Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 09:57:59 GMT
From: Peter Restall <pete AT restall DOT net>
Message-Id: <199912210957.JAA00268@burdock.restall.net>
To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: Book recommendations for C++ and 3D graphics
Reply-To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com


In response to Daniel Phillips' writing:
>
> Could anyone recommend a good indepth guide to C++ (and C) that also
> covers things like header files and so on.  It doesn't need to be aimed
> at a complete beginner, but it needs to be readable and explain all the
> topics well.
>
> I'm also looking for a book on 3D graphics, in relation to games, which
> explains the theory, gives a guide on writing engines and basically
> gives a complete beginner to 3D graphics a good introduction.  One book
> that I have read about a while ago was called "The Black Art of 3D Games
> Programming" (I think) and this was supposedly quite good.  Can anyone
> comfirm that?
>
> It would be helpful if both books could be used with DJGPP as this is
> really the only compiler I have.
>
> Thanks for your help,
> Daniel Phillips.

The Black Art book is an *excellent* resource to have; it takes you through
almost every step of building a 3D game (including multiplayer techniques),
and gives sample code to illustrate implementation.

Although it's a fairly old book (came out around about when DOOM did), it
covers the basics of 3D well, and also touches upon more complex topics (BSPs,
voxels, etc.)  All the code is for DOS and will compile with Borland's TurboC
and M$ C, and there are bits from MASM and TASM in there as well.  With a bit
of work, you should be able to convert everything to DJGPP -- I haven't done
it myself as I was mainly interested in the theory side of things, but
there's a CD with all the executables on if you can't be bothered :o
The only down-side to this book is that there are topics which he touches
upon (ie. affine texture mapping), but doesn't explain them in *great* detail.
Also, he basically says 'use someone elses sound generating library because
it's too complex to make your own'.  Overall, I think you should buy it,

	Pete =:-)


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