Books

The Game Maker's Apprentice: Game Development for Beginners

Average customer rating:

Great
Very good
Highly recommended
A Must Have for Game Developer Wannabe's!
Good Choice for the Rookies

The Game Maker's Apprentice: Game Development for Beginners
Jacob Habgood , and Mark Overmars
Manufacturer: Apress
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Basic Game Design & Creation for Fun & Learning (Game Development Series).Book & CD-ROM.
3D Game Textures: Create Professional Game Art Using Photoshop
Mastering Unreal Technology: The Art of Level Design
Beginning Flash Game Programming For Dummies
Game Development Essentials: An Introduction

ASIN: 1590596153

Book Description

The Game Maker's Apprentice shows you how to create nine exciting games using the wildly popular Game Maker game creation tool. This book covers a range of genres, including action, adventure, and puzzle games--complete with professional quality sound effects and visuals. It discusses game design theory and features practical examples of how this can be applied to making games that are more fun to play.

Game Maker allows games to be created using a simple drag-and-drop interface, so you don't need to have any prior coding experience. It includes an optional programming language for adding advanced features to your games, when you feel ready to do so. You can obtain more information by visiting book.gamemaker.nl.

The authors include the creator of the Game Maker tool and a former professional game programmer, so you'll glean understanding from their expertise. The book also includes a CD containing Game Maker software and all of the game projects that are created in the book--plus a host of professional-quality graphics and sound effects that you can use in your own games.

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2007-06-27

It's a great book for anyone who is interested in game development. Very easy to use even for grade school students.

For college-level students, this is a great book to learn GameMaker from and to make prototype games for your game designs in mind.

Excellent value for the price.

-Karlo

Very good.......2007-05-13

This book gives lots of great techniques to use in the creation of your own games. It really covers all aspects of GM6 and has a vast range of techniques which can easily be adapted into any of your own creations.

Highly recommended.......2007-05-13

This is an excellent book and highly recommended if you want to learn how to create 2D games using the Game Maker software. It is not just that one of the authors is the person who created the software and thus knows it better than anyone else, it is because its so clearly written. Very clear and sequential. A mix of tutorials to make games, and the CD has them all at different stages if you get stuck, and brief chapters on game design.

It is obvious that the authors have taught this material many times. I wish all software instruction manuals were so good (and used so many illustrative graphics on good quality stock).

A Must Have for Game Developer Wannabe's!.......2007-04-12

The title should be The Game Maker's Master Teacher! This book is very well written with clear, step by step instructions and visual images for reference. After completing a section, the authors provide a graphic of what your computer screen should look like if you followed directions correctly. My son, 9, and I worked through the first chapter over a 2 day period (about 3 hours total) and created our first game. He was thrilled! He immediately had ideas on how to "tweak" the game to make it even better. The great thing with this book and accompanying software is that you have the freedom to do so! The disc provides many images to use in game development or you can create your own. Each chapter adds new skills and details to make more interesting and complex games. However, even the first game is fun!

I would highly reccommend this book to anyone interested in creating your own video games. It is extremely user friendly and perfect for the beginner. My son is able to read through and understand it on his own, but it's more fun to work on it together. (Also, he was more apt to use the visuals to take him through the process but not read the supporting information along the way!) By the end of the first chapter he understood the process fairly well and was able to remember (more than me!) most of the steps as he started creating his own new game. The only improvement I could see is having a "quick reference" page outlining the major steps. With it's user-friendly format, however, it has been pretty easy to flip back through the chapter for reference.

Good Choice for the Rookies.......2007-04-03

If you want to make your own computer games with Fancy Graphics + Great Sound Effect, just download the user-friendly tool, Game Maker.

No matter you are an expert or just a Rookie, this book is definitely your right choice to develope professional-like games with lots of funs. Step-by-step instructions are easily for anyone to follow.

Don't miss the chance to get the book and create your home-make Shooting, Platform, Actions games. You will receive more fun on making games rather than just playing them.

Average customer rating:

Best book for begginers
Great for beginners
A must have for Maya beginers
A decent but difficult book
NOT FOR BEGGINERS

Introducing Maya 6: 3D for Beginners
Dariush Derakhshani
Manufacturer: Sybex
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Learning Maya 6 | Foundation
Maya 6 Killer Tips
Maya 6: The Complete Reference
Learning Maya 6 | Rendering
Maya 6 for Windows & Macintosh (Visual QuickStart Guide)

ASIN: 0782143539

Book Description

"If you're just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
—Animation Magazine

Alias' Academy Award winning Maya 3D animation and effects software leads the industry in technological innovation. Film and video artists, computer game developers, and design professionals rely on Maya to create brilliant digital imagery, animation, and visual effects. Now you can enter this exciting, imaginative world and learn to build, render, and animate your own digital characters and scenes.

Brought to you by Maya Press, a publishing partnership between Sybex and Alias, Introducing Maya 6: 3D for Beginners is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya. Written explicitly for the Maya novice, the easy-to-grasp text offers a practical and fun approach to learning Maya's core features. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you try out these features using working files provided on the CD. You'll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational art on the CD and full-color insert.

Enter a New Dimension

Get a solid grasp of the core Maya and 3D
Learn to navigate the new Maya 6 interface
Experiment with Maya modeling
Explore the basics of NURBS, polygons, and subdivision surfaces
Discover the nuances of shading and texturing
Try your hand at animation
Get a feel for Maya lighting, rendering, and dynamics
Find out how to use Maya and Photoshop in unison

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Customer Reviews:

Best book for begginers.......2006-05-23

Some people may find this book a bit difficult because of its style. The way this book works (besides for explaining the concepts very well,) is it teaches you how to do something and after taking you through it a few times, the author will tell you to do something based on what you just learned and you will have to do it on your own. So you really end up with first hand experience.

Great for beginners.......2006-01-25

I come from the computers/engineering field into 3D computer graphics. This was the first book that I read. The book delivers what it promises - it is a good first step for 3D newcomers. It is easy to follow - exercises are explained step-to-step wise and it covers the most basic features of Maya. The book prepares you well for the Alias-book Maya Foundations, which gives you enough background to start making small animated films.

A must have for Maya beginers.......2005-11-23

After reading the reviews of this book I was a little apprehensive but my fears proved baseless.
I can confidently say that this book has enabled me to graduate to an intermediate level Maya user.
The trick is to actually read the entire book in sequence and not just jump straight into the tutorials. I found the language used to be straight forward and easy to understand.

If you are new to Maya, or 3D visualisation, then I would highly recommend this book.

A decent but difficult book.......2005-10-07

This book is an introduction to the 3D software Maya. The format was split between general discussion and step-by-step exercises. There is also a CD that included the exercise files and a copy of Maya Personal Learning Edition (PLE).

First of all, I did find the step-by-step exercises to be quite frustrating. The steps could have benefited from more detail or even a few more images. I just found myself getting lost to easily. Sometimes experimentation or trial and error were the only ways to get through a particular step. I did spot a few errors - most related to entering values. Sometimes depending on the view (or perspective) the required values would be different. As a beginner, minor errors made things even more difficult then they already were. Surprisingly, the book's use of grayscale images didn't create any problems except on a few occasions. Ultimately, it took me a lot longer to finish the exercises and the book than I would have wanted.

One of the reasons I got this book is that it included a copy of Maya PLE. But, the included version is only 5.0. Which is strange since the book is supposed to be an introduction to Maya 6. I couldn't get it to install anyways so I ended up just buying Maya PLE 6.0 from Alias.

With the problems aside you will still learn plenty just by reading through the material. I found the general discussion to be excellent. There was plenty of good information about the animation production process and great insight about each topic. I was surprised to find out that one of my favorite animated comedies was created with Maya.

Maya is a large and complicated program. The frustrating exercises just complicated things further. Especially since this is supposed to be an introduction to the topic. The exercises just needed to be a little clearer or more specific at times. The book may have been intended to be used with a formal class. In the end, and not without some struggles, I was still fairly introduced to Maya and 3D.

NOT FOR BEGGINERS.......2005-09-20

This book is a big waste of time and money just like many other Maya books. I have bought and read over 5 Maya books geared towards begginers and none of them including this one is helpful. They have many great tutorials, but all the directions are very hard to understand because they leave alot of missing information out. Its like they expect you to really know the software in and out to study their beginner books series.

My advice for begginners is to use a less demanding program. Many people who use Maya are pros and thats not to say you won't be either. But unless you go to school, these books in my opionion are worthless. Even though the tutorials are made by people who have big names in the CGI industry, doesn't mean they have the teaching skills to get us small people going.

I recommend Lightwave, because the book, Inside Lightwave 8 taught me in a breeze how to ge up and running fast-

Beginner's Guide to DarkBASIC Game Programming (Game Development)

Average customer rating:

Not for beginner's
Great for the beginning programmer.
Well written, but source code in book is wrong.
Great book!
A note from the author

Beginner's Guide to DarkBASIC Game Programming (Game Development)
Jonathan S. Harbour , and Joshua Smith
Manufacturer: Course Technology PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

DarkBASIC Professional
DarkBASIC 3D Games Creator
DarkBASIC Pro Game Programming, Second Edition
Game Programming for Teens (Game Programming)
Game Art for Teens (Game Development Series)

ASIN: 1592000096

Book Description

You?re interested in programming games, but you don?t know where to begin. Beginner?s Guide to DarkBASIC Game Programming is here to help. You?ll be programming games in no time? and with DarkBASIC, you?ll be amazed at how little code you have to write! DarkBASIC features more than a thousand commands geared toward game development, giving you a powerful tool as you put your newfound skills into practice. You?ll get coverage of both DarkBASIC and DarkBASIC Professional, as well as the complete DarkBASIC Language Reference on CD. This completely self- contained book is designed to give you all of the skills you need to begin an amazing journey into the world of game development.

Customer Reviews:

Not for beginner's.......2007-06-01

For all those folks out there that don't know how to program and plan on using this book to learn programming - specifically game programming, my advice - DON'T. Programming concepts are not explained in enough depth to be useful. There is a process that takes place in a programmer's mind as one develops a feel for converting ideas into programs...and the book in no way helps to pave the neurons along that much needed path.
The author uses commands in examples before explaining their use and purpose. There are too many "huh?" moments. The long and interesting programs are presented with no discussion in the text about how it works! (Bigger "HUH!") If the book was actually intended for a more advanced programmer, then many pages were wasted in a half-hearted attempt to teach someone how to program. The book feels more like an annotation of the user's manual rather than concepts about building games using the DarkBASIC scripting language. I can't recommend this version of the book, especially since the cost of a used copy seems rather high for what you `ain't' gonna get.

Great for the beginning programmer........2005-08-25

I was excited to get this book, and, after reading it, I am happy to say it was worth every penny!

I especially liked the way the early chapters catered to the beginning programmer. I would recommend this book to anyone who has never programmed before, but, wants to learn. The authors never talk down to you or go over your head with the specific topics.

Even though I have programmed before, I was new to DarkBASIC, and, even though I still don't know everything there is to know about DB, at least I have a solid foundation to build on.

Regarding others criticisms of this book, sure there were some source code inconsistencies, but, if you followed the book you could have easily corrected them yourself, think of it as a bonus test of your new skills. If you thought the book was too simplistic, then, it wasn't for you anyway, so why did you buy it?

You won't be an expert after you finish this book, but, you will know enough to write some pretty decent games. The next logical step after reading this book is to logon to the DarkBASIC website, and, start reading some of the advanced 3D tutorials there. Also please make sure you read the forums, there are a lot of helpful programmers there always willing to lend a hand.

I hope the authors will follow up this book with the "Advanced Guide to DarkBASIC Game Programming".

Well written, but source code in book is wrong........2005-03-19

I love this book, and I feel it is very well written. The author gives pretty good examples and explains the code that he writes line by line. Perfect for the beginner.

However, nothing frustrates me more than a programming book with source code that does not work. It is very discouraging! What is the use of writing a book with bad source code? Programmers, especially beginners, look forward to the end of every chapter so they can try out their newly learned skills, and work with the end of chapter project. Now I know typos happen from time to time. Usually the correct code will either be on the CD or a support webpage with the company that published. Nope, the source code on the CD was also incorrect. Premiere Books doesn't offer a support website with up to date source code. Sad. I guess there is no QA process with writing tech manuals, eh?

Great book!.......2005-01-24

Even tho this book got some negative reviews, I just knew that a 700+ page book would have to teach something. I will admit that the beginning of the book does make you wonder how so many words can say so little, but after you get past that part, the book is great. I've programmed in Basic on my Commodore computer and used QBasic and Blitz Basic on my PC, and just discovered and purchased DarkBasic and it looks like it's going to be awesome! But the book that comes with the DarkBasic program really only describes the commands. You'd have to download the examples and print them out to learn how to program. Even it you do that, I'd still recomment getting this book, because I like to learn from more than one source.

The CD that comes with the book is also terrific. It's jammed packed with all the source code from the book, and has many completed games and demos of programs. I can't imagine learning DarkBasic without this book!

A note from the author.......2005-01-13

"Congratulations, you have just found the one and only book you will need to learn the basics of game programming!"

I decided to comment on this book (now 2 years after release) in order to clear up some misconceptions about it. We had to choose between two approaches for this book, to either follow the goal we set out to meet with this book, or to truly delve into the capabilities of DarkBasic. The publisher wanted an entry-level book for their game development series, so this book filled that role. As the title suggests, this is a "Beginner's Guide" to game programming. The title is somewhat confusing because DarkBasic is the tool we used, not the focus of the book. DarkBasic was just the means for teaching this course in game programming--for an audience with absolutely no experience. This book is being used as a first-semester textbook in some middle and high schools.

The unfortunate result of this decision is that DarkBasic fans wanted more of a comprehensive manual for DarkBasic, something to show them how to take advantage of the advanced features of DarkBasic. But what you must understand is that DarkBasic Pro was not even released yet when we completed this book. We had to struggle to queeze in DBPro support at the last minute before the book was printed. Most of the projects in the book are available on the CD-ROM for DBPro as well, with code changes made to suit those programs for DBPro. Most of the code from DarkBasic does run fine in DBPro without modification.

To address some of the harshest reviewers, I will say this: Look at the title; what did you expect, to learn how to write Quake III by reading this book? The title is not "Quake III Programming with DarkBasic" is it? It says "Beginner's Guide". Look at the title again--if it doesn't meet your needs, then the fault is your own for making a poor decision. I find that the same sort of people who complain about this book are the same people who will tell a beginner to "RTFM" instead of trying to be helpful--and I disagree with that attitude. To be honest, if you have enough experience to complain about the content of this book, then it was clearly not written for you, and the fault is your own. I would not buy a C primer if I already know C--and then complain about it! This book's title is all you need to judge whether you will benefit from reading it.

That explanation aside, I hope you will see this book for what it is, not what you want it to be. This book succeeds as a "Beginner's Guide" to game programming first and foremost, and secondly, as a DarkBasic reference (note that a language reference is available on the CD-ROM). The last chapter teaches you how to write your own 3D multiplayer car combat game called Crazy Carnage, which you can play against a friend over the Internet.

If you are a complete beginner, I think you will enjoy this book, because it is very patient, moves along at a slow pace, and describes the basic concepts of computer science like a mentor tutoring an apprentice. I think you will enjoy the nature of this book if you are in need of a no-pressure introduction to programming--because the CD-ROM includes a trial version of DarkBasic.

The Foreword by Lee Bamber--the creator of DarkBASIC--describes the goal of this book succinctly well: "Let's suppose a few years from now a programmer working for a game company...will mention the early days, and how a little-known language called DarkBASIC inspired him to great things. Might that programmer be you?"

"Will YOU write the next blockbuster game with DarkBASIC?" Take a look at the table of contents below to see the subjects that you will learn about in this book.

Part I: The Basics of Computer Programming
1: Welcome to DarkBASIC
2: Introduction to Computer Programming
3: Basic Commands, Variables, and Data Types
4: Characters, Strings, and Text Output
5: Looping Commands
6: Making Programs Think: Branching Statements and Subroutines
7: More Power To The Numbers: Data Sequences and Arrays
8: Number Crunching: Mathematical and Relational Operators and Commands

Part II: Game Fundamentals: Graphics, Sound, Input Devices, and File Access
9: Basic Graphics Commands
10: Game Graphics: Learning To Use Bitmaps
11: The Art of Using Animated Sprites for 2D Games
12: Programming the Keyboard, Mouse, and Joystick
13: Adding Sound Effects To Your Game
14: Playing Some Tunes: CD Audio, MIDI, and MP3 Music
15: Loading and Saving Information Using Files
16: Playing Intro Movies and Cut-Scenes

Part III: Advanced Topics: 3D Graphics and Multiplayer Programming
17: Fundamentals of 3D Graphics Programming
18: Multiplayer Programming: The Crazy CARnage Game

C# and Game Programming: A Beginner's Guide (Book & CD-ROM)

Average customer rating:

It's just BAD!
The Book Professor Review
Another example of "Type now understand later (if ever)"
Amazingly Poor
Beginning C# + Minor Gaming Discussion

C# and Game Programming: A Beginner's Guide (Book & CD-ROM)
Salvatore A. Buono
Manufacturer: AK Peters, Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Beginning .NET Game Programming in C#
Beginning C# Game Programming (Game Development)
Introduction to 3D Game Engine Design Using DirectX 9 and C#
Managed DirectX 9 Kick Start: Graphics and Game Programming (Kick Start)
Microsoft C# Programming for the Absolute Beginner (For the Absolute Beginner (Series).)

ASIN: 1568811934

Book Description

C# and GAme Programming offers the beginning programmer a lighthearted, hands-on approach to learning the C# language through classic arcade game applications.

Complete source code for games like Battle Bit, Asteroid Miner, and Battle Tennis demonstrates programming strategies and complements the comprehensive treatment of C# in the text.

From the basics of writing algorithms, to adding graphics and sound to games, to advanced concepts such as the .Net framework and object-oriented programming, this book entertains while helping a novice develop into a full-fledged programmer.

Customer Reviews:

It's just BAD!.......2006-03-16

Won't waste anymore of my time telling
you why, you can read other posts!

Don't belive the 4 start rating. I
doubt this Author has any idea how
to use C# or any language I would
imagine!

Not being an author myself I have
never critized those who are till
now.

I'll never buy another book by this
publisher. I would return this one
except for it being a gift. If your
in the same position use it to prop
up your monitor - it's only usefullness~

The Book Professor Review .......2005-09-07

Generally this text is for beginners, so if you are someone who knows nothing about C# or Game Programming, you'll probably be very happy with the book or at least need to study it. Additionally, if you have already studied C# say in school or through other books, but want to learn Game Programming, then you'll probably be very happy with the book or at least need to study it.

If, however, you already know C# and you have a fair knowledge of Game Programming, then you probably won't like the book (seeing it as too simply). Or finally, if you are a total beginner to computers and are not really sure what a complier is, you'll probably find the book hard to follow.

Another example of "Type now understand later (if ever)".......2004-10-04

I've gone through half of this book and will not be completing it.

Despite this being a "beginner" book the author quickly overwhelms the user with advanced examples while providing nearly zero explaination of what he is doing or why he is doing it.

Only the simpliest of concepts (data types, casting, etc) are discussed before getting to some of the first extremely long and extremely complex examples.

From the beginning there is no discussion of code and very little in the way of explainatory comments. After 200 pages the author STILL has only mentioned "using" a few times and hasn't even brought up a discussion of namespaces. Yet these items are included in every sample.

Many of the items being used are never explained, there is no step by step process that tells the reader what any particular command does or why he's using it.

My criteria for a "good" book is that by the time the author starts an example he/she should have previously explained what the purpose the example serves. Is this an example that will re-enforce the graphic manipulation discussion of the most recent chapter? Is this an example that will show me in practice the simple coding practices the author explained in the last 100 pages? None of this is there. The author jumps from talking about datatypes to using some advanced C# libraries in a sample without any explaination ever provided.

This book expects you to type in dozens of pages of code (or get it off the included CD) and learn by osmosis the point of the sample; why it works; and what the key elements/procedures are.

Maybe some people can somehow mystically connect to the authors train of thought and understand unexplained code through this method, but I am unfortunate to not be one of them.

If you really want to learn C# and are a true beginner than Petzolds Programming in the Key of C# is probably the best book I've read to this point (I have high hopes for Murach's C# but am just starting that one).

Unfortunately I haven't found any acceptable books that link C# and games programming yet that discuss the subject at a newcomer level.

Amazingly Poor.......2004-07-31

I'm amazed at the good reviews for this book. The only reason I can give for that is that perhaps the good reviews are all from the publisher, author and their many aliases.

This book's spelling, grammar, and coding errors make it impossible to use. I'm surprised that the code included on a CD even compiles. I was so frustrated after the first two chapters that I wanted to animate the book, just so I could choke it to death.

Do yourself a favor, if you want to buy this book just slap yourself in the face and save $30.

Beginning C# + Minor Gaming Discussion.......2004-02-25

Whatever gaming material is encountered in this book is minimal and irrelevant. This book is merely an introduction to C#, plus a superfluous discussion about games. It is my conviction that this book has no redeeming value unless all you want to get out of it is an introduction to C#.

If you want to write videogames in C#, I strongly recommend Managed DirectX 9 Kick Start : Graphics and Game.

I hope this helps.

Beginner's Guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements

Average customer rating:

Great Starting Point
Great for beginners

Beginner's Guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements
Michelle Perkins
Manufacturer: Amherst Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Programming | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Beginner's Guide to Adobe Photoshop
Easy Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 (Easy)
Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 Complete Course
Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop Elements 4 (Teach Yourself VISUALLY (Tech))
The Unofficial Guide to Photoshop Elements 4 (Unofficial Guide)

ASIN: 1584281383

Book Description

A guide to the leading image-editing software for nonprofessionals, this book guides even those who are novices at digital imaging on how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements to perfect their images and present them in creative ways. Each tool and feature of the software is presented in short lessons that facilitate rapid learning and avoid technical jargon. Beginning with basic operations, amateur photographers learn how to open images from a scanner, digital camera, CD, or other source, then name and save files. Also covered are viewing options and simple techniques for undoing any mistakes, as well as how simple it can be to make basic improvements to correct the overall color of images and fix photos that are either under- or overexposed. Retouching and preparing images for output are also explained.

Customer Reviews:

Great Starting Point.......2006-03-13

After having a version of Photoshop Elements included with one of my digital SLRs, I thought it might be a good idea to learn how to use the program. I was surprised with all that can be done with this inexpensive program. The author carefully explains the tools and how to maximize their use. After reading this book, I am confident that I can make many of my corrections and manipulations in Elements and not have to rely on the pro versions of Photoshop. Photoshop Elements and this book is more than enough for most photographers.

Great for beginners.......2005-08-20

I bought Elements 2.0, had Adobe's manual, and checked out 3 books from the library to learn how to use it--Teach Yourself Visually (Woolridge), Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 (Andrews) and this one. This is by far the easiest one to use to get started. At first I thought one of the other two books would be best, but this book, which initially I put aside as having too little information, is what I ended up starting APE2.0 with. It gives you just enough information on the different functions to get you started with the program in a logical order, with short explanations, brief but thorough instructions and visual samples so you can see the results and compare. I found the other 2 books from the library simply didn't go into the basics as well and the visual is simply confusing when you don't know what you're doing or what you're doing it with. The manual with the program--forget about it! Maybe once I'm comfortable with this book and have expanded a bit more with the others, maybe when I'm absolutely desperate for information I can't find anywhere else--maybe then I'll look at Adobe's manual.

If you're an absolute newby to Adobe Photoshop Elements, this is a great starter book. And I say this with some knowledge of Microsoft Photodraw 2000 and various other photofinishing software--I didn't start out a total novice. After just a couple days I am creating photo projects with Adobe that I never thought I could do with an inexpensive (compared to full grown Photoshop!) program.

Average customer rating:

Maya for the beginner
Very Meh.
Not for beginners!
Introducing Maya 8
great book for learning 3D

Introducing Maya 7: 3D for Beginners
Dariush Derakhshani
Manufacturer: Sybex
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Learning Maya 7: Foundation
Learning Autodesk Maya 8|Foundation +DVD
Learning Maya 7: The Modeling and Animation Handbook
The Art of Maya: An Introduction to 3D Computer Graphics
Learning Maya 7: The Special Effects Handbook

ASIN: 0782144349

Book Description

"If you're just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
-Animation Magazine

Alias' Academy Award(r) winning Maya(r) 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, computer game developers, and design professionals throughout the world. Now you can gain access to this brilliant tool and discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital characters and scenes with Maya.

Brought to you by Maya Press, a publishing partnership between Sybex and Alias, Introducing Maya(r) 7 is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya. This revision of the best-selling Maya book starts with the already proven concepts and foundation and builds anew from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples to make it fun and easy to learn Maya's core features. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you experiment with these features using the wealth of files provided on the CD. You'll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational art on the CD and in the full-color insert.

Enter a New Dimension
* Get a solid grasp of the core Maya and 3D concepts
* Learn to navigate the Maya 7 interface
* Experiment with Maya modeling by creating a hand, an axe, and a locomotive
* Explore the basics of NURBS, polygons, and subdivision surfaces
* Discover the nuances of shading and texturing
* Try your hand at animation
* Rig a locomotive model for automated animation
* Get a feel for Maya lighting, rendering, and dynamics
* Find out how to use Maya and Photoshop in unison to texture your scene

The enclosed CD features images, movies, and scene files that let you view material from the book right on your own computer. It also includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software, plus a searchable glossary of Key Terms.

Customer Reviews:

Maya for the beginner.......2007-03-09

Excellent Book. I highly recommend it. I am extremely knowledgeable with Photoshop Illustrator and other graphic art software, but had no knowledge or understanding of Maya. The book is easy to follow and explains the layers and menus very well. I did find some hic-ups in the directions, but it was easy to figure out and continue the step-by-step direction. This is a bible for anyone who is interested in gaining knowledge with this program.

Very Meh........2007-02-26

I am trying to get off the ground with maya 7 PLE, and puchased 2 books: Intro maya 7: 3d for beginners, and Learning maya 7: Foundation.

This book is definately inferior to foundation as it is very vague around some areas. For instance in one section it shows you a picture of a train carrage roof and just simply says "match yours with the one shown" and does not actually give exact specifications. This is only one of the books weak points however, and is not a good starting point for absolute beginners like myself who have never learnt a 3d package before (I have just turned 14 2 days ago). When I recieved my two books I could see straight away that the "Foundation" book was around twice the sie, in full colour and was much much better for value.

If you truly want to learn how to use maya 7 and utilize it to its maximum potential try the maya "Foundation" book. Saying that, this book does have some instructions on how to use some features that arent in "Foundation". I do like to use a combination of both so squeeze the good stuff from introducing maya and work through the entire "Foundation" book as well.

Dont buy this book without a backup is pretty much my conclusion.

Book purchased and real name is my mother's.

Not for beginners!.......2007-02-26

As a 3D artist using another program, I should have had few problems picking this up. But the instructions are written for version 8, which is not the version supplied on the accompanying CD. You'll search for hours for the menus and commands that simply aren't there because you're using Maya PLE version 7! (Luckily I found an earlier book version that uses the correct menu commands.) Don't buy THIS book until you can get your hands on Maya PLE version 8. It's not inside.

Introducing Maya 8.......2007-02-21

I've been toying with Maya for several years but never abie to get my head around it. That is until I discovered Introducing Maya 8. Lucid, Logical and even Entertaining. Dariush Derakshani's macabre sense of humor makes it a great read as well as a valualble learning experience. The tutorial projects are easy to follow and immediately present practical application which is lacking in most of the books I've tried to read on Maya. I was actually excited to move through the chapters with a growing confidence in my beginning mastery over Maya. I come from Painting and 2D compositing and was able to readily grasp the "nodal" approach which had eluded me with other dry Maya texts. Finally, a book which allows a 2D brain a transplant into 3D. If you want to quickly move into 3D with a fun and witty teacher..get Introducing Maya 8.

great book for learning 3D.......2007-02-01

This book is by far the most user-friendly beginner's guide to Maya I've come across. It begins assuming no knowledge of 3D apps, and works it's way into some pretty sophisticated stuff concerning texturing, anmimation, modeling, etc. I think the key to it is the writing, which is peppered with smart humor which is well-timed. It reads like taking a class with an engaging young teacher, totally knowledgable yet fun. Highly recommend.

Beginning Game Development with Python and Pygame: From Novice to Professional (Beginning from Novice to Professional)

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Beginning Game Development with Python and Pygame: From Novice to Professional (Beginning from Novice to Professional)
Will McGugan
Manufacturer: Apress
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Programming | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Game Programming | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Like music and movies, video games are rapidly becoming an integral part of our lives. Over the years, you've yearned for every new gaming console, mastered each blockbuster within weeks after its release, and have even won a local gaming competition or two. But lately you've been spending a lot of time thinking about a game idea of your own, or are exploring the possibility of making a career of this vibrant and growing industry. But where should you begin?

Beginning Game Development with Python and Pygame is written with the budding game developer in mind, introducing games development through the Python programming language and the popular Pygame games development library. Authored by industry veteran and Python expert Will McGugan, who most recently worked on the MotorStorm game for Play Station 3, you'll be privy to insights that will not only help you to exploit PyGame to its maximum potential, but also make you a more creative and knowledgeable games developer all round.

Create advanced games by taking advantage of the popular open source Python programming language and Pygame games development library.
Learn step-by-step through the creation of a real-world game (tank warfare), involving gaming preferences, sound, visual effects, and joystick/keyboard interaction.
Discover the concepts that are crucial to success in today's gaming industry, such as support for multiple platforms, and granting users the ability to extend and customize your games.

What you'll learn

Take advantage of Python and the Pygame library to build compelling cross-platform games.
Learn to best use these technologies to turn your dream game into reality.
Create professional games by accounting for sound, special effects, and user interaction through the joystick and keyboard.
Build both two- and three-dimensional games, and learn more about the factors that contribute to choosing one approach over the other.
Provide users with the means for extending your games through level creation and custom modifications as a means to build a vibrant community around your product.
Package your games in a manner that allows even novice computer users to install, use, and update your games with ease.

Who is this book for?

This book has been written for any budding games developer. While knowledge of the Python language helps, it isn't required. To help new programmers along, two early chapters are devoted to an overview of Python.

About the Apress Beginning Series

The Beginning series from Apress is the right choice to get the information you need to land that crucial entry-level job. These books will teach you a standard and important technology from the ground up because they are explicitly designed to take you from "novice to professional." You'll start your journey by seeing what you need to know--but without needless theory and filler. You'll build your skill set by learning how to put together real-world projects step by step. So whether your goal is your next career challenge or a new learning opportunity, the Beginning series from Apress will take you there--it is your trusted guide through unfamiliar territory!

Beginner's Guide to Digtial Imaging: For Photographers and Other Creative People

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Beginner's Guide to Digtial Imaging: For Photographers and Other Creative People
Rob Sheppard
Manufacturer: Amherst Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Digital Photography | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Equipment | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Programming | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Digital Photography | Graphic Design | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Illustrating how computers can be used to enhance every photograph, this guide covers the technologies and techniques that photographers need to save time and money and stay current and competitive. Photographers new to digital imaging will be shown how traditional prints can be scanned and treated to an array of digital improvements. From discussions on image-producing equipment, creating digital images, and scanner specifications to instruction in imaging techniques, pixels, and resolutions, photographers will learn the skills needed to venture into digital photography with confidence.

Programming Games for Beginners (Bk&Disk)

Average customer rating:

Poker Card Game Code has Bug

Programming Games for Beginners (Bk&Disk)
Christopher A. Howard
Manufacturer: Sams Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Programming | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0672303132

Customer Reviews:

Poker Card Game Code has Bug.......1997-04-07

Poker game code has bug. If you get a King in a flush hand. Hand credit as a Hi card hand? Would like to find the bug fix

Average customer rating:

Office 97 Visual Reference Basics
Diana Rain , Maria Reidelbach , and Rosemary Shmavonian
Manufacturer: DDC Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1562434349

Book Description

This guide gives you visually intensive and "at-a-glance" instructions for the 100 most common functions . We use icons and dialog boxes with callouts and pictures to clearly illustrate the functions. Spiral-bound.

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