Microsoft XNA Unleashed: Graphics and Game Programming for Xbox 360 and Windows
Chad Carter

ISBN-10: 0672329646
ISBN-13: 9780672329647

Publisher: Sams Publishing
Copyright: 2008
Format: Paper Bound w/CD-ROM; 552 pp
Published: 07/26/2007

Suggested retail price: $49.99
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Foreword by Tom Miller

Developer, XNA Game Studio Express, Microsoft Corporation

 

Microsoft XNA Unleashed provides comprehensive coverage and solid instruction on how to leverage the XNA Framework to create high quality games for Windows and the Xbox 360. The author shows you how to take full advantage of the many features the XNA Framework provides; you will learn the intricacies of important tasks such as adding sound and music to games, as well as creating, loading, and texturing 3D objects. In addition to providing coverage of 2D programming, the author shows you how to create sophisticated 3D games. All the important topics such as physics, artificial intelligence, and special effects are covered in detail. Chad Carter is the CTO at Robertson Marketing Group. Many Fortune 500 companies use the ecommerce system he architected and developed from the ground up for the promotional business sector. He has been creating DirectX applications since 1996 and has developed games using Managed DirectX. Chad created a 3D locomotive simulator for Norfolk Southern that is used to teach children to obey railroad crossings signals. Chad’s website devoted to the XNA Framework can be found at www.xnaessentials.com.

 

  Learn how to install and use XNA Game Studio Express

  Discover how to build, deploy, and debug games for the Xbox 360 and Windows

  Examine the XNA Framework in depth: 2D, 3D, sound, input, and HLSL

  Learn how to create game components and game services

  Delve into performance tuning techniques

  Discover how to extend the Content Pipeline

  Learn how to use the Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio Creation Tool (XACT) to add sound and music to games

  Create a full 2D parallax side-scroller game

  Discover how to use sprite batches

  Learn to make the most of sprite fonts

  Create 2D components such as splash screens and progress bars

  Examine the different sprite batch blending modes

  Discover 2D cel animation

  Examine the High Level Shader Language (HLSL) in detail covering basic HLSL as well as vertex deformations and post-processing effects

  Create a full 3D game that includes a 2D radar in the Heads Up Display (HUD), and much, much more

 

CD-ROM includes

• All C# examples and source code presented in this book.

• Explosion Generator tool for generating explosion animations.

 

Introduction                 

Part I      Get Up and Running with XNA on Your PC and Xbox 360

1              Introducing XNA and XNA Game Studio Express                       

2              XNA and the Xbox 360              

3              Performance Considerations    

Part II     Understanding XNA Basics

4              Creating 3D Objects                      

5              Input Devices and Cameras     

Part III    Content Pipeline

6              Loading and Texturing 3D Objects             

7              Sound and Music     

8              Extending the Content Pipeline                  

Part IV   2D in XNA

9              2D Basics                       

10           2D Effects                     

11           Creating a 2D Game               

Part V    High Level Shader Language

12           HLSL Basics          

13           Advanced HLSL    

Part VI   Physics and Artificial Intelligence

14           Physics Basics 

15           Finite State Machines and Game State Management  

16           AI Algorithms 

Part VII  3D Effects

17           Advanced Texturing Techniques

18           Special Effects 

19           Particle System

Part VIII Putting It Into Practice

20           Creating a 3D Game 

21           Improving the Game

22           Finishing Touches

Index

 

 

Complete guide for experienced developers to creating games for PCs and the Xbox using Microsoft's exciting new free game programming tool

  • XNA makes game programming much easier, bringing the benfits of the .NET framework to game programming
  • This book provides solid instruction on how to create, compile, debug, and deploy games for Windows and the Xbox 360
  • Covers both 2D and 3D games
  • Covers advanced topics such as adding sound, music, and 3D textures 

 

Introduction                  1

Part I      Get Up and Running with XNA on Your PC and Xbox 360

1              Introducing XNA and XNA Game Studio Express                        7

2              XNA and the Xbox 360               19

3              Performance Considerations     35

Part II     Understanding XNA Basics

4              Creating 3D Objects                       59

5              Input Devices and Cameras      85

Part III    Content Pipeline

6              Loading and Texturing 3D Objects              113

7              Sound and Music      123

8              Extending the Content Pipeline                      153

Part IV   2D in XNA

9              2D Basics                        171

10           2D Effects                      191

11           Creating a 2D Game                        217

Part V    High Level Shader Language

12           HLSL Basics                 255

13           Advanced HLSL        275

Part VI   Physics and Artificial Intelligence

14           Physics Basics            289

15           Finite State Machines and Game State Management                    307

16           AI Algorithms             337

Part VII  3D Effects

17           Advanced Texturing Techniques                   353

18           Special Effects             379

19           Particle System.          397

Part VIII Putting It Into Practice

20           Creating a 3D Game                        433

21           Improving the Game                       463

22           Finishing Touches    479

Index           501

Chad Carter is the CTO at Robertson Marketing Group (RMG). RMG services many Fortune 500 companies that utilize the e-commerce system he architected and developed from the ground up for the promotional business sector. He has been creating DirectX applications since 1996 and has developed games using Managed DirectX. Chad created a 3D locomotive simulator for Norfolk Southern that is used to teach children to obey railroad crossing signals. Chad’s Web site devoted to the XNA Framework can be found online at www.xnaessentials.com.

Foreword by Tom Miller

Developer, XNA Game Studio Express, Microsoft Corporation

 

Microsoft XNA Unleashed provides comprehensive coverage and solid instruction on how to leverage the XNA Framework to create high quality games for Windows and the Xbox 360. The author shows you how to take full advantage of the many features the XNA Framework provides; you will learn the intricacies of important tasks such as adding sound and music to games, as well as creating, loading, and texturing 3D objects. In addition to providing coverage of 2D programming, the author shows you how to create sophisticated 3D games. All the important topics such as physics, artificial intelligence, and special effects are covered in detail. Chad Carter is the CTO at Robertson Marketing Group. Many Fortune 500 companies use the ecommerce system he architected and developed from the ground up for the promotional business sector. He has been creating DirectX applications since 1996 and has developed games using Managed DirectX. Chad created a 3D locomotive simulator for Norfolk Southern that is used to teach children to obey railroad crossings signals. Chad’s website devoted to the XNA Framework can be found at www.xnaessentials.com.

 

  Learn how to install and use XNA Game Studio Express

  Discover how to build, deploy, and debug games for the Xbox 360 and Windows

  Examine the XNA Framework in depth: 2D, 3D, sound, input, and HLSL

  Learn how to create game components and game services

  Delve into performance tuning techniques

  Discover how to extend the Content Pipeline

  Learn how to use the Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio Creation Tool (XACT) to add sound and music to games

  Create a full 2D parallax side-scroller game

  Discover how to use sprite batches

  Learn to make the most of sprite fonts

  Create 2D components such as splash screens and progress bars

  Examine the different sprite batch blending modes

  Discover 2D cel animation

  Examine the High Level Shader Language (HLSL) in detail covering basic HLSL as well as vertex deformations and post-processing effects

  Create a full 3D game that includes a 2D radar in the Heads Up Display (HUD), and much, much more

 

CD-ROM includes

• All C# examples and source code presented in this book.

• Explosion Generator tool for generating explosion animations.

 

Introduction                 

Part I      Get Up and Running with XNA on Your PC and Xbox 360

1              Introducing XNA and XNA Game Studio Express                       

2              XNA and the Xbox 360              

3              Performance Considerations    

Part II     Understanding XNA Basics

4              Creating 3D Objects                      

5              Input Devices and Cameras     

Part III    Content Pipeline

6              Loading and Texturing 3D Objects             

7              Sound and Music     

8              Extending the Content Pipeline                  

Part IV   2D in XNA

9              2D Basics                       

10           2D Effects                     

11           Creating a 2D Game               

Part V    High Level Shader Language

12           HLSL Basics          

13           Advanced HLSL    

Part VI   Physics and Artificial Intelligence

14           Physics Basics 

15           Finite State Machines and Game State Management  

16           AI Algorithms 

Part VII  3D Effects

17           Advanced Texturing Techniques

18           Special Effects 

19           Particle System

Part VIII Putting It Into Practice

20           Creating a 3D Game 

21           Improving the Game

22           Finishing Touches

Index

 

 

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