Learning XNA 4.0: Game Development for the PC, Xbox 360, and Windows Phone 7

Program for Microsoft's gaming platforms with this guide.

News by GamesIndustry International Contributor

Published on Jan. 31, 2011

"For the first time in history, developers can write games for PC, a next generation console like the Xbox 360 and a next generation smartphone like Windows Phone 7 all with the same code base," says author Aaron Reed . "Amazing! The gaming industry is booming and continues to grow. With hardware advances being made daily and the push toward mobile devices becoming more powerful and interactive, the industry is as exciting as ever."

Each chapter offers a self-contained lesson with illustrations and annotated examples, along with exercises and review questions to help you test your understanding and practice new skills as you go. Once you've finished this book, you'll know how to develop your own sophisticated games from start to finish.

Learn game development from 2D animation to 3D cameras and effects Delve into high-level shader language (HLSL) and introductory artificial intelligence concepts Build three complete, exciting games using 2D, 3D, and multiplayer techniques Develop for and deploy your games to the Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7 About the Author

Aaron Reed has extensive software development experience and more importantly, experience in software development education. Since 2004 he has taught courses at Neumont University in .NET, web development and web services, XNA, systems design and architecture, and more.

Aaron's experience in teaching both DirectX and XNA for several years to university-level students helps him understand what topics are easily understood and which ones need more depth and emphasis. Through experience in the classroom he also has a good understanding of what format and sequence makes the most sense to present the material. This book follows that format and is meant to present game development concepts in the way most efficient and most comprehendible as proven in the classroom.

View Aaron Reed's full profile page.

Additional Resources

For more information about the book, including table of contents, author bios, and cover graphic, see: http://oreilly.com/catalog/0636920013709

Learning XNA 4.0

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

By Aaron Reed

Print ISBN: 9781449394622 Ebook ISBN: 9781449394714

Pages: 544

Print Price: $39.99, £30.99, 32 €

###

Josette Garcia

PR/Marketing Manager