Books in the Game Design series

This book is a broad overview of many of the important algorithms and techniques used in video game programming. Featuring a unique framework-agnostic approach, the material is relevant regardless of the language or framework chosen to create a game. This approach makes the book applicable to any platform including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and consoles. Three full-game case studies reinforce the topics by demonstrating many of the algorithms and techniques covered throughout the book, with source code available online.

Games, Design and Play completely demystifies the art of videogame design, by taking a play-focused and process-oriented approach that walks readers through every step, and provides a complete toolkit for creating compelling game experiences. Part I introduces the key concepts, terminology and principles of game design. Step by step, the authors lay a strong foundation for exploring the broader expressive potential of games, and helping readers learn to think like a game designer. Each chapter is accompanied by play and design exercises to help put its key concepts into action. In Part II, Macklin and Sharp turn to the practice of videogame design, introducing a powerful four-step iterative process: conceptualize, prototype, playtest, evaluate. For each step, Macklin and Sharp illustrate successive loops through this iterative cycle, from idea to finished game. Readers will construct the game they've designed using the open source tool "Processing" - designed specifically to help non-programmers write code.

World-renowned VR developer and instructor Mitch McCaffrey offers tested "recipes" for performing each common VR task and overcoming many complex development challenges. McCaffrey's recipes contain step-by-step instructions, while also empowering readers with concise explanations of the underlying theory and math. Students will get immediate results, as they gain as much knowledge of the "big picture" as desired. McCaffrey covers everything from development terminology to best practices, and offers specific guidance for using Unreal Engine 4 VR with Oculus Rift, Vive, GearVR, AndroidVR, Steam, and other environments. He discusses both seated and standing VR, trace interactions, teleportation, UMG and 3D menus, inverse kinematics, motion control, comfort mode, VR optimization, and more. He also presents a full VR rollercoaster project, including expert techniques for avoiding motion sickness.

The new Google Daydream platform enables you to deliver advanced virtual reality games on a wide spectrum of modern Android devices. Now for the first time, there's a comprehensive deep dive into Daydream for every Android developer and designer. Multi-award-winning VR developer Sam Keene takes a hands-on approach, leading you through all aspects of the Daydream framework and SDK, with step-by-step tutorials and advice for building pro-quality VR games. Keene presents an extensive library of downloadable, up-to-the-minute Daydream code to jumpstart your project. He also takes you behind the scenes, interviewing several of the Googlers who created Daydream and brought it to market. Google Daydream VR Cookbook shows how to: Install and explore the Google Daydream development tools Master basic and advanced Daydream Controller techniques Implement intuitive VR user interfaces Integrate audio, video, and realistic physics into your VR games Create multiplayer VR games Optimise VR game performance Port Daydream apps to other platforms Master best practices for preparing and using video in VR Find more high-quality Daydream development resources