Book Description

If youre interested in jumping into the exciting world of game programming, then youve found the perfect book! "Game Programming for Teens" doesnt expect you to have any experience with programming. Youll learn everything you need to know along the way. Youll use Blitz Basic, an easy-to-learn programming language that the author will teach you. As you work your way through the book, youll learn everything you need to know to create a complete game. Graphics, animation, sound and music, and artificial intelligence are all covered. By the end of the book, you will have created your very first computer game! Game programming doesnt have to be difficult. With a copy of this book and your own curiosity, youre off to the perfect start. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

This is a really amazing book!
If you are interested at all about game programming, this book is perfect. I started learning Java and spent several weeks trying to see where the gaming aspect of it was, but then i wandered down to Boarders and saw this book. I thought basic wouldn't be fast enough to run any games at all, but it's actually a great language for beginners. The author, Maneesh Sethi, is also a teenager that has already mastered programming languages and seems like an absolute genius! BUY THIS BOOK!

Kudos from another author
In my opinion, there are three groups of enthusiasts in the "gamer" market: Game players who want to make their own games for fun; Programmers who take up game dev as a hobby or a diversion; and those aspiring to become professional game developers. I believe this book excels at catering to the first group, is intriguing to the second, and at least mildly interesting for the third. Reviewers in all three groups will therefore vary in their opinion of this book.

I co-authored "Beginner's Guide to DarkBasic...". In early 2002, we considered using BlitzBasic along with DarkBasic, but decided to focus on DarkBasic only, and tailored our book for the "extreme beginner," where it would be useful as a textbook in a "first programming course." I am glad because now there is this excellent BlitzBasic book too, and it nails the subject!

Blitz and DBPro seem to be strong competitors. What you should realize when considering this book is, do you have a compiler? Visual C++ and Visual Basic and other compilers are expensive! But tools like BlitzBasic give you a DirectX game engine AND a compiler in one package. While this could easily cost hundreds of dollars for something like Visual C++ and Torque, you get it all in one package, with an easy-to-use script language. With this book, you get a trial version of the compiler, so you won't need any additional software to get started.

A final point. Its the CONCEPTS that are important, not the language. Anyone who whines about a book not using C or C++ is immature and a novice in the extreme. Because any competent programmer can glean new knowledge from a book of any language and apply it to his/her own. Shoot, I have used Petzold as a reference when writing about Visual Basic.

Maneesh should be congratulated for having written a very accessible book for new programmers and anyone who wants to write their own games without a huge investment of time.

great book
I am a teenager and I have tried to read another book but didn't understand it. I got this book a couple of weeks ago and after reading the first three chapters I made a text based game of pong. Now since I have read the whole thing I have started making a whole game with graphics and everythin I had learned. If this book can teach me and keep my attention it can teach anyone who wants to know how
to make games and is looking for a book to start with I highly recommend this Book

Great for parents as well as teens
I am a software engineer and a parent of an 11-year-old, and I have been looking for a way to teach my son computer programming in a way that would be fun for him. I read this book cover-to-cover, and it's almost perfect for this purpose. I have no doubt that the book would be excellent for a self-starting teen to read on his or her own. But as a parent, this book is invaluable for the parent seeking short, fun, educational programming activities that will be a lot of fun for the learner (and the parent as well). Every kid loves games, and this book does a great job.

I would also recommend this book to an adult who wants to learn the basics of game programming. It's a pretty fast read, very easy to follow. I personally learned a lot from this book. I've been programming computers for 30 years, but I've never written a graphics-based game before, and this book efficiently and easily goes through all the techniques for creating good games very quickly. I think it would also be fairly easily followed by a teen or adult who has never programmed before.

The book uses Blitz Basic, which is optimized for writing computer games and seems to be much easier to use than Visual Basic (the computer language I first tried when teaching my child). A trial version of Blitz Basic is on the CD-ROM included with the book, and the full version (called BlitzPlus) can be purchased online if desired (but is not required). The CD-ROM also includes excellent example artwork, animations, and sounds for the games described in the book, which is a great way to get a teen or pre-teen into programming without getting bogged down with creating art and sounds from the start.

By the way, this book covers creating 2D games (like Pong, Space Invaders, that sort of thing). 3D games are (I am told) much more challenging, and are covered in other books. (Blitz Basic is for 2D games; for 3D games, there is a related programming language called Blitz3D.)

I have one important complaint about this book, which is why I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 stars. There are many errors in this book. It could have used more careful technical editing. For example, in the section on arrays, the author carefully explains how the indexes for a 30-element array range from 0 to 29, and cautions the reader not to try accessing element 30 (which is one past the end of the array), and then proceeds to give a sample program that makes exactly this mistake. There are several errors of this magnitude in the book, and at least a minor mistake every 3 or 4 pages. It's unfortunate, because these mistakes can be very confusing to a beginning programmer.

But having said that, I still very much recommend this book. It's a good one. Congratulations to the teenage author who wrote it, excellent job!

Excellent
I find some of the reviews quite interesting, since they judge the book based on their opinion of BlitzBasic. Firstly, let me assure you that I have learned a "real" language - I've been a professional software developer for 12 years (C/C++/Delphi/C#).

As far as the book goes it is very well written and is aimed at the beginner programmer using BlitzBasic (not Blitz3D but you can still use it). That's it, that's all there is to the book. I still found it useful, however, in quickly picking up BlitzBasic (mostly the language) which allowed me to write 2D games after a day (okay, I've been doing that for years with DX/OpenGL but I'm still impressed that I can write Pong in less than 10 minutes).

Why would I use Blitz instead of DirectX/Direct3D/OpenGL? Actually, I use DirectX - I mainly use Blitz for prototyping but I'm finding that for simple to fairly sophisticated things it's all that is needed. For hobbiests and shareware/single member teams Blitz is an ideal way to actually finish something.

So, before you knock the book or Blitz - read the book from cover to cover and learn Blitz inside and out, you may be surprised at how much you can do with it. Oh, and get a good IDE - I personally like Protean. ... Read more

Book Description

Wouldnt you love to create really great art for your games? The kind of art that keeps players coming back for more? Now you can! Game Art for Teens is full of step-by-step, hands-on projects that allow you to begin creating art right away. Each project includes easy-to-follow examples that help you master each concept, making it easy to put what youve learned to use in your own games. Youll cover all of the basicsfrom 2D art creation and animation to 3D models, lighting, and reflections. Set the scene for your game by creating realistic settings, including buildings, terrain, rooms, and corridors. Draw players into your game by designing, developing, and animating compelling characters. Bring it all together as you cover game platforms and technical limitations. With a little bit of skill, a lot of imagination, and Game Art for Teens, the possibilities are endless! ... Read more

Book Description

Get ready to create your first complete 2D-based role-playing game using Visual Basic 6.0. If you have experience using Visual Basic, you already have the essential skills that you need. You will learn, step by step, how to construct each part of an RPG game using DirectX components such as Direct3D. As you work your way through the book, you will write short programs that demonstrate the major topics in each chapter. Dive into the exciting world of game programming, learn how to write your own code, and take complete creative control over how your game operates. Let your imagination loose as you create amazing new adventures! ... Read more

Book Description

Surf your way to fun-filled adventure and school success in cyberspace!

Want to join in the search for real-life aliens, take a virtual trip into the eye of a hurricane, and learn magic as you master mathematics? With Online Activities for Kids, the fun never stops and the learning just comes naturally. Where else can you build research skills while creating a family Web page, or learn about world geography while going on an Internet treasure hunt? Take a journey on the Underground Railroad. Turn your room into a world-class art museum. Build a dinosaur from fossils. This easy-to-use, step-by-step guide is bursting with imaginative projects like these and many more, including:

• Design your own roller coaster
• Relive a day in the life of a Civil War soldier
• Write a letter in a language you don’t even speak
• Find out how much you’d weigh on Jupiter
• Write haiku poetry
• And much, much more . . .

With Online Activities for Kids, you’ll have a great time exploring the Internet, and you’ll amaze everyone with your fabulous projects and super cybersurfing skills. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Online Activities For Kids
This book is so much fun! It is easy to use and offers imaginative ideas for internet projects and cybersurfing. My favorite project was to write haiku poetry and get it published on the web. You won't want to put this book down until you've tried every single project, either with your family, your classroom, or even just by yourself. ... Read more

Book Description

INVENTION HIGHWAY CD-ROM is a software program, which includes thefollowing: CD-ROM Training System Twelve (12) learning games In-depth Manual Exclusive Membership to our Internet Site

Requirements: WINDOWS - Pentium 100 compatible or higher, 16MB RAM minimum; Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 or higher, 256 color VGA display, Sound Card, 8X CD-ROM drive, 10MB of available hard disk space.

POWER MACINTOSH - G3, Syustem 7.6.1 or higher, 16MB RAM minimum, 10 MB of available hard disk space, 256 Color VGA display, 8X CD-ROM drive, Apple Quicktime 3.0 or higher ... Read more

Book Description

Food for Today provides a comprehensive source of food and nutrition information. The text teaches students to make good food choices, use essential food preparation skills and be savvy consumers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a great text
I found this to be a good introductory textbook for a middle/high school age food and nutrition class.The text covers a wide range of topics related to food.One finds chapters on healthy eating and lifestyle, being a vegitarian, how to design a kitchen, and food profiles from around the world.Other chapters even discuss eating etiquette, buying food, and careers in food.The text starts with the basics (this is a whisk...) for the kitchen and for food.One is given profiles of food, nutritional information, and cooking ideas.While it may seem too basic for students who have some knowledge of cooking, it does a good job of introducing it to those who have to knowledge of it at all.

The writing is informative and easy to read.The text is well illustrated with bright drawings and photographs that expand on the written content.I enjoyed the recipes that were chosen for each chapter - they looked fun and doable.In all, this is a well balanced text that fulfills its purpose of presenting food for today. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gettign kids started on computers
This is a good start for small children, allowing them to have something to show for their efforts. It also means that they will have to do some work off of the computer, giving parents a way to get their children away from the machine. Great arts and crafts! ... Read more

Book Description

The fast, fun way to become a computer whiz!

Do you love drawing, writing, or just playing games? Now you can have an even better time doing them on your computer. With the amazing activities in this book, you can become a spy, a newspaper reporter, even a comic book illustrator. And you can do it on any computer.

With the click of a mouse and this fun-filled book, you will be able to draw pictures and create graphics, design books and a newspaper, exchange secret codes and write stories with your friends, and more—all without buying any special programs!

You can also learn how to:

• Publish your own newspaper—complete with pictures
• Print play money (don't try to spend it!)
• Create mazes, puzzles, and word games
• Invent all sorts of new computer projects of your own
• Draw maps for treasure hunts
• Chat with your friends through circular E-mail
• And more!

So what are you waiting for? Start having more fun with your computer today! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Outstanding Resource for Teachers and Parents
Ms. Saltveit's book challenges its readers to think of new and creative ways to engage children and stimulate their learning throught the use of computers. She shows us that there are interactive activities that stretch children's imagination and creativity much further than a mere game could ever do.

a most practical and fun way to approach computers
Ms. Saltveit's work is the most practical and fun approach to computer education that I have discovered. Although not intended as a teacher's aid, I actually like it just as much as "Hit Enter", which was designed for teachers. Both books have been a big hit at our school (Marymount, Paris). The books erase any feeling that computers are too intimidating or complex. I'm looking forward to her next work. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

No career here.
This book is not for someone who wants a career as a video game designer. The book has some big picture and a huge font. It describes video games, video game player and development on very an basic level. I think this book might be good for kids. If you are trying to get ready for a career as a video game designer do NOT by this book, look for something else. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great stories about saints
Saint Francis' "Sermon to the Birds" precedes the stories. Though we are not birds, in a way it prepares us, the readers, for the wonder and mystery that is to follow. The stories are quite interesting. Each tale ends with an informative tidbit about the Saint. For example, "Saint Notburga is the patron saint of poor farmers and hired servants. Her feast day is September 14. Her emblem is the sickle."

John Winch has made two types of illustrations in this book. Before each tale there is an intriguing representation of an artifact representing the Saint. One looks like a painting on wood, one looks like a small statue, another looks like a coin. These gray illustrations also mention the country and rough dates that the Saint lived. I like these symbolic illustrations even more than the colorful acrylic folk paintings that plainly detail the stories.

The verso mentions that "The author's principal source for this book is Butler's Lives of the Saints (New York: P.J. Kennedy & Sons, 1956)."

The author's note is brief and explains what makes a person a saint and the canonization process. The author concludes, "This process does not make a person a saint. Only God can do that. Through canonization, the church recognizes what God has already done." ... Read more

Book Description

Creating a comic is more than just coming up with a powerful villain or gruesome alien: it requires a lot of thought and planning about the storyline, weapons, props, modes of transportation, and setting (city, outer space, underwater, etc). Pulling all of this together may sound challenging, but with 3D Comic Design everything from how to create the story, characters, and text balloons, to page layout /design, adding special effects, and integrating 3D environments is clearly explained. There's even information on how to market your comic for publication! So if you've ever wanted to learn how to create and design comics using your own computer, this is the resource for you.

Adobe Photoshop 5.5 or higher is needed to complete all of the tutorials in the book.

Key Features
- Teaches you how to create your own comics using Superheroes, Villains, Aliens, and more
- Thoroughly explains how to craft a story from plot ideas to naming your characters
- Details the design and creation of storyboards, page layouts, text balloon designs, font options, and more
- Provides a complete library of ready-to-use graphic elements and characters to use in creating a basic 3D comic without purchasing a lot of software
- Includes hands-on tutorials on how to use 2D image software (e.g. Photoshop) and plug-ins to create graphic effects with an emphasis on Layers, a critical comic design tool
- Explains how to organize and setup your own studio with minimal equipment and software needs and costs
- Includes Watchouts, Hints, Activities, Summaries, and an appendix detailing career possibilities in comic design

On the CD! - CuriousLabs Poser 4 (Win/Mac) (free, limited use version)

- AlienSkin Software Eye Candy 4000 (Win/Mac) Plug-in filters for Photoshop (demo version)
- Packed with all of the images necessary to complete the tutorials in the book, including:
- 50 rendered background images
- Paneled page layouts for use in your comics projects
- 29 "props" to help make your comics come to life: includes cars, planes, tanks and ships
- All of the 2D characters, backgrounds, animals, and props from within the book
- Color insert images from the book that show you what the projects should look like upon completion

- Adobe Photoshop 6 Free "Tryout" Version ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another failed attempt at the subject by Mortier
Mortier already published one book on the subject. This time, he's given a bit more information on the creation of actual comics (rather than just creating figures) and how to add word balloons and such.

Sadly, he's still done very little that would help someone interested in using a computer to create comics. One peek at the cover should warn anyone off of the book: The art is amateurish in the extreme. The internal comics are of such poor quality that it's unbelievable that a publisher let them pass. And such a simple thing as leaving some white space between a word balloon outline and the letters within seems beyond Mortier (giving him away immediately as someone without any real experience or understanding of making good looking comics).

Again, I wonder why Mortier didn't team with a comics pro (or at least someone who had actually looked at comics with an artist's eye). Instead, he muddles through with his personal idea of what comics should be (thankfully, nothing published today matches this vision of comics... it would be laughed off the shelves).

I'm giving it one star since 1 and a half isn't possibly. It's definitely a step up from his earlier volume on comics, but a very small step. It's also cheaper, so you're not wasting as much money if you really want to give this book a look. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Good book that kids will love
It was a good book,but I personally think it could've done with the puzzles.Otherwise,this book will keep kids entertained on long car rides or on rainy days.

Digimon digirocks!!!
I have to say digimon rock, because it does teach teamwork, and so does Pokemon(but not as much). I mean, would Tai or any of the others defeat Myotismon or The Dark Lords if they wouldn't of worked together. And that shows kids that if you work together then you can accomplish anything.

Digi-Know?! digimon rocks...
Digi-Know?! digimon rocks who ever thinks digimon is like pokemon is crazy.I'm a girl even I know the difference between pokemon and digimon.The kids in pokemon KNEW what to do.The kids in digimon was force to go to the digiworld.EXCITEMENT is writen all over it.

HOW TRUE
I THINK THAT LAST GUY HAD A GOOD THOUGHT BECUSE DIGIMON IS A GRAET THING I'M 11 AND I LOVE DIGIMON I'V NEVER MISSED ONE SHOW AND THE BOOK IS GOOD TO AND IT MAKE'S ME HAPPY TO SEE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DIGIMON AND TO SEE PEOPLE READ DIGIMON IT'S EVEN BETER

Listen Up Parents!!!
OK. You might think we are to old for Digimon (or Pokemon) but actully it helps us learn the value of friendship and teamwork. I would recommend digimon for anyone with friend problems (like Matt and Tai) If you think the same e-mail me at digimonfreak3@hotmail.com ... Read more

Book Description

This is the next title in the economical line of jewel-cased CD-ROMsof Bible people. Bible Champions: Paul covers the life of Paul with stories, animated pictures, and games. The player listens to the story and looks for hidden pictures. Click on one of the correct pictures it animates. This CD-ROM is filled with colorful illustrations, fun games and activities, and loads of information. ... Read more

Book Description

Max was interested in helping children understand their value—not from the world’s perspective, but from God’s. Wemmicksville is a land created by Eli, the “God” figure of the story. He creates each Wemmick in Wemmicksville uniquely, each with its own look and personality. Each story and video is a new adventure with the citizens of Wemmicksville. Punchinello is the central character, along with his friends Lucia, Splint, and Chip. When Punchinello strays from Eli, he begins to have problems. Only when Punchinello stays close to Eli does he clearly see how to walk through his life in Wemmicksville.

In this heartwarming tale, Eli helps Punchinello understand how special he is—no matter what other Wemmicks may think. Children will learn a vital lesson—regardless of how the world sees them, God loves each of them just as they are.

Reviews (116)

Punchinello Through A Child's Eyes
I am not a reader by nature but when I heard this story read, I ran to the nearest book store to purchase it. More than what I cared to pay for a book, I purchased it anyway and I found it to be a wonderful addition to our home. The illustrations are beautiful and follow the story so well that my 3-year-old can tell me the story by looking at the pictures. Her most favorite part is when Punchinello visits the Woodcarver. Each and every time we read it, my heart is humbled and I am reminded to be a nicer person and not to judge others. It is a beautiful story about our Maker and the love he has for all of his children. Read this and enjoy!

Everybody needs to read this wonderful book.
I feel so lucky that I had the chance to read this book. I don't have kids and seldom think of looking at children's books. But a mom friend showed it to me and we both cried as we read it together. It's a book for children of all ages. The text and illustrations just shine with love, and everybody needs to hear the messages of self-acceptance and self-esteem in this book. I'm buying copies of it for Xmas gifts for my favorite aunt, my favorite child friend, and my therapist.

Wonderful children's book
This book is so touching. It was just the message my seven-year-old son needed to hear, growing up in the midst of a world that so often judges by appearance and popular opinion, rather than by a person's heart and faith. I highly recommend it for children and adults alike.

Awesome Message!!!
This book is an awesome tale with a message for young children. This book teaches children to love themselves just as they are, no matter what anyone else says. This book is good for the heart and soul. It even helped me to learn a lesson or two. This is one book I would recommend to all parents for their children.

Wonderful parable for children
My family found this book heartwarming. While relaying the message that what others think of you doesn't matter if you don't let it the book entertains and endears you to it's main character Punchinello. While the message has religious undertones it does not preach or relay any specific references to faith. My 5 year old son LOVES this story. ... Read more

Book Description

Hawaiian legends and activities teach values to keiki. Although other sea creatures refuse to help, a tiniy 'opihi rescuses a girl from an eel. ... Read more