student work: “cyclops world cup” and computer game animation
The perfect blend of art and science, game development has become an increasingly popular career choice over the past decade. With new computer games hitting the entertainment market every day, the skills of game developers are in high demand. Since books are mankind’s second best friend (the first being dogs), game developers can turn to books to hone their skills. however, in the myriad of books available on the market, how do you go about selecting the one that best suits your needs? Well, here is a list of the top 7 books that should be part of every game developer’s library:
You are reading: Books about game development
1. game engine architecture – third edition (by jason gregory):
this book by jason gregory is the go-to manual for all information on game engine architecture. the book goes into detail citing ways to create your own game, the challenges you might face, and the solutions. With a focus on the architecture of eighth generation game consoles like Xbox One and PlayStation 4, this is not a book for beginners. To understand the concepts explained in the book, you must have prior knowledge of C++. the extent of the book’s content ranges from different game engines to the differences between them. Covers topics such as runtime architecture, 3d math for games, memory leak, engine support systems, animation systems, graphics, game systems, profiling tools, and more. plus. the cost of the third edition, as advertised on amazon, is £56.45.
2. the art of game design: a lens book (by jesse schell):
how wonderful would it be to understand the study of game design from different perspectives? the “lenses” in the title refer to these perspectives. The book takes readers on a unique journey where it not only understands the game design process in depth, but also discusses every step of the process that leads to the development of a game. In addition, the author of the book, Jesse Schell, is a game designer who has designed many Disney games and also chaired the International Association of Game Developers. this book is available on amazon for £69.95.
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3. complete game coding: fourth edition (by mike mcshaffry and david graham):
Veteran programmers Mike McShaffry and David Graham collaborated to write this book that guides game developers on how to launch their games commercially. the focus of the book is on the game design process and the challenges that come with it. The book’s content dives into concepts such as modern game engines, professional techniques used in games, lua scripting, shader programming, and artificial intelligence. McShaffry is known for creating games like “Ultima” and “Blackjack”, while Graham has immersed himself in everything from mini-game development to programming games on PlayStation 3. This book is available on Amazon for £38.49. p>
4. game design workshop – fourth edition (by tracy fullerton):
First published in 2014, this book by Tracy Fullerton builds on key game design concepts and is a great book for beginners. Due to the ease of understanding and breadth of knowledge the book provides, it is used as the de facto textbook in game design courses around the world. The book is packed with hit game references along with illustrations and up-to-date design methods and techniques. Fullerton is currently the head of the Games Innovation Lab in the Interactive Media Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. As advertised on Amazon, this book is priced at £51.29.
5. Rules of the Game: Game Design Fundamentals (by Eric Zimmerman and Katie Salen):
rules of the game is one of the best books that offers you a walk through the key concepts and methodologies on any topic between board games and video games. It guides you through a number of perspectives, helping you understand how a game can be developed from storytelling to informative information. both authors are game developers and former professors at renowned universities. The goal behind the conception of this book was to serve as a catalyst for innovation by instilling new concepts, strategies, and methodologies in game creation. you can buy this book for £36.20 on amazon.
6. fun theory for game design (by raph koster):
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This book takes you deep into the concepts influencing today’s video games. Priced at £22.31 on Amazon, the book presents a detailed comparison between modern and traditional video games. the author has taken the opportunity to write a book to make readers realize that fun is the most vital element in any game. Furthermore, he goes on to explain what drives this cultural force and how it has transformed over the years.
7. level up! the guide to great video game design (by scott rogers):
Any game developer who wants to make it big in the industry should have this book in their collection. Among the plethora of game development books available today, this is one of the best. the information is presented in an understandable way, with small hand-drawn illustrations to accompany the text. This is a must-read book that is suitable for novice and expert game designers alike. the book is available for £15.33 on amazon.
enjoy the work and get paid for it, is there anything that can top that? if you are a gamer at heart and a game developer in mind, this may be the way forward for you.
the london college of contemporary arts (lcca) offers a hnc/hnd computer game animation course to help students who aspire to become game developers and contribute to this ever-growing industry. so don’t wait any longer and enroll in the course now!
this text was written by meghdeep patnaik and edited by anisa choudhary.
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