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Windows Phone 8 Game Development
Windows Phone 8 Game Development
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
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11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 21, 2013
The " Windows Phone 8 Game Development " book covers a topic of programming games for Windows Phone 8 mobile platform. That is a really important and actual subject, which is presented very well in interesting and easy to understand way. A huge advantage of this book is presentation of steps necessary to create an example game, which combines a lot of features and technologies: 2D, 3D graphics, sensors, detecting collisions, web services, and much more. A reader can find explanation of them in particular chapters. It is very nice that the author managed to divide the book into smaller parts dedicated to particular features and smoothly switch between them.
At the beginning, the author introduces a topic of the book and then presents Windows Phone platform, concepts of managed, native, and hybrid development, preparing development environment, and the example. Then, he proceeds to creating a simple user interface for game screens in a way that should be suitable for beginners. Next, it is shown how to run application, prepare localized project, and implement game screens using MVVM pattern, which is really useful. The next part is dedicated to programming games in Direct3D, with adding models, steering, detecting collisions, and preparing many game levels. This subjects have been described in a simple way, not using a lot of advanced terminology. The next part is related to maps and augmented reality. Nowadays, they more and more often appear in various applications. Another interesting subject is presented in two following chapters related to exchanging data via Internet, using web services and social networks. That is useful to learn how a developer can integrate applications with Facebook or Twitter social networks. It is worth mentioning that it was a very good idea to provide information about external libraries that make this operation much easier. Then, there is presented additional mechanisms of the game, including support for video, audio, vibrations, speech recognition and synthesis. Together, it forms a complete game, which can be created while reading the book. At the end, there is describes how to publish the game.
To sum it all, description of various possibilities, together with real examples, should be really useful for beginners, who want to develop games for Windows Phone 8. I am an owner and main developer of a navigation system for hiking and cycling (http://www.kamap.pl), however, information presented in the book is very useful also for me. Thus, I would like to honestly recommend this publication for anyone, who wants to start developing games (and other kinds of applications) for Windows Phone 8.
At the beginning, the author introduces a topic of the book and then presents Windows Phone platform, concepts of managed, native, and hybrid development, preparing development environment, and the example. Then, he proceeds to creating a simple user interface for game screens in a way that should be suitable for beginners. Next, it is shown how to run application, prepare localized project, and implement game screens using MVVM pattern, which is really useful. The next part is dedicated to programming games in Direct3D, with adding models, steering, detecting collisions, and preparing many game levels. This subjects have been described in a simple way, not using a lot of advanced terminology. The next part is related to maps and augmented reality. Nowadays, they more and more often appear in various applications. Another interesting subject is presented in two following chapters related to exchanging data via Internet, using web services and social networks. That is useful to learn how a developer can integrate applications with Facebook or Twitter social networks. It is worth mentioning that it was a very good idea to provide information about external libraries that make this operation much easier. Then, there is presented additional mechanisms of the game, including support for video, audio, vibrations, speech recognition and synthesis. Together, it forms a complete game, which can be created while reading the book. At the end, there is describes how to publish the game.
To sum it all, description of various possibilities, together with real examples, should be really useful for beginners, who want to develop games for Windows Phone 8. I am an owner and main developer of a navigation system for hiking and cycling (http://www.kamap.pl), however, information presented in the book is very useful also for me. Thus, I would like to honestly recommend this publication for anyone, who wants to start developing games (and other kinds of applications) for Windows Phone 8.
July 31, 2014
As stated in the book's description, this is a practical guide to Windows Phone 8 game development. Unlike some books that present a "Hello, World!" for each topic, the author chose to develop a full game project (presented in Chapter 1) and each chapter adds something to the project as a whole.
The author gives the reader an overview of the Windows Phone 8 platform, app lifecycle as well as different approaches to development (managed, native and hybrid). The hybrid approach (used throughout the book) caught my attention - as a cross-platform C++ developer, I think it's nice to have an easier/faster way to do UI while developing natively for better performance and heavier processing. So there is a mixture of C#, C++, C++/CX, XAML and Direct3D (which is something uncommon, at least for me), where managed/native communication is handled by a Direct3DInterop class.
The step-by-step approach is nice for beginners, and there are some tips that might save time for intermediate developers (and even for advanced developers who are coming from other platforms). There is one chapter for the MVVM (model-view-view model) design pattern, which is applied to the game, and the last chapter deals with publishing the game.
Regarding current trends, the book deals with localization, maps, geolocation, web services and social networks (Facebook and Twitter API's). The game also implements reading data from RSS. Two features that I would like to check on a real device are the augmented reality and speech recognition, since they both seemed easy to implement.
There are a couple of things that could get into the book:
- Some features are implemented only in managed mode: the author could give a brief explanation on how to implement those in native code or at least point directions (though there are some links in Appendix A), or implement them in native code and put in the book's source code;
- Even though it is a Windows Phone 8 book, there could be some discussion (or comparison) about how each device/OS feature relates to the competition (i.e. iOS and Android), since nowadays it is very common to release apps and games across different OS's and stores.
Overall, the book delivers what it promises, and I would recommend to anyone interest in learning Windows Phone 8 game development.
The author gives the reader an overview of the Windows Phone 8 platform, app lifecycle as well as different approaches to development (managed, native and hybrid). The hybrid approach (used throughout the book) caught my attention - as a cross-platform C++ developer, I think it's nice to have an easier/faster way to do UI while developing natively for better performance and heavier processing. So there is a mixture of C#, C++, C++/CX, XAML and Direct3D (which is something uncommon, at least for me), where managed/native communication is handled by a Direct3DInterop class.
The step-by-step approach is nice for beginners, and there are some tips that might save time for intermediate developers (and even for advanced developers who are coming from other platforms). There is one chapter for the MVVM (model-view-view model) design pattern, which is applied to the game, and the last chapter deals with publishing the game.
Regarding current trends, the book deals with localization, maps, geolocation, web services and social networks (Facebook and Twitter API's). The game also implements reading data from RSS. Two features that I would like to check on a real device are the augmented reality and speech recognition, since they both seemed easy to implement.
There are a couple of things that could get into the book:
- Some features are implemented only in managed mode: the author could give a brief explanation on how to implement those in native code or at least point directions (though there are some links in Appendix A), or implement them in native code and put in the book's source code;
- Even though it is a Windows Phone 8 book, there could be some discussion (or comparison) about how each device/OS feature relates to the competition (i.e. iOS and Android), since nowadays it is very common to release apps and games across different OS's and stores.
Overall, the book delivers what it promises, and I would recommend to anyone interest in learning Windows Phone 8 game development.
November 12, 2013
The book "Windows Phone 8 Game Development" is a step by step guide for the beginner who wants to create his first video game on the Windows Phone 8 platform. The author begins by showing the installation and configuration of the development tools, and continue with the game design and user interface. The game builds on the template XAML-Direct3D hybrid mode to get the best performance and ease of use of managed and native modes.
The technologies used in the development of the game are several, like the use of sensors, 2D and 3D graphics, collision detection, audio playback, touch input, geolocation, maps, web services, augmented reality, voice recognition and voice synthesizing.
The author devotes an entire chapter to show how to connect the game with Facebook and Twitter, and how to read data from RSS feeds.
It also shows the steps required to publish the game in the store, the manifest configuration, the icons and their different resolutions, ratings and live tiles. It shows how to detect and analyze performance problems.
The book includes the source code of the final project, but it would have been excellent if the author also included the source code as the project progresses in each chapter, just in case a reader would like to skip a chapter in between.
Outside this detail, the book is highly recommended for beginners interested in creating and publishing video games for Windows Phone 8.
The technologies used in the development of the game are several, like the use of sensors, 2D and 3D graphics, collision detection, audio playback, touch input, geolocation, maps, web services, augmented reality, voice recognition and voice synthesizing.
The author devotes an entire chapter to show how to connect the game with Facebook and Twitter, and how to read data from RSS feeds.
It also shows the steps required to publish the game in the store, the manifest configuration, the icons and their different resolutions, ratings and live tiles. It shows how to detect and analyze performance problems.
The book includes the source code of the final project, but it would have been excellent if the author also included the source code as the project progresses in each chapter, just in case a reader would like to skip a chapter in between.
Outside this detail, the book is highly recommended for beginners interested in creating and publishing video games for Windows Phone 8.
October 29, 2013
A very useful book to everyone that want to quickly start developing Windows Phone 8 games and applications. This books is a step by step guide that clearly explains how to create a game from the very beginning (idea, concept, objective, etc) until the store publication. This book enable us also to select just the chapters of interest for example to those that want to focus in one of the aspects from the game development as create the game navigation, connect to social networks or publish their game into the store.
One of the things that highlight this book is the clear explanations that are provided at each step. This make it very easy from those that are just starting. At the same time the book covers more complex topics as 3D graphics, augmented reality, geolocalization and web services connection making it very attractive to those more experienced developpers.
I recommend this book to anyone that wants a all-in-one guide to fast staring develop games and graphic application in the new Windows Phone 8 framework. This book is worth the investment in relation to the quality of its contents for those interested in a good book to quickly get into the platform.
One of the things that highlight this book is the clear explanations that are provided at each step. This make it very easy from those that are just starting. At the same time the book covers more complex topics as 3D graphics, augmented reality, geolocalization and web services connection making it very attractive to those more experienced developpers.
I recommend this book to anyone that wants a all-in-one guide to fast staring develop games and graphic application in the new Windows Phone 8 framework. This book is worth the investment in relation to the quality of its contents for those interested in a good book to quickly get into the platform.
December 5, 2013
I recently read a book "Windows Phone 8 Game development" http://www.packtpub.com/windows-phone... and I would picture it as "A step by step Guide to Windows Phone Game development". Why? Because it has a complete recipe of creating a good quality game for windows phone 8. Right from concepts to shaders and from social integration to augmented reality.
It very well explains XAML, Direct3D, Windows phone toolkit, MVVM, 3D graphics and lot of other stuff. It starts with basics in the platform and hence, even if you have not developed for this platform before, you will still be comfortable reading it.
What I epecially liked was It's simplicity, Neat layout and the notes in between! I would recommend it to developers who are beginners or at intermediate level at this platform. Good work PacktPub, Good work Marcin Jamro!
It very well explains XAML, Direct3D, Windows phone toolkit, MVVM, 3D graphics and lot of other stuff. It starts with basics in the platform and hence, even if you have not developed for this platform before, you will still be comfortable reading it.
What I epecially liked was It's simplicity, Neat layout and the notes in between! I would recommend it to developers who are beginners or at intermediate level at this platform. Good work PacktPub, Good work Marcin Jamro!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews