Video Games Books

I bought this to learn the PC version, which seems quite different than the console...

However, it looks like a very good guide for xbox, etc.


Don't buy it if you're playing BF2 on PC....better (and really only) information is online.

This Strategy Guide is great. It has extremely well detailed and defined color maps for every level, and depicts where each Field Task is on larger, Region maps. Just as an attempt to clarify something that, when I purchased this product, wasn't clarified by Amazon: this guide is not really for the Xbox360 version of the game (I know many of you may already have known that, but for those who didn't, just trying to help). Now, the basic gameplay and levels are the same, but there are indeed a few minor differences that could occur when trying to use this guide with the XB360 version of the game. Also, there are many more medals for the PS2/Xbox versions, and the guide only tells those, and doesn't separate XB360 medals from them, leading me to believe that it is not specifically designed for XB360. Just wanted to help out those who may make the same mistake I did.

Background: I created a game engine (Goblin 2D+ Engine) and for sound just used a 3rd party library (BASS). However I quickly found the additional A$150 for BASS was effecting the uptake of my engine because it was US$59.95 and the additional A$150 for BASS was killing it.

I knew nothing about sound programming so thought it was a hopeless dream to create my own sound engine.

In desperation I bought this book and was surprised (not just by the CD in 1 million bits :S)

Using this book as the basis I was able to create a fully functional sound library for my engine with all the features I was using in BASS.

Sound effects, music, 3d positional sound, panning, volume, pitch, playing .MOD music, OGG decoder. Basically all the functionality I wanted.

If anyone wants to see this in action... www.hoek.inkblue.com.

The book fills in the gaps MSDN seems to leave out. Also, unlike a lot of books, Mason has NOT cut and paste from MSDN documentation.

Thanks Mason!

Computer audio programming has gained enormous momentum in recent years with the arrival of professional grade hardware at consumer prices. As a result, a surging opportunity has replaced the once desolate and antiquated field of audio software development.

Beginning Game Audio Programming provides students with the ability to implement a modern sound engine. It meticulously guides the reader through basic sound concepts, common API usage, and sound engine design as well as covering, in the process, a myriad of audio topics such as DirectPlay Voice, audio scripting, and visualization to familiarize the novice with the diverse facets of the field. This work is the ultimate tool for any aspiring sound programmer.

I recommend this book for any developer seeking an introductory course in audio programming. It provides a solid foundation of sound principles, API usage, file formats, effects, and sound engine design that are crucial to the field of game audio development.

This book carefully avoids becoming overly complex or didactic, offering descriptive explanations of the core concepts of audio programming. This refreshing outlook provides a student with a solid foundation from which to take large successive steps into the audio world.

This book is truly an excellent resource for anyone wishing to learn more about the blooming field of computer audio programming.

Good collectible Mario item, a whole bunch of mario bros. 2 and 3 comics. worth trying to locate.

This hilarious collection of comic book adventures features everyone's favorite Italian plumber from Brooklyn, Mario. With the aid of his brother Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and others, he fights off the evil Bowser. However, the humor relegates the action to the back seat. My favorites are "The Kingdom Enquirer," wherein one of Mario's friends becomes a reporter; "Fins and Roses," featuring the incredibly annoying Stanley the Talking Fish, who is trying to seduce one of Bowser's kids; and "You Again?", which is the funniest in the whole book. You MUST buy this!

Raymond E. Feist makes a triumphant return to the world of the Riftwar in this book adaptation of the best-selling PC game Betrayal at Krondor. The plot centers around a coming invasion of Moredhel from the north and the quests of James , Locklear , Pug , Owyn , a dropout from Stardock , Gorath , a renegade Moredhel chieftan . and Patrus , the addle brained wizard from Northwarden. It is a classic talke in its own day , and is a satisfying read.

A GREAT GUIDE! If you get stuck, this book will get you through the game. The maps are awsome. Love the chapter quick run throughs and the indepth details of each sub-quest. The cheat code is a good tool to help out someone who has painted themself into a corner. Its too bad this game can't run on WIN '98. The sequal Return to Krondor works on WIN '98 but isn't as much fun.

This is an amazingly lucid and very useful book. It provides valuable advice to get an edge in many casino games - all legal advice, of course. Essential, but, sadly, hard to get.

Regarding the sequel: It is already about a year late, and the publishers stopped posting publishing date updates on their website in February 2007.

For professional gamblers, this book is the best you'll ever get.

Grosjean presents a wide variety of material. This text assumes the reader is a successful gambler, and has mastered all beginner and intermediate material. If you are a blackjack card-counter and have made 50k from BJ, you have the background to fully appreciate this book.

This presents material from two different angles, each of which is original. He first analyzes traditional games (not just Blackjack) and shows you ways to beat them, with a mathematical focus on exploiting weak dealers (there is an exceptional analyzis of 3-card poker). Second, he presents a new way of thinking for "textbook gamblers" (those who profit from books, but don't develop original ideas for themselves.) This focus opened my eyes to new ways to profit, notably in Blackjack. One other thing that is surprising for a book of this price - the methods explained are legal.

Some auction sites will list this book from $500-$2000. If 1. you don't know people "in the know", 2. you have at least 50k in capital, and 3. you play a lot of +EV BJ, this book is worth the auction price.

Before you buy a used copy, be aware that Grosjean is releasing a new edition of "Beyond Counting" in 2006 or early 2007. Grosjean's website notes that there might be two versions - the normal one, and one for accredited professionals. Given what I read in the original edition, it would not surprise me if he removed a lot of exceptional material for the republication.

This is a great game, but you'll need a decent video card to play it!

This game is great. If you like the whole building a city and ruling it idea then this game is great. Buy ruling I dont mean raise taxes and crap like that. But designing a city, to ensure you get the desired effect. Whether you are good or evil. Thats just it. GOOD OR EVIL. thats the name of the game. Great game, may I suggest you get the expansion.

The best game

The best game

The 2nd edition to this gaming reference series makes a fine coffeetable book or for a quick browse for short snippet info on gaming titles. By all means, this is not a book of in-depth reviews, the titles are covered very briefly (summarised) and categorised according to genre/replayability value/plot sypnosis. If you need comprehensive info on gaming titles, you'd do better on gaming mags or websites. However, it remains a good collector's item as most of your favourite games are included with nice colored screenshots, which makes it a fine addition to your gaming library for all gaming fans. I was very impressed by this 2nd edition in that it included some very recent games which I thought would not make it in before the release date. The only disappointment is that the 2nd edition came in paperback whereas my 1st edition was a hardcover.

I was privileged to be sent an advance PDF copy of The Book of Games Volume 2 by author Bendik Stang, and having now completed my reading of this volume in one evening, I am eagerly looking forward to the print version. The Book of Games Vol. 2 has matured exponentially over its previous incarnation, which I feel is very appropriate as Volume 2 has a very pointed focus on the maturity which the videogame industry as a whole is experiencing. While I am still disappointed in regards to the lack of coverage in regards to the Guild Wars properties, that is largely due to personal bias, as I am a casually hardcore Guild Wars player. Now that I have my only truly negative viewpoint out of the way, let's move on to the good stuff.

I was extremely impressed with the amount of research which had obviously gone into the production of Volume 2, as well as the new features which had been added for the individual game listings and ratings. These additions show that the authors listened to those who took the time to give them feedback on Volume 1, and as such have made themselves a part of the gaming community in a way which some authors never achieve, no matter how knowledgeable they may be on their topics. Another interesting sidenote was seeing another book which I am in process of reviewing featured in a sidebar in this book. As a journalist with a heavy research addiction, I always consider how useful a publication will be to me on my endless quest for knowledge, and The Book of Games Volume 2 passed that consideration with ease. There are many, many sources for further reading and education.

While The Book of Games Volume 1 was a handy reference for the parents and relatives of gamers, Volume 2 fully opens up the changing videogame industry, from development to tournaments and beyond. The authors have successfully put the industry into a nutshell - one which gamers, teachers, parents and even grandparents will appreciate. This volume has every component of the videogame world between its covers, and takes a look at every aspect in a well-worded, well-researched, and well-presented manner. Every chapter contains evidence of how videogames have become an integral part of our lives in the 21st century - from those who pick up a quick game of solitaire to those who travel the pro-gamer circuits. One photo I could immediately relate to was that of Norway's Olav Undheim, winner of the 2007 World Cyber Games Grand Final Warcraft III Tournament. I saw that match, along with all of the other events held on that final game day in Seattle this past October. I was there when Olav hoisted that $ 20 000.00 cheque over his head at the medals presentation - and that's what this industry called videogaming has at its core - a vibrant, global community - one which we experience at our own annual LAN tournament, and one which The Book of Games Volume 2 has opened to the world.

I think that this book will do more to bring an understanding of the videogame culture to non-gamers than any collection of web sites and media articles could possibly do. Parents everywhere will benefit from this book, while gamers will embrace this book for the validation it brings to our gaming culture. The Book of Games Volume 2 is an excellent counter-weight to those who vocalize loud and long their negative views on the gaming industry as a whole. I challenge those who, without really understanding what videogames are truly all about to pick up this book and read it. Understand what draws those of us who game into our multi-pixelled worlds. The artwork is amazing, the music is incredible, and the passion insurmountable. As the owner of a company which has been trying unsuccessfully for three years to obtain a business license for a digital media centre for youth in our hometown, I would love to see the members of our Township council who oppose us, as well as those in the licensing department who insist on calling us an arcade, read this book. The Book of Games Volume 2, I believe, will become a very useful tool for those of us who are not only proud members of the gaming culture, we support the up and coming designers of tomorrow and all of the possibilities the world of gaming has opened to them, whether they become game designers, engineers, architects or even doctors.

I whole-heartedly give The Book of Games Volume 2 a five star rating, and if there have been this many improvements in the series just between volumes 1 and 2, I can hardly wait until I get a look at Volume 3 which will be out in November 2008. To the authors I say "this is a work to be proud of, a job very well done."

This is a great book for a student like myself to understand VPN's in depth and how to build them.

Very imformative book, great introduction section on broadband technologies that I found very useful for review purposes. The books provides a fine balance between technical details and readability - in that the technical details are certainly there (config files etc..) but you do not need to read everything in order to get the main points of each topic. I like the organization of the book it is possible to read the chapters as "standalone" depending on your topics of interest rather than in a "cover to cover" approach.This is perfect for those of us that don't have time to dig through 100's of pages for specific information!
I would definately recommend this book to any Service Provider networking professional with an interest in Broadband aggregation technologies.

This book gave some really great background on the cars in Gran Turismo. The section about the game itself was ok, but you're gonna buy this for the car info. The car information is good without being too technical, and you'll pickup all kinds of interesting info. The book is very nicely laid out, looks good, and it's an enjoyable read. It's definitely worth picking up.

I love Gran Turismo and I love this book! It's cool to have specs and great pictures of the top cars from the game all in one book. The best part was reading about the cars and then turning on my Playstation so I could drive them all!