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XNA Book Dilemma

Last post 6/12/2009 4:36 PM by Beeny95. 5 replies.
  • 6/12/2009 8:18 AM

    XNA Book Dilemma

    I've been looking for a good book on XNA. I came across two books that seemed to be worth picking up, but they seem to have a lot of overlapping topics, so I'd rather buy just one of them. The books are:

    XNA 3.0 Game Programming Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/143021855X/ref=s9_subs_gw_s0_p14_t5?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0YSD8CG6V96R7TXPWE7V&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938131&pf_rd_i=507846

    Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0 Unleashed
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0672330229/ref=s9_subs_gw_s0_p14_t3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0YSD8CG6V96R7TXPWE7V&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938131&pf_rd_i=507846

    I have intermediate experience with XNA - I've done a few of Riemers's tutorials and several others. I.e., no need for vector/matrix math introductions, no C# starter guides, and the like.

    Which do you think I should buy?
  • 6/12/2009 12:33 PM In reply to

    Re: XNA Book Dilemma

    I am happy to have both of this books so I hope I can make your choice more clear.

    XNA 3.0 Game Programming Recipes wont teach you how to make a game. Thats the thing you should really know. Its a great book and gives you advice on many sophisticated topics, but won't tell you how to structure and build your game. If you are going to do 3d graphics then this book is just wonderful.

    In the other hand if you have never made any game then Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.0 Unleashed is much better choice, because it teaches you on how to code them and, in my opinion, is doing it very well.

    Hope I made it more clear for you.
    Good luck!
  • 6/12/2009 2:58 PM In reply to

    Re: XNA Book Dilemma

    I personally liked this one best for learning the basics of XNA, though I haven't read the Unleased one (I have two others).

    http://www.amazon.com/Learning-XNA-3-0-Game-Development/dp/0596521952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244814927&sr=8-5

    I have the 2.0 version of Game Programming Recipes... It's not so much a teaching book as a "here is a problem, here is a solution" book. If you can, i would take a look at this book in a bookstore first and see if any of the problems they go through are things you need help with before making the purchase. I personally didn't find this book all that helpful, not because it was badly written but because the problems they addressed weren't the ones I was having.
  • 6/12/2009 3:21 PM In reply to

    Re: XNA Book Dilemma

    Kris Steele:
    I personally liked this one best for learning the basics of XNA, though I haven't read the Unleased one (I have two others).

    http://www.amazon.com/Learning-XNA-3-0-Game-Development/dp/0596521952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244814927&sr=8-5

    I have the 2.0 version of Game Programming Recipes... It's not so much a teaching book as a "here is a problem, here is a solution" book. If you can, i would take a look at this book in a bookstore first and see if any of the problems they go through are things you need help with before making the purchase. I personally didn't find this book all that helpful, not because it was badly written but because the problems they addressed weren't the ones I was having.

    I have the same book and am still reding it, I have to say this would be my favourite also.
    teK-Junkies: 'where one man's junk becomes another man's tek'
  • 6/12/2009 4:32 PM In reply to

    Re: XNA Book Dilemma

    I have the same "Learning XNA 3.0" book that Kris and Beeny recommended.  I definitely give that one a strong thumbs up for people who want to develop with XNA.  It's very complete, and goes into all aspects of a game, including graphics, state management, networking, etc.  It's well written with great examples.  By the time you're done, the author takes you through a complete game development with all required code.

    I also own "Professional XNA Game Programming: For Xbox 360 and Windows" from Wrox publishing.  Also a decent book, but I liked the "Learning XNA 3.0" book much better.
  • 6/12/2009 4:36 PM In reply to

    Re: XNA Book Dilemma

    JPellet:
    I have the same "Learning XNA 3.0" book that Kris and Beeny recommended.  I definitely give that one a strong thumbs up for people who want to develop with XNA.  It's very complete, and goes into all aspects of a game, including graphics, state management, networking, etc.  It's well written with great examples.  By the time you're done, the author takes you through a complete game development with all required code.

    I also own "Professional XNA Game Programming: For Xbox 360 and Windows" from Wrox publishing.  Also a decent book, but I liked the "Learning XNA 3.0" book much better.

    This may be a bit offf the subject but you should check out his website. Infact everyone should, he has a forum but it isn't that active at all. It is Here.
    teK-Junkies: 'where one man's junk becomes another man's tek'
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