goes to the shelves, what is Intellectual Property, how to assures yours, how to sell your game... everything is described here.


As you can see, this is book that covers a lot of ground. And one of its features that i find more interesting are the references in each chapter.
While the book just gives an introduction, the references allow the interested ones to go look in depth for a specific topic that might interest them.

Great overview, great details

"Game development" is no longer a one-man job: it’s now a collaborative undertaking not unlike a film production: with producers and designers and a whole team of specialized craftsmen.

This book is a collection of individual articles covering the whole spectrum of contemporary game development.

It covers technical aspects from programming fundamentals (compiled executables vs. interpreted scripts, and their respective strengths and weaknesses) through game physics (with great explanations, some daunting math, and sample pseudocode).

But the book is equally comprehensive in production issues: from project management (why "code-and-fix" is bad - even though far too many teams do it anyway!), through contract and negotiation issues with publishers, through timely issues like "intellectual property" (DRM) and "content management" (as in the "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" backlash).

This is an excellent book with something for everyone interested in - or working with - professional game development.

Awesome! A good reference

I just ordered the book last week and I am impressed. The chapters were very detailed and readable. I am having a few issues playing the CD in my laptop, but it is only a minor issue to me. Even though the price is steep, you get the wisdom of game industry veterans. I think this is a great textbook for an introductory college course on game development.

The Most Complete Game Development Book Available

This huge book is the best attempt yet to cover virtually all of game development while still maintaining the depth necessary to truly understand and appreciate the state of the art as it exists today. The book is based on the International Game Developers Association Curiculum Framework.

Steve Rabin, the editor of the book is a ten year vet in the game industry, and is currently a senior software engineer at Nintendo. He contacted twenty seven of the world’s leading game developers, programmers, and designers to do chapters on their specialty. These are not professional writers, but are actively engaged in and work for some of the best known companies in the gaming business.

Game programming is nothing without movement, so the book almost had to contain a CD. On the CD are all the animations, documents, source code, demos, etc that are referenced in the chapters. In addition are the actual images being discussed in the text. Finally there is a PowerPoint presentation that complement each chapter.

This is perhaps the most complete book on gaming development that exists.