Visual Basic Game Programming for Teens - Softcover

Harbour, Jonathan S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1435458109 ISBN 13: 9781435458109

Publisher: Cengage Learning PTR, 2010

Synopsis

VISUAL BASIC GAME PROGRAMMING FOR TEENS, THIRD EDITION teaches teens and other beginners how to create their own 2D role-playing game (RPG) using the free-to-download and easy-to-use Visual Basic 2008 Express. You will learn step-by-step how to construct each part of the game engine using Windows Forms and GDI+, including a tiled scroller, game editors, and scripting. If you like playing RPGs, you'll love learning how to create your own because you have complete control over the game world. You'll gain a basic understanding of Visual Basic, giving you a game programming foundation, and the ability to use the tools and source code you create for other custom games. In each chapter you'll study short examples of code to help you build the different components of the game, including the foundational elements, the game engine, and all the gameplay components. You'll build the sample game from chapter to chapter, adding new elements and features as you learn them. And by the end of the book you'll have created a working RPG from scratch! With the tools, code, and skills you learn you'll be able to start creating your very own game adventures in no time.

About this title

Review

Features of Visual Basic Game Programming for Teens (Third Edition)

• Covers Visual Basic 2008, and is compatible with Visual Basic 2010.


• Shows teens and beginners how to create their own 2D role-playing game.


• Teaches game programming using Visual Basic Express, which is free to download.


• Uses clear and easy-to-understand instructions.


• "Note," "Tip," "Hint," and "Definition" boxes throughout the text offer additional info from the author.

Book Contents

The book is divided into three major parts.

"Part I, Building Blocks" includes eight chapters that form the foundation of the role-playing game that is developed in the book. These chapters cover subjects like Windows Forms, bitmaps, sprite animation, user input, collision detection, and similar core subjects.

"Part II, Game World" includes five chapters devoted to building the game engine components needed to manage and render the game world in which the player will live. The core of this game world is a tiled scroller and a level editor.

"Part III, Gameplay" includes seven chapters that develop all of the gameplay components of the role-playing game that make the game truly playable. This part offers additional game editors and classes that make it possible to fight monsters, pick up treasure, manage the player's inventory and equipped gear, gain experience and level up, talk with NPCs, and go on quests. The final game demo in the last chapter shows how the reader may build his own custom RPG using all of the tools and source code.

From the Author

Part I. Building Blocks 1. Getting Started
2. Visual Basic Primer
3. Forms and Controls
4. Drawing with GDI+
5. Bitmaps: Our First Building Block
6. Sprites and Real-Time Animation
7. Collision Detection
8. Playing Sound Effects and Music
Part II. Game World 9. Designing the Game of Celtic Crusader
10. Creating the Level Editor
11. Rendering a Game Level
12. Adding Objects to the World
13. Using Portals to Expand the World
Part III. Gameplay 14. Creating the Character Editor
15. Dialogue: Talking with NPCs
16. Fighting, Getting XP and Leveling Up
17. Creating the Item Editor
18. Looting Treasure and Managing Inventory
19. Creating the Quest Editor
20. So You Want to be a Hero?

Source code for the projects in this book may be downloaded from these book resource locations:

• courseptr.com/downloads (search by author or book title)
• jharbour.com/forum (must create a free account first)

Edition details

• Publisher: Cengage Learning PTR
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1435458109
• ISBN 13: 9781435458109
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 400