Which book should I read to learn how to use OpenGL for game development?

Question

I'm planning on learning some game development using OpenGL (I'm on Mac OS X and Ubuntu machines most of the time, so DirectX obviously won't do.) and I'd like to know which book would be best for learning OpenGL, and what version I should learn.

I have good knowledge of various programming languages, including C/C++ and Objective-C, so that part shouldn't be a problem. I also know some linear algebra, but would like advice on which topics I should and shouldn't bother with learning in that field as far as OpenGL is concerned.

So, which books would you recommend?

Answer 1

I think you should start with a Game Engine. Unity is a good one and has a free version. (I'm a Mac user myself and use it too)

If you want to learn openGL, the famous OpenGL Red Book is a good place to start.

Answer 2

Hi, if you are new to graphics too, I suggest first searching for pure graphical terms. I mean for example learn the concepts of lighting and it's physics, read about antialiasing, how 3d scenes are rendered, how the graphics card works, ... . If you do so you won't have a problem learning any graphics APIs, you just know the concept of it. That's what i did to learn graphics. Also you will find some books and resources i list here useful:

OpenGL Books:

--OpenGL redbook

--OpenGL bluebook

For OpenGL:

http://nehe.gamedev.net/

http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jonmc/CSE3313/Resources/SampleCode/index.html

http://www.opengl.org/resources/code/samples/redbook/

http://www.opengl.org/resources/code/samples/more_samples/

http://www.opengl.org/resources/code/samples/simple/

http://www.glprogramming.com/blue/

http://www.opengl.org/resources/libraries/glut/spec3/spec3.html

http://www.opengl.org/resources/libraries/glut/spec3/node1.html

http://www.opengl.org/sdk/docs/man/xhtml/

http://www.codesampler.com/oglsrc.htm

http://users.encs.concordia.ca/~grogono/Graphics/examples.html

http://math.ucsd.edu/~sbuss/MathCG/OpenGLsoft/

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/aix/v6r1/topic/com.ibm.aix.opengl/doc/openglrf/openglrf.htm

http://www.cs.uiuc.edu/class/sp05/cs419/

http://www.opengl.org/resources/code/samples/sig99/advanced99/notes/notes.html

http://jerome.jouvie.free.fr/OpenGl/Lessons.php

http://www.codecolony.de/opengl.htm

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For Pure Graphics(MIT Slides):

http://groups.csail.mit.edu/graphics/classes/6.837/F01/notes.html

Answer 3

Opengl Programming Guide: The Official Guide to Learning Opengl is a realy good reference , its also platform independant