Practical Java Game Programming (Game Development Series)

Book Description

Java is gaining more and more acceptance in the game development community, and with good commercial-quality Java games on the market, it will become a definitive choice. Practical Java Game Programming identifies the technological path developers need to take to make this happen. It explores and illustrates cutting-edge Java game programming concepts and techniques through specific explanations from existing Java game projects, with fully executable example code. Intended for both Java programmers new to game development, and for game programmers interested in Java, the book offers usage patterns that leverage Java's strengths and points out weaknesses to avoid. It teaches Java programmers how to deliver outstanding games and details the specific issues in Java to make game development straightforward and efficient. Java has always provided a powerful platform on which to develop interactive content, and with the addition of the Java Technology Groupís gaming APIs, Java becomes a third-party platform choice and delivery model for game developers. Each chapter includes working code examples that can stand alone for easy implementation into one's own projects, or be used toward the creation of a fully functional demo game. This allows beginning programmers to follow the topics step-by-step, and more experienced programmers to use specific areas of interest. Although this book is centered on Java and the platform technologies, its message is for developers to maintain a wide view regarding new technologies, as well as to keep creative ingenuity intact while implementing games on the Java platform.

Customer Reviews:

Beats a trail around the camp fire without ever cooking anything.......2005-12-05

This appears to have been written by a Java evangelist who loves to talk shop about the ins & outs of Java programming. Unfortunately, this is supposed to be about game programming, and in that regard, I found nothing practical about it. A single chapter on 2D graphics? This book goes into great depth providing the mathematics of 3D collision detection (chapter 16), but doesn't get any further in the graphics department than drawing a few static (non-animated) Actors (i.e. "sprites").

The focus of this book is off-point from the start, in my opinion. The chapters toward the end on 3D graphics provide insufficient information to build a 3D game, and yet the material up to that point is insufficient to build a 2D game. What you end up with in the end is a lot of knowledge about Java, but not a single practical program, let alone game.

This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the CD includes .java and .class files, but no explanation on what to do with them (the back cover does say this is a Beginning-Intermediate book, not Advanced).

The Java Developer's Kit comes with much better demos than you will find in this book WITH convenient .html files with code to run the applets, which is something these authors should have included.

Interesting but flawed.......2005-10-24

Overall I find this a good book. It has interesting discussion and introduction of several topics that interest me. However it is flawed with typos and misstatements (sometimes contradicted in the next sentence). It's also fairly out of date now (JDK 1.5 comments are somewhat out of date now and JOAL comments are a bit out of date).

Pick it up at a bargain price (under $5) and I do recommend it as a good book on JOAL and several other topics of value for Java programming (not just games).

Also found it disappointing.......2005-06-29

I also found this book to be disappointing. I would also agree that the author sees it necessary to discuss the techniques involved rather than talk about a technique and then present the code for that technique.
I bought this book on the basis that it was going to be "practical" programming, i.e techniques and code, but all i found was a long winded discussion on the topic. The author does show that he has a great knowledge of java game programming but it is poorly presented to the intermediate java programmer, and not recommendable to beginners.

Do not buy this book if you think your going to be getting involved with code, rather, buy it if you do not know what techniques are used in java game programming, and wish to hear a discussion on those techniques.

A good starting point for game development.......2005-03-12

Hi. First off, id like to state that I am by no means a professional programmer. I am a high school junior, who is currently working through AP computer science. I picked this book up on a trip as reading material, and it has been very informative. The code samples are extremely well written, and easy for me to follow. My only major critisim is that the printed code samples have several typos in them, but if you look through the code included on the cd, then you'll have no problems. Overall, I thought it was well worth the $36.00 I paid for it.

Nice intro into the + and - of Java as a game language.......2005-02-08

Be careful of your expectations here. This is NOT a 'how to' book with 100+s pages of code samples. This is not a book in the 'java cookbook' series.

What this IS is a book that describes the +/- of the java language and the JVM and talks about PERFORMANCE issues extensively. The author goes out of his way to talk about the issues surrounding the use of Hotspot VM/JIT and benchmarks with math/IO, etc.

The last 1/2 of the book (maybe less) deals with some high-level understanding of rendering and collision detection.

Topics include bindings to OpenGL (jogl), JNI (it's cost vs. benefits in it's use), performance of java.math and where it can be optimized, some simple treatment of sockets vs. datagram/multicast sockets, audio integration, proper use and performance with direct bytebuffers vs. java arrays (java.io/java.nio), also a little on GC collection algorithms. Also a treatment of java's +/- as a scripting language, as well as a good look at rendering and collisions.

Overall a very interesting techical look at the VM and performance challenges that java as a GAME language faces.

The author makes it clear that good java games can be written but good PERFORMANCE games takes an understanding of the JVM and proper code architecture that takes into account java's strengths (as oppsed to it's weaknesses).

I would recommend this a a great starting point for someone interested in making good java games or just learning about java performance issues. If you want a 'cookbook' you'll need to look elsewhere.

Practical Java Game Programming (Game Development Series)

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Practical Java Game Programming (Game Development Series)
Dustin Clingman
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MUCDFS

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A Summary of the Current Techniques

Simple Tools and Techniques for Enterprise Risk Management (The Wiley Finance Series)
Robert J. Chapman
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Enterprise Risk Management: From Incentives to Controls

COSO Enterprise Risk Management: Understanding the New Integrated ERM Framework

Enterprise Risk Management: A Manager's Journey

Making Enterprise Risk Management Pay Off: How Leading Companies Implement Risk Management

Manager's Guide to Compliance: Sarbanes-Oxley, COSO, ERM, COBIT, IFRS, BASEL II, OMB's A-123, ASX 10, OECD Principles, Turnbull Guidance, Best Practices, and Case Studies (Manager's Guide Series)

ASIN: 0470014660

Book Description

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) represents a fundamental shift in the way businesses must approach risk. As the economy becomes more service driven and globally oriented, businesses cannot afford to let new, unforeseen areas of risk remain unidentified. Currency fluctuations, human resources in foreign countries, evaporating distribution channels, corporate governance, and unprecedented dependence on technology are just a few of the new risks businesses must assess.

This accessible book, aimed at the implementers and practitioners of ERM, provides a highly structured approach so you can easily implement processes in your own organization. You'll find a number of case studies and practical examples from a variety of industries. The chapters are organized in a way that leads you through ERM implementation and include risk identification techniques, risk modelling methods, and the underlying statistics. Order your copy today!

Customer Reviews:

A Summary of the Current Techniques.......2006-08-08

It is not generally considered that business, all business operates in an element of risk. Everything from the price of supplies to Government actions involve risk. Often this risk is absolutely impossible to predict, i.e. those who went to work at the top of the World Trade Center one September morning. And as a result the analysis of risk in ventures has taken on great urgency.

Commensurate with this has been the development of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) tools to provide a framework for managing company-wide risk. It begins with overall corporate governance which establishes guidelines for the company to operate. Various phases within the process then include such activities as identifying, evaluating, and controlling risk within those guidelines.

The book is written from a worldwide basis and discusses recent changes in various countries such as the U.K., U.S.A. and Canada. These changes brought about by spectacular busines failures such as Enron, WorldCom, and the resultant troubles of companies such as Arthur Anderson have created an environment where the executive is taking a much greater interest in the management of the company as his risk of prison increases.

Dr. Chapman has a long history of working in the risk management area, including getting his Ph.D. in that area.

Book Description

This volume contains forms for a variety of newer legal transactions that require documentation, such as Living Wills, agreements between parent and child for support; agreement for couples living-together, bankruptcy, lease of property, and more.

The Legal Almanac series serves to educate the general public on a variety of legal issues pertinent to everyday life and to keep readers informed of their rights and remedies under the law. Each volume in the series presents an explanation of a specific legal issue in simple, clearly written text,
making the Almanac a concise and perfect desktop reference tool. All volumes provide state-by-state coverage. Selected state statutes are included, as are important case law and legislation, charts and tables for comparison.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Epoca, published by Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA) on March 4, 2005. The length of the article is 849 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Bosques urbanos: camps impulsa la recuperación de espacios naturales en las áreas metropolitanas de la Comunidad Valenciana: el paisaje urbano se abre paso a costa del paisaje natural. Una tendencia que el Gobierno valenciano trata de invertir para devolver a los habitantes los espacios verdes que les corresponden.
Publication: Epoca (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 4, 2005
Publisher: Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA)
Issue: 1042 Page: 88(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Ecologia del Paisaje
Jacques Baudry , and Francoise Burel
Manufacturer: Mundiprensa
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

This book is the first comprehensive account of the economic and socioeconomic importance of consumptive and non-consumptive use of wild animals around the world. It endeavours to treat this highly emotional subject objectively and scientifically with consideration of the importance of conservation and sustainable multiple use of natural resources for the best long-term benefit of man. Apart from up-to-date information on the different reptile, bird and mammal groups the book describes the background and principles that should govern wildlife utilization under varying ecological and sociological circumstances. The book is a most important source of information for any professionals concerned with wildlife management and those interested in wildlife conservation.

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Metadata play a fundamental role in both DLs and SDIs. Commonly defined as "structured data about data" or "data which describe attributes of a resource" or, more simply, "information about data", it is an essential requirement for locating and evaluating available data. Therefore, this book focuses on the study of different metadata aspects, which contribute to a more efficient use of DLs and SDIs. The three main issues addressed are: the management of nested collections of resources, the interoperability between metadata schemas, and the integration of information retrieval techniques to the discovery services of geographic data catalogs (contributing in this way to avoid metadata content heterogeneity).

Book Description

This unabridged republication of Fourier's Théorie Analytique de la Chaleur offers modern readers access to a landmark of modern science. With this work, the great mathematician first showed how any discontinuous function could be represented by a trigonometric series and advanced other concepts of modern mathematical physics. 1878 English translation.

Customer Reviews:

A dry classic.......2006-01-15

The book opens with a long preface and introduction in excellent 19th century style. Chapter 1 also gives the basic principles of heat, such as what we call "Newton's law of cooling" (sec. 3). From here we derive the heat equation (chapter 2, esp. §142). In chapter 3 we solve the heat equation for an infinite rectangle with given boundary conditions. This of course calls for the principles of Fourier analysis, which are explained in full generality (sec. 6). Then in chapters 4-8 we do the same thing for other bodies (rings, spheres, infinite cylinders, infinite rectangular prisms, cubes). In the case of cylinders, Fourier series are not appropriate to solve the corresponding heat equation in polar coordinates, so we must introduce Bessel functions. In chapter 9 we study the diffusion of heat in bodies with no boundary influence. The simplest example is the isolated, infinite line. This leads to Fourier integrals. Throughout, the theory is essentially identical to the modern one, except that Fourier couldn't care less about about convergence and such. It is understandable that Fourier wished to devote an entire book to the rudiments of Fourier analysis. I still think it's a pity that he didn't find it appropriate to include his favourite application: "The problem of the terrestrial temperatures presents one of the most beautiful applications of the theory of heat", he says (§12), but does not treat this problem further here.

Elements of Chemistry / Analytical Theory of Heat / Experimental Researches in Electricity (Great Books of the Western World, Volume 45) (Great books of the Western World)

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Elements of Chemistry / Analytical Theory of Heat / Experimental Researches in Electricity (Great Books of the Western World, Volume 45) (Great books of the Western World)
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier , Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier , and Michael Faraday
Manufacturer: EncyclopÃ¦dia Britannica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General & Reference | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
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Monumental classic by the founder of modern chemistry is essential for undergraduate students. First explicit statement of law of conservation of matter in chemical change; first modern list of chemical elements; more. Facsimile reprint of original (1790) Kerr translation. Introduction by Professor Douglas McKie.

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The Analytical Theory of Heat
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Date of publication unknown. Translated for St John's College, Cambridge.

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Analytical Theory of Heat.
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Britannica Great Books of the Western World (Elements of Chemistry, Analytical Theory of Heat, Experimental Researches in Electricity, Volume 45)

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Britannica Great Books of the Western World (Elements of Chemistry, Analytical Theory of Heat, Experimental Researches in Electricity, Volume 45)

Manufacturer: William Benton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Product Description

Encyclopedia Britannica Great Books of the Western World, Volume 45. Paperbound olive cover.

Elements of Chemistry By Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, Analytical Theory of Heat By Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier, Experimental Researches in Electricity By Michael Faraday. Great Books of the Western World 45

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Elements of Chemistry By Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, Analytical Theory of Heat By Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier, Experimental Researches in Electricity By Michael Faraday. Great Books of the Western World 45
Robert M., Lavoisier, Fourier, Faraday Hutchins
Manufacturer: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Elements of Chemistry by Lavoisier; Analytical Theory of heat by Fourier; Experimental Researches in Electricity by Faraday.

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Elements of Chemistry by Lavoisier; Analytical Theory of heat by Fourier; Experimental Researches in Electricity by Faraday.

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Elements Of Chemistry; Analytical Theory Of Heat; Experimental Researches - Great Books Of The Western World, Volume 45

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Elements of Chemistry; Analytical Theory of Heat; Experimental Researches in Electricity (Great Books of the Western World, Volume 45)

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Elements of Chemistry; Analytical Theory of Heat; Experimental Researches in Electricity (Great Books of the Western World, Volume 45)

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Amazon.com

The world of Wigfield, as concocted by the brilliant Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, and Amy Sedaris (creators of the Comedy Central series Strangers with Candy), is somewhat reminiscent of the slice-of-life small-town humor of Christopher Guest's Waiting for Guffman. But instead of putting on a musical, as the Guffman folks did, the people of Wigfield busy themselves trying to acquire government handouts and stabbing each other to death. When the government rebuffs their efforts, based on the fact that they're not technically a town, they come up with a plan to get paid anyway. Wigfield's residents (as played by Colbert, Dinello, and Sedaris) are portrayed in a series of compellingly grotesque portraits by renowned designer and photographer Todd Oldham. The humor of the book--much like the town's mentality--is dense, as nearly every sentence contains one or several grimly hilarious references. Fans of feel-good whimsy are advised to navigate toward lighter fare but social pariahs, disgraced journalists, brooding malcontented sociopaths, and anyone who enjoys dark, twisted, and profoundly funny writing will find a home in Wigfield. --John Moe

Book Description

Wigfield is in peril. The Bulkwaller Dam, which towers over the tiny town, is scheduled to be destroyed which would in turn wipe out Wigfield. Journalist Russell Hokes travels there to profile the brave and honest citizens who are struggling to save their community. Well, sort of. Actually, Wigfield is not so much a town as a series of ramshackle strip clubs and used-auto-parts stores, lacking any kind of civic infrastructure whatsoever. And its people are not so much "brave and honest" as "brutal," "homicidal," and "lacking any redeeming virtue whatsoever." Similarly, to call Hokes, who narrates his own struggles to gather accumulate 50,000 words, a "journalist" is at best an exaggeration and at worst an abomination against the institution of journalism itself. The world of Wigfield, as concocted by the brilliant Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, and Amy Sedaris (creators of the Comedy Central series Strangers with Candy), is somewhat reminiscent of the slice-of-life small-town humor of Christopher Guest's Waiting for Guffman. But instead of putting on a musical, as the Guffman folks did, the people of Wigfield busy themselves trying to acquire government handouts and stabbing each other to death. When the government rebuffs their efforts, based on the fact that they're not technically a town, they come up with a plan to get paid anyway. Wigfield's residents (as played by Colbert, Dinello, and Sedaris) are portrayed in a series of compellingly grotesque portraits by renowned designer and photographer Todd Oldham. The humor of the book--much like the town's mentality--is dense, as nearly every sentence contains one or several grimly hilarious references. Fans of feel-good whimsy are advised to navigate toward lighter fare but social pariahs, disgraced journalists, brooding malcontented sociopaths, and anyone who enjoys dark, twisted, and profoundly funny writing will find a home in Wigfield. --John Moe

Customer Reviews:

There's no place like Wigfield (thank goodness)..........2007-06-14

I wanted to like this book...I really did...but long before I finished it I realized that that was not going to happen. There are plenty of trademark funny and witty bits and passages to satisfy Colbert and Sedaris fans, but the repetitive and uninspiring story only serves to drain all life out of the book.

The story is told through a series of interviews with and observations of the people inhabiting the doomed and fictional town of Wigfield. Unfortunately each new character we meet sounds and behaves just like every other character (including the narrator). You'd think the authors would have considered just how many trashy, ignorant, smart-alecs a reader can stand in one story - my research indicates 1 character fitting the above description is plenty.

If you don't understand or appreciate the humor in shows like The Colbert Report or Strangers With Candy, then this isn't the place to start. If hanging out with Steven Colbert after he's downed a dozen Red Bulls appeals, then Wigfield might be money well spent. For us in-betweeners, reading every other chapter should satisfy the need to laugh without irritating your funny bone.

It's HilARious.......2007-04-09

If you've ever seen any comedy by Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, or Paul Dinello, you are probably already pretty much certain this will be a great book. Well, let me assure you, they won't dissapoint.
The team behind "Strangers With Candy," and "Exit 57" deliver in this *50,000* word book about Russel Hokes, aspiring, and not so ambitious highway painter turned author. The story is told through his (somewhat idiotic) point of view, and there are several very quotable points throughout.
I don't want to say to much, but this book is very much worth the money you'll spend.
***For reference on how great the authors are, try watching the Colbert Report on Comedy Central.

THE FUNNIEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!.......2007-02-19

In fact, someone never returned my first copy and I had to buy it again! I told a colleague to buy it and give it a try and she called me twenty pages into reading it to tell me she never laughed so hard reading a book.

If you enjoy the humor of The Colbert Report or Strangers with Candy, you will love, love, love this book. It's a breezy, hysterical trip.

Steven Colbert Is Awesome.......2006-09-21

I read the first paragraph of this book in the bookstore and I knew I had to buy it. It hits you right off the bat and doesn't let up until the end. I love all the contradictions this book has in store. Everything in this book is so far-fetched. but so funny. Go out and buy it. Its a must read for anyone who wants a good laugh.

Wow........2006-05-23

This is undoubtedly the strangest book I've read in a long time.

I got Wigfield from the library because I love Stephen Colbert - his current show, of course, is amazing, but what I've seen of Strangers With Candy is perhaps even better. Naturally, a book written by the three talented people behind such a show sounded promising.

In addition to being funny in a I-really-shouldn't-be-laughing-at-stuff-like-this way, there's also brilliant wordplay and the like, which make it even more fun to read.

Not for the faint of heart, but definitely for those who enjoy somewhat reckless, completely politically incorrect (and I hate to use that phrase, because it's tossed about so much nowadays to refer to just about anything), and overall rather bizarre humor. Much like Strangers with Candy.

Great book.
It's kind of brilliant and terrible at the same time.
I'll have to read it again.

Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not (Unabridged)

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Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not (Unabridged)
Dinello, Colbert, Amy, Paul, Colbert Sedaris
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B000IZIZZO

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