Books or Frameworks for C++ Game Programming

Question

Hey guys,

I'm looking to get a career started in game programming, (like every other recent college graduate with a CS degree) and I see a lot of places require C/C++ fluency. I'm very comfortable with C, but my C++ is rusty at best and I've never used either for any kind of game programming.

Can anyone recommend some good reading or suggestions on how I could get started learning the skills I would need to land a position at a game design company?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

As far a C++ framework, Ogre3D is excellent. It's object-oriented, cross-platform (yep, linux support too), well written and well documented. Best of all it's free. All of Torchlight was made with it.

Ogre3D

Ogre Forums

As far as a book: 3D Math Primer for Graphics and Game Development by Fletcher Dunn and Ian Parberry is highly regarded.

HTH

Answer 2

Jay Baxter of Blizzard has a recommended reading list you might be interested in.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3VCLPFBQG9OUU/ref=cm_pdp_friends_img_1

Answer 3

C++ For Game Programmers (Game Development Series) by Mike Dickheiser. A very good book. :)

Answer 4

Some game programming books:

General

• A K Peters - Fundamentals of Computer Graphics 2Ed 2005
• A K Peters - Game Engine Architecture 2009
• Addison Wesley - Agile Game Development with Scrum 2010
• Addison Wesley - Object-Oriented Game Development 2004
• Addison Wesley - Software Engineering and Computer Games 2002
• Chelsea - Digital Games - Computers at Play 2010
• Course - Awesome Game Creation - No Programming Required 3Ed 2007
• Course - Game Testing All in One 2005
• Course - Going to War - Creating Computer War Games 2009
• CRC - The PC Graphics Handbook 2003
• Focal - End-to-End Game Development 2010
• Focal - Vintage Games 2009
• Gale - Video Games 2010
• Manning - Graphics File Formats 1995
• Marcel Dekker - Modern Digital Halftoning 2001
• MIT - A Casual Revolution - Reinventing Video Games and Their Players 2010
• MIT - The Ethics of Computer Games 2009
• MIT - Video Game Spaces - Image, Play and Structure in 3D Worlds 2008
• Morgan Kaufmann - Pervasive Games 2009
• New Riders - Core Techniques and Algorithms in Game Programming 2003
• New Riders - Creating Emotion In Games 2003
• Open U - Game Cultures - Computer Games as New Media 2006
• Packt - Unity Game Development Essentials 2009
• Premier - Data Structures for Game Programmers 2003
• Premier - Software Engineering for Game Developers 2005
• Prentice Hall - Windows Graphics Programming - Win32 GDI And DirectDraw 2000
• Routledge - The Video Game Theory Reader 2 2009
• Sage - The Business and Culture of Digital Games 2006
• Sage - Understanding Digital Games 2006
• Springer - An Introduction to Computer Graphics and Creative 3-D Environments 2008
• Springer - Computer Graphics for Artists II 2009
• Thomson - Beginning Game Graphics 2005
• Thomson - Beyond Reality - A Guide to Alternate Reality Gaming 2005
• Thomson - Game Engine Toolset Development 2006
• Wiley - The Art of Videogames 2009
• Wordware - Design Arcade Computer Game Graphics 2001

Art, Modeling, Animation

• Course - Game Character Development 2008
• CRM - Animating Real-Time Game Characters 2002
• CRM - Creating Game Art for 3D Engines 2008
• Focal - Character Animation - 2D Skills for Better 3D 2Ed 2007
• Focal - Game Art Complete 2009
• Focal - Virtual Vixens - 3D Character Modeling and Scene Placement 2007
• Intellect - Videogames and Art 2007
• Morgan Kaufmann - Computer Animation Complete 2010
• Morgan Kaufmann - Digital Character Development 2008
• Premier - 2D Artwork and 3D Modeling for Game Artists 2003
• Springer - Modeling and Simulating Bodies and Garments 2010
• Springer - View-Dependent Character Animation 2007
• Sybex - Stop Staring - Facial Modeling and Animation Done Right 2Ed 2007
• Thomson - Beginning Game Art in 3ds Max 8 2006
• Thomson - Game Character Design Complete 2007
• Wordware - Modeling, UV Mapping, and Texturing 3D Game Weapons 2006

Cameras

• Morgan Kaufmann - Programming Cameras and Pan-Tilts with DirectX and Java 2003
• Morgan Kaufmann - Real-Time Cameras - For Game Designers 2009

DirectX, Shaders, 3D

• A K Peters - Real-Time Rendering 3Ed 2008
• A K Peters - Real-Time Shading 2002
• Addison Wesley - GPU Gems 1 2004
• Addison Wesley - GPU Gems 2 2005
• Addison Wesley - GPU Gems 3 2007
• Apress - .NET Game Programming with DirectX 9 2003
• Apress - Introduction to 3D Game Engine Design using DirectX 9 and C-Sharp 2003
• Apress - Pro OGRE 3D Programming 2006
• Course - Character Animation with Direct3D 2009
• Course - Ultimate Game Programming with DirectX 2Ed 2009
• CRM - Awesome 3D Game Development - No Programming Required 2004
• CRM - Programming a Multiplayer First Person Shooter in DirectX 2005
• CRM - Real-Time 3D Terrain Engines Using C++ and DirectX 9 2003
• Focal - 3D Game Textures 2Ed 2009
• Focal - Building Interactive Worlds in 3D 2005
• Idea - 3D Modeling & Animation - Synthesis and Analysis Techniques 2005
• Morgan Kaufmann - 3D Game Engine Architecture 2005
• Morgan Kaufmann - 3D Game Engine Design 2000
• Morgan Kaufmann - Collision Detection in Interactive 3D Environments 2004
• Morgan Kaufmann - Level of Detail for 3D Graphics 2003
• Morgan Kaufmann - Real-Time Collision Detection 2005
• Morgan Kaufmann - Real-Time Shader Programming 2003
• Morgan Kaufmann - Visualizing Quaternions 2006
• Premier - Advanced Animation with DirectX 2003
• Premier - Beginning Direct3D Game Programming 2Ed 2003
• Premier - Focus on 2D in Direct3D 2002
• Premier - Focus on 3D Models 2003
• Premier - Focus on 3D Terrain Programming 2003
• Premier - Real-Time Rendering Tricks and Techniques In DirectX 2002
• Premier - Special Effects Game Programming with DirectX 2002
• Sams - Direct3D Programming Kick Start 2003
• Sams - Managed DirectX 9 Kick Start - Graphics and Game Programming 2003
• Sams - Tricks of the 3D Game Programming Gurus 2003
• Springer - Algorithms for Parallel Polygon Rendering 1989
• Thomson - 3D Game Engine Programming 2004
• Thomson - 3D Game Programming All in One 2Ed 2007
• Thomson - Advanced 3D Game Programming All in One 2005
• Thomson - Beginning DirectX 10 Game Programming 2008
• Thomson - Programming Role Playing Games with DirectX 2Ed 2004
• Thomson - Shaders for Game Programmers and Artists 2004
• Thomson - The Dark Side of Game Texturing 2004
• Wordware - Advanced 3D Game Programming with DirectX 10.0 2008
• Wordware - Advanced Lighting and Materials with Shaders 2005
• Wordware - Direct3D ShaderX - Vertex and Pixel Shader Tips and Tricks 2002
• Wordware - DirectX 9 Graphics - The Definitive Guide to Direct 3D 2005
• Wordware - DirectX 9 User Interfaces Design and Implementation 2004
• Wordware - Introduction to 3D Game Programming with DirectX 9 2003
• Wordware - Learn Vertex and Pixel Shader Programming with DirectX 9 2004
• Wordware - ShaderX2 - Introductions and Tutorials with DirectX 9 2004
• Wordware - ShaderX2 - Shader Programming Tips and Tricks with DirectX 9 2004
• Wordware - Strategy Game Programming With Directx 9 2003

Game AI

• Artificial Intelligence - Hardcore AI for Computer Games and Animation 1998
• Course - Behavioral Mathematics for Game AI 2009
• CRM - AI Game Engine Programming 2004
• CRM - AI Game Programming Wisdom 2002
• Morgan Kaufmann - Artificial Intelligence for Games 2Ed 2009
• New Riders - AI Game Development - Synthetic Creatures 2003
• O'Reilly - AI for Game Developers 2004
• Premier - AI Techniques for Game Programming 2002
• SIGGRAPH 98 Course Notes - AI for Computer Games and Animation 1998
• Springer - Advanced Intelligent Paradigms in Computer Games 2007
• Wordware - Programming Game AI by Example 2005
• Wordware - Programming Game AI by Example 2005

Game Audio

• Focal - Audio Programming for Interactive Games 2004
• Focal - The Complete Guide to Game Audio 2009
• MIT - Game Sound 2008
• Premier - Beginning Game Audio Programming 2003
• Thomson - Creating Music and Sound for Games 2007
• Wordware - DirectX 9 Audio Exposed - Interactive Audio Development 2004

Game Design

• A & C Black - Writing for Video Games 2006
• Cengage Learning - Video Game Design Revealed 2007
• Course - David Perry on Game Design - A Brainstorming Toolbox 2009
• McGraw-Hill - Ultimate Game Design - Building Game Worlds 2003
• MIT - Rules of Play - Game Design Fundamentals 2004
• Morgan Kaufmann - Better Game Characters by Design 2006
• Morgan Kaufmann - Casual Game Design 2010
• Morgan Kaufmann - Game Design Workshop 2Ed 2008
• Morgan Kaufmann - Game Fell - A Game Designer's Guide to Virtual Sensation 2009
• Morgan Kaufmann - The Art of Game Design 2008
• New Riders - Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams - On Game Design 2003
• New Riders - Chris Crawford - On Game Design 2003
• New Riders - Designing Virtual Worlds 2003
• New Riders - Game Architecture and Design - A New Edition 2004
• Premier - Character Development and Storytelling for Games 2004
• Premier - Game Interface Design 2005
• Sams - Mastering Unreal Technology Vol.1 2010
• Sams - Mastering Unreal Technology Vol.2 2010
• Thomson - Beginning Game Level Design 2005
• Thomson - Beginning Illustration and Storyboarding for Games 2005
• Thomson - Game Design 2Ed 2004
• Wordware - Game Design - Theory & Practice 2Ed 2005
• Wordware - Game Design Foundations 2003

Game Industry, Career

• Course - Protecting Games - A Security Handbook for Game Developers and Publishers 2008
• Course - Team Leadership in the Game Industry 2009
• CRM - Secrets of the Game Business 2003
• Focal - Producing Games 2010
• ICP - Innovation and Strategy of Online Games 2009
• McGraw-Hill - Break Into The Game Industry 2003
• New Riders - Game Creation and Careers 2003
• Premier - Game Developer's Market Guide 2003
• Premier - Game Development Business and Legal Guide 2003
• Thomson - The Game Producer's Handbook 2005
• Wordware - Game Development and Production 2003
• Wordware - Games That Sell! 2003

Game Programming

• Apress - Beginning .NET Game Programming in VB.NET 2004
• Apress - Beginning Game Development with Python and Pygame 2007
• Apress - Learn VB.NET Through Game Programming 2003
• Apress - Pro Java 6 3D Game Development 2007
• Apress - Programming Sudoku 2006
• Apress - Windows Mobile Game Development 2010
• Course - Advanced 2D Game Development 2009
• Course - Beginning Scripting through Game Creation 2008
• Course - C-Sharp Game Programming - For Serious Game Creation 2011
• CRM - Elementary Game Programming and Simulators Using Jamagic 2003
• CRM - Game Programming Golden Rules 2004
• CRM - Practical Java Game Programming 2004
• Focal - Real-time 3D Character Animation with Visual C++ 2002
• Focal - Real-World Flash Game Development 2010
• FriendsofED - Processing - Creative Coding and Computational Art 2007
• Manning - Graphics Programming with Perl 2002
• McGraw-Hill - Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius 2008
• Microsoft - Fundamentals of Audio and Video Programming for Games 2004
• New Riders - Creating Games in C++ - A Step by Step Guide 2006
• New Riders - Developing Games In Java 2003
• O'Reilly - Killer Game Programming in Java 2005
• Paraglyph - Game Coding Complete 2003
• Premier - Beginner's Guide To DarkBasic Game Programming 2003
• Premier - Beginning C# Game Programming 2005
• Premier - Beginning C++ Game Programming 2004
• Premier - Focus on SDL 2003
• Premier - Game Development with ActionScript 2004
• Premier - Game Programming All In One 2003
• Premier - Game Programming Tricks of the Trade 2002
• Premier - Game Programming with Python, Lua, and Ruby 2003
• Premier - Game Scripting Mastery 2003
• Premier - J2ME Game Programming 2004
• Premier - PHP Game Programming 2004
• Prentice Hall - Computer Graphics using Java 2D and 3D 2006
• Sams - Black Art of Java Game Programming 1996
• Sams - Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours 2002
• Sams - Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus 2Ed 2002
• Springer - Foundations of 3D Graphics Programming - Using JOGL and Java3D 2Ed 2008
• Springer - Introduction to Computer Graphics using Java 2D and 3D 2008
• Springer - Mathematical and Computer Programming Techniques for Computer Graphics 2006
• Thomson - Beginning C-Sharp Game Programming 2005
• Thomson - Beginning Game Programming 2Ed 2007
• Thomson - DarkBASIC Pro Game Programming 2Ed 2007
• Thomson - Game Programming All in One 3Ed 2007
• Wiley - Computer Graphics for Java Programmers 2Ed 2007
• Wordware - Introduction to Game Programming with C++ 2007
• Wordware - Java 1.4 Game Programming 2003
• Wordware - Wireless Game Development in C,C++ with BREW 2003
• Wordware - Wireless Game Development in Java with MIDP 2.0 2004
• World Scientific - Introduction to Windows and Graphics Programming with Visual C++.NET 2005

Graphics Algorithms

• AP - Graphics Gems 1 1990
• AP - Graphics Gems 2 1994
• AP - Graphics Gems 3 1994
• AP - Graphics Gems 4 1994
• AP - Graphics Gems 5 1995
• Coriolis - Michael Abrash's Graphics Programming Black Book 1997
• Coriolis - Zen Of Graphics Programming 2Ed (Abrash) 1996
• Morgan Kaufmann - Computer Animation - Algorithms and Techniques 2002
• Morgan Kaufmann - Geometric Tools for Computer Graphics 2003
• Morgan Kaufmann - Point-Based Graphics 2007
• Springer - Line Drawing Interpretation 2008
• Springer - Principles of Computer Graphics - Using OpenGL and Maya 2004
• Springer - Smart Graphics SG 2004 2004
• Springer - Transformations and Projections in Computer Graphics 2006
• Wiley - Algorithms and Networking for Computer Games 2006

Image Synthesis, Ray Tracing

• A K Peters - Realistic Ray Tracing 2Ed 2003
• Academic - An Introduction to Ray Tracing 1989
• AP - Radiosity and Realistic Image Synthesis 1995
• Focal - Rendering For Beginners - Image Synthesis using Renderman 2005
• Morgan Kaufmann - Physically-Based Image Synthesis [Draft] 2003

Math, Physics

• Cambridge - 3D Computer Graphics - A Mathematical Introduction with OpenGL 2005
• CRM - Mathematics for 3D Game Programming & Computer Graphics 2Ed 2004
• Morgan Kaufmann - Essential Mathematics for Games and Interactive Applications 2Ed 2008
• Morgan Kaufmann - Game Physics 2004
• Morgan Kaufmann - Game Physics Engine Development 2007
• New Riders - Beginning Math and Physics for Game Programmers 2004
• O'Reilly - Physics for Game Developers 2002
• Premier - Mathematics for Game Developers 2004
• Premier - Physics Modeling for Game Programmers 2004
• Springer - Mathematics for Computer Graphics 3Ed 2010
• Thomson - Beginning Math Concepts for Game Developers 2007
• Wordware - 3D Math Primer for Graphics and Game Development 2002
• Wordware - Vector Game Math Processors 2003

Mobile

• Apress - Pro Android Games 2009
• Apress - Beginning iPhone Games Development 2010
• Apress - iPhone Games Projects 2009
• O'Reilly - iPhone Game Development 2010
• Premier - Palm OS Game Programming 2002
• Wiley - Games on Symbian OS 2008
• Wordware - Game Developer's Guide to Cybiko 2002

Online, MultiPlayer, MUD Games

• New Riders - Developing Online Games - An Insider's Guide 2003
• Premier - MUD Game Programming 2003
• Premier - Multiplayer Game Programming 2001
• Springer - Online Worlds - Convergence of the Real and the Virtual 2010
• Wiley - Networking and Online Games 2006
• Wordware - Developer's Guide to Multiplayer Games 2002
• Wordware - Programming Multiplayer Games 2004

OpenGL

• Addison Wesley - OpenGL Distilled 2006
• Addison Wesley - OpenGL ES 2.0 Programming Guide 2009
• Addison Wesley - OpenGL Programming Guide 7Ed 2010
• Addison Wesley - OpenGL Shading Language 3Ed 2009
• Addison Wesley - OpenGL SuperBible 4Ed 2007
• Course - Beginning OpenGL Game Programming 2Ed 2009
• Morgan Kaufmann - Advanced Graphics Programming Using OpenGL 2005
• Morgan Kaufmann - Mobile 3D Graphics with OpenGL ES and M3G 2008
• Springer - OpenGL Graphics Through Applications 2008
• Wordware - OpenGL Game Development 2005

Serious Games

• CRM - Developing Serious Games 2006
• Focal - Story and Simulations for Serious Games 2007
• Springer - Design and Use of Serious Games 2009
• Springer - Serious Games on the Move 2009
• Thomson - Serious Games - Games that Educate, Train and Inform 2006

Teens

• Course - 2D Game Building for Teens 2009
• Course - 3D Game Programming for Teens 2Ed 2009
• Course - Game Creation for Teens 2008
• Course - Visual Basic Game Programming for Teens 2Ed 2008
• Couse - Game Art for Teens 2004
• Premier - Game Programming for Teens 2003

Virtual Reality

• Facts on File - Virtual Reality 2003
• LEA - Multimedia and Virtual Reality 2003
• Morgan Kaufmann - Developing Virtual Reality Applications 2009
• Morgan Kaufmann - Understanding Virtual Reality 2003
• Springer - Stepping into Virtual Reality 2008
• Springer - Virtual Reality ICVR 2007 2007

XNA

• Apress - Beginning XNA 2.0 Game Programming 2008
• Apress - Building XNA 2.0 Games 2008
• Apress - XNA 2.0 Game Programming Recipes 2008
• McGraw-Hill - XNA Game Studio Creator's Guide 2Ed 2009
• O'Reilly - Learning XNA 3.0 2009
• Sams - Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0 Unleashed 2009
• Thomson - XNA Game Studio Express 2008
• Wordware - Essential XNA Game Studio 2.0 Programming 2008
• Wrox - Professional XNA Game Programming - For Xbox 360 and Windows 2007