Book Image

OpenGL Game Development By Example

By : Stephen Madsen, Robert Madsen
Book Image

OpenGL Game Development By Example

By: Stephen Madsen, Robert Madsen

Overview of this book

OpenGL is one of the most popular rendering SDKs used to develop games. OpenGL has been used to create everything from 3D masterpieces running on desktop computers to 2D puzzles running on mobile devices. You will learn to apply both 2D and 3D technologies to bring your game idea to life. There is a lot more to making a game than just drawing pictures and that is where this book is unique! It provides a complete tutorial on designing and coding games from the setup of the development environment to final credits screen, through the creation of a 2D and 3D game. The book starts off by showing you how to set up a development environment using Visual Studio, and create a code framework for your game. It then walks you through creation of two games–a 2D platform game called Roboracer 2D and a 3D first-person space shooter game–using OpenGL to render both 2D and 3D graphics using a 2D coordinate system. You'll create sprite classes, render sprites and animation, and navigate and control the characters. You will also learn how to implement input, use audio, and code basic collision and physics systems. From setting up the development environment to creating the final credits screen, the book will take you through the complete journey of creating a game engine that you can extend to create your own games.
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
OpenGL Game Development By Example
Credits
About the Authors
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

A computer in a computer


The thing about what it takes for your computer to process your game. The computer must receive input from the player, interpret that input, and then apply the results to the game. Once the input is completed, the computer must handle the physics of the game: objects must be moved, collisions must happen, and explosions must ensue. Once the computer has completed updating all of the objects in the game, it must then render these results to the screen. Finally, in order to be convincing, all of this must occur at least 30 times a second and often 60 times a second!

It is truly amazing that computers can process this much information that quickly. In fact, if it were truly up to the central processing unit of your computer to accomplish this, then it wouldn't be able to keep up.

The 3D graphics card solves this problem by taking care of the rendering process so that the main CPU of your computer doesn't have to. All your CPU has to do is deliver the data and the graphics...