Book Image

Microsoft XNA 4.0 Game Development Cookbook

By : Luke Drumm
Book Image

Microsoft XNA 4.0 Game Development Cookbook

By: Luke Drumm

Overview of this book

Microsoft XNA attempts to free game developers from writing "repetitive boilerplate code", allowing them to focus on producing enjoyable gameplay rather than tedious and complicated setup. The Framework has reduced the once steep learning curve for game development, transforming it into something more attainable, and this cookbook will help you to take full advantage of XNA to bring reality into your virtual worlds. "Microsoft XNA 4.0 Game Development Cookbook" is the perfect resource for propelling your game development capabilities from the simple 2D demo towards engaging and exciting, professional looking games. With a diverse selection of game-related topics covered, discover how to create rich 2D and 3D worlds filled with interesting characters, detailed scenery and dynamic special effects applicable to PC, Xbox 360, and Windows Phone 7 game play. There is no shortage of introductory texts available for XNA, a number of which are fantastic for getting started with simple 2D games, but "Microsoft XNA 4.0 Game Development Cookbook"ù will help you take the steps to start producing games that have deeper gameplay, compelling graphics and that little bit of extra polish! The book's recipes will get you up and going quickly with the next level of game features such as 3D graphics, AI, and network play. With this practical cookbook to hand, even the more experienced developer will be better equipped to achieve high level tasks with XNA in a quick and efficient manner.

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Microsoft XNA 4.0 Game Development Cookbook
Luke Drumm
Jun, 2012 | 356 pages
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Table of Contents (15 chapters)
Microsoft XNA 4.0 Game Development Cookbook
Microsoft XNA 4.0 Game Development Cookbook
Credits
Credits
About the Author
About the Author
About the Reviewers
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Preface
Free Chapter
1
Applying Special Effects
Applying Special Effects
Introduction
Creating shadows within the Reach profile
Creating shadows within the HiDef profile
Implementing lens flare within the Reach profile
Implementing lens flare within the HiDef profile
Implementing smoke within the Reach profile
Creating explosions within the Reach profile
Creating explosions within the HiDef profile
2
Building 2D and 3D Terrain
Building 2D and 3D Terrain
Introduction
Displaying hexagonal maps
Displaying 2D isometric maps
Importing and displaying 3D isometric maps
Generating 3D height maps
Creating block worlds within the Reach profile
Creating block worlds within the HiDef profile
3
Procedural Modeling
Procedural Modeling
Introduction
Modeling triangles
Modeling discs
Modeling spheres
Modeling tori
Modeling trees
4
Creating Water and Sky
Creating Water and Sky
Introduction
Creating water within the HiDef profile
Building skyboxes within the Reach profile
Building skyboxes within the HiDef profile
Cloud generation within the Reach profile
5
Non-Player Characters
Non-Player Characters
Introduction
A* pathfinding
Character state machines
Constructing dialogue
Decentralizing behavior
6
Playing with Animation
Playing with Animation
Introduction
Applying animation with SkinnedEffect
Motion capture with Kinect
Integrating rag doll physics
Rendering crowds
7
Creating Vehicles
Creating Vehicles
Introduction
Applying simple car physics
Implementing simple plane controls
Rendering reflective materials within the Reach profile
8
Receiving Player Input
Receiving Player Input
Introduction
Adding text fields
Creating dialog wheels
Dragging, dropping, and sliding
9
Networking
Networking
Introduction
Connecting across a LAN
Connecting across the Web
Synchronizing client states

About the Reviewers

Jason Mitchell is a passionate .NET developer and an independent game development enthusiast. He has worked with Microsoft's XNA Game Studio since its initial release and has experience using it to create games on Windows, Xbox 360, and Windows Phone.

Kenneth Dahl Pedersen, now aged 35, has been programming basically since he got his first computer at age 6, starting on the Commodore 64, with small programs that could do next to nothing. This quickly evolved when he migrated to the much more powerful Amiga 500 with some demos and light applications, and finally culminated when he got his first PC.

Since then, game development has held his interest in a vice grip, and Kenneth has studied numerous programming languages and APIs for this purpose. His repertoire includes C/C++, OpenGL, DirectX, C#, WPF, WCF, MDX, and XNA.

With the appearance of readily-available, high-end engines, such as Unreal Development Kit, Kenneth found another interest to keep him well-sated in his thirst for game development knowledge, UnrealScript, providing another mountain top to climb.

Kenneth is a Systems Analyst and Developer. Originally from Denmark, where he still works, he now lives in Sweden with his wife and baby daughter.

Other than being with his wife and daughter, he uses his spare time for game development, seeking new knowledge and dabbling in 3D visual arts in applications, such as 3D Studio Max and ZBrush. And of course, Kenneth is an avid gamer. After all, you cannot make games if you don't enjoy playing them!

First of all, I would like to thank my wife, Nina, for the patience she's shown me while I was doing this review. I have probably not been as helpful around the house as I should have been, while this was going on.

My beautiful daughter, Nadia, for always giving me a reason to smile and laugh.

And last, but certainly not least, Michelle Quadros, for believing in me and giving me this incredible experience and opportunity to do a tech review of this awesome book on XNA.

My advice to you, the Reader: Read it, cover-to-cover. You will not regret it, as it contains some absolute treasures of tips and techniques for your own game projects.

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