Game Engine Design and Implementation

Part of the new Foundations of Game Development Series! Almost every video game on the market today is powered by a game engine. But, what is a game engine? What does it do? How are they useful to both developers and the game? And how are they made? These, and other important engine related questions, are explored and discussed in this book. In clear and concise language, this book examines through examples and exercises both the design and implementation of a video game engine. Specifically, it focuses on the core components of a game engine, audio and sound systems, file and resource management, graphics and optimization techniques, scripting and physics, and much more. Suitable for students, hobbyists, and independent developers, this no-nonsense book helps fine-tune an understanding of solid engine design and implementation for creating games that sell.

Alan Thorn is an independent game developer, mathematician, and freelance programmer with more than 11 years of industry experience. He currently works as a consultant for some of the largest corporations in the entertainment and leisure arena, helping to deliver interactive DVDs, content management systems, and artificially intelligent software. He is also the author of Introduction to Game Programming with C++, DirectX9 User Interfaces: Design and Implementation, and DirectX 9 Graphics: The Definitive Guide to Direct 3D.