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Learning XNA 3.0: XNA 3.0 Game Development for the PC, Xbox 360, and Zune | 
 enlarge | Author: Aaron Reed
Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
Category: Book
List Price: $34.99
Buy New: $19.94
You Save: $15.05 (43%)
New (30) Used (4) from $19.94
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 12259
Format: Illustrated
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Pages: 506
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7 x 1.2
ISBN: 0596521952
Dewey Decimal Number: 006
EAN: 9780596521950
ASIN: 0596521952
Publication Date: December 3, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 4 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: I20090102032137S
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Product Description
Do you have what it takes to become a game developer? With this hands-on book, you'll learn quickly and easily how to develop computer games with Microsoft's XNA 3.0 framework-not just for your PC, but for Xbox 360 and the Microsoft Zune as well.
Written by an experienced university-level game development instructor, Learning XNA 3.0 walks you through the framework in a clear and understandable step-by-step format. Each chapter offers a self-contained lesson with lots of illustrations and annotated examples to help you master key concepts. Once you finish the book, you'll know how to develop sophisticated games from start to finish. - Learn game development concepts from 2D animation to 3D cameras and effects
- Delve into high-level shader language (HLSL) and introductory artificial intelligence concepts
- Develop three complete and exciting games using 2D,3D and multiplayer concepts
- Develop and deploy games to the Xbox 360 and the Microsoft Zune
While teaching XNA to beginning game developers, author Aaron Reed noticed that several key concepts were difficult for students to grasp. Learning XNA 3.0 was written specifically to address those issues. With this book, you can test your understanding and practice new skills as you go with unique "Test Your Knowledge" exercises and review questions in each chapter.
Why wait? Amaze your family and friends by building your own games for the PC, Xbox 360, and Zune-with Learning XNA 3.0.
"An outstanding book! Teaches you XNA development in a smart way, starting from 2D basics and going into 3D and shader development. What I really like is the 'peeling the onion' approach the author takes, which builds up knowledge from previous chapters." --David "LetsKillDave" Weller, CEO, Cogito Ergonomics, LLC, and former XNA program manager
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| Customer Reviews:
 The best XNA book for beginners. December 27, 2008
Brandon K. Martini (Little Rock, AR USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have read several XNA books and none of them have been as easy to understand as Learning XNA 3.0. Aaron Reed has done a superb job organizing the material in a friendly easy-to-learn fashion for those who are beginner programmers and have never scratched the surface of XNA.
I would highly recommend this book for a first time XNA programmer who has a basic understanding of C#.
 A little bit of a let down December 22, 2008
AnonymousReviewer (Dallas, TX)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book is a good primer for XNA 3.0 but that is about it. I am a moderately experienced programmer but I would not recommend this book for anyone who is over an introductory skill level. I got this book expecting to cover some intermediate topics but we never even get into sprite rotation here. That being said, if you have never done *any* game programming and have no concept of game concepts, this will get you started. The author is a professor and the book reads like a 101 course in school.
Overall, this book isn't *horrible* but really you could learn the same from the beginner 2d and 3d video tutorials on the XNA website.
Learning XNA 3.0: XNA 3.0 Game Development for the PC,Xbox 360, and Zune December 20, 2008
AkiraRaptor
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've purchased many of the XNA books available on the market. They all offer XNA insight, but this book tops them all.
The author teaches the material, so the book is feels like what you'd get out of a very good class on the subject. It digs in right off the bat in the the first chapter, and never lets up.
Out of every book I have on the subject, I've learned and understood the material faster. The chapters are ordered as you build an application and you build your knowledge step by step. Every new concept is clearly discussed as it gets added.
I recommend this as a first book on the subject for anyone looking to get into XNA programming.
Starts out slow, but picks up eventually December 7, 2008
Matt B. (Columbus, OH USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Aaron's teaching guide uses what people like to call the onion approach. He starts out teaching simple techniques and slowly builds on them getting more and more advanced. The first couple of chapters feel like busy work, but then it starts to pick up.
Also, for those who have problems finding his source code and images used in his book, just go to his website, he has copies there:
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| What is Zune?
Zune is Microsoft's digital audio player, client software, and online music store. The device plays music and videos, displays images, receives FM radio, and shares files wirelessly with other Zunes and via USB with Xbox 360s. The Zune Software allows users to manage files on the player, to rip audio CDs, and to buy songs at the online Zune Marketplace. |
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