Game Architecture and Design: Learn the Best Practices for Game Design and Programming

Rollings, Andrew,Morris, Dave

ISBN 10: 1576104257 / ISBN 13: 9781576104255

Published by Coriolis Group, 1999

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Synopsis:

A guide to computer game design, architecture, and management explores the application of design principles, shares the experiences of game programmers, and offers an overview of game development software

Review: With plenty of detail drawn from the trenches of actual projects, Game Architecture and Design makes a compelling case that game developers should adopt some of the same software management strategies used by other computer companies. This provocative title is sure to be of interest to any programmer or manager who works in the gaming industry.

This book stands out with its real-world perspective on the video game business. Its authors share dozens of case studies and anecdotes from the field, including some behind-the-scenes details on some well-known recent titles. Besides notable successes, there are plenty of stories of what can go wrong. (One of the most entertaining sections here presents interviews with game industry experts, who universally argue against formal software process while describing the many problems of writing games.) This text succeeds in showing that long hours, missed deadlines and mediocre software may be the result of sloppy (or non-existent) design and management techniques and a "hacker" mentality on the part of programmers.

Besides a diagnosis of what doesn't work, the authors offer several potential cures. They show that proper design, planning and project management (used in mainstream business computing) can improve gaming software. The authors predict that in the future, "software factories" will use third party engines, re-usable objects and other tools, along with team organisation and management, to create better games.

After showing off the steps needed for designing and developing game software successfully, the authors also provide a full-fledged example(using DirectX and C++) to help get you started. Anyone who wants a glimpse into the often disordered world of game development--and advice that can help bring some order to the chaos--should read this intelligent and provocatively argued book, which challenges conventional thinking on the best way to develop entertainment software. --Richard Dragan, Amazon.com

Bibliographic Details

Title: Game Architecture and Design: Learn the Best...
Publisher: Coriolis Group
Publication Date: 1999
Binding: paperback
Condition: Good