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Professional XNA™ Programming: Building Games for Xbox 360™ and Windows® with XNA Game Studio 2.0, Second Edition

Name: Professional XNA™ Programming: Building Games for Xbox 360™ and Windows® with XNA Game Studio 2.0, Second Edition
Author: Benjamin Nitschke
ISBN: 9780470261286

by Benjamin Nitschke

February 2008

Intermediate to advanced

598 pages

17h 31m

English

Wrox

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Copyright
About the Author
About the Technical Editor
Credits
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Whom This Book Is ForWhat This Book Covers and How It's StructuredSource CodeErrata
I. XNA Framework Basics
1. Introducing XNA
1.1. Introduction to the XNA Framework1.1.1. XNA Game Studio Express1.1.2. Application Model1.1.3. Content Pipeline1.2. Get the Free XNA Game Studio Express1.2.1. Requirements1.2.2. Installing1.2.3. What About Visual Studio 2005 Professional?1.2.4. Configuring Your Xbox 3601.3. Getting Started1.3.1. Your First Project1.3.2. F5 and Go1.3.3. Changing the Code1.4. Notes about XNA1.4.1. Important Links1.4.2. Is C# Good for Game Development?1.4.3. Getting Used to the Content Pipeline1.4.4. Differences with MDX1.4.5. Additional Tools and Tips1.4.6. Changes in XNA 2.01.5. Troubleshooting1.6. Summary
2. Creating Your First Game: Pong
2.1. Game Ideas2.1.1. Write Down Your Ideas!2.1.1.1. Game Idea: Pong2.1.1.2. Features and Game Play2.1.1.3. Technology2.1.2. Agile Methodology2.1.3. Solving Initial Difficulties2.1.4. Creating Some Textures2.2. Let's Write Pong2.2.1. Sprites2.2.2. Unit Testing in Games2.2.3. Adding the Ball and Paddles2.2.4. Handling Player Input2.2.5. Collision Testing2.2.6. Adding Sound2.3. How This Looks on the Xbox 3602.4. Challenge: Improve the Pong Game2.5. Troubleshooting2.6. Summary
3. Helper Classes
3.1. Managing the Content Pipeline3.1.1. Supported File Formats3.1.2. Advantages and Disadvantages3.1.3. Handling Content Directories3.1.4. Importing and Accessing Content3.2. Logging Error Messages3.3. Unit Testing in XNA3.3.1. NUnit and TestDriven.Net3.3.2. Starting Unit Tests3.3.3. Golden Rules3.4. RandomHelper Class3.4.1. Generate Random Vectors3.5. StringHelper Class3.5.1. Extracting Filenames3.5.2. Writing Lists3.6. Other Helpers3.6.1. SpriteHelper Class3.6.2. EnumHelper Class3.6.3. ColorHelper Class3.7. The Breakout Game3.7.1. Unit Testing in Breakout3.7.2. Breakout Levels3.7.3. The Game Loop3.7.4. Drawing Breakout3.7.5. Collision Testing3.8. Challenge: Improve the Breakout Game3.9. Summary

4. Game Components
4.1. The Game Class4.2. Game Components4.3. More Helper Classes4.3.1. TextureFont Class4.3.2. Input Class4.3.3. Sound Class4.4. Tetris, Tetris, Tetris!4.4.1. Rendering the Background4.4.2. Handling the Grid4.4.3. Block Types4.4.4. Gravity4.4.5. Handling Input4.4.6. Testing4.5. Challenge: Create the NextBlock Game Component4.6. Summary
II. Basic Graphics Engine
5. Writing Your Own XNA Graphics Engine
5.1. What Should Your Engine Be Able to Do?5.1.1. The Engine Unit Test5.1.2. 3D Models5.1.3. Rendering of Textures5.1.4. Line Rendering5.2. 3D Programming5.2.1. Model Unit Test5.2.2. Testing Other Models5.3. Plugging in More Game Components5.3.1. Simple Camera Class5.3.2. ScreenshotCapturer Class5.4. Making Sure Games Run on the Xbox 3605.4.1. Downloading the XNA Game Launcher5.4.2. Xbox 360 Setup and Deploying Games5.4.3. Console Debugging and Tools5.5. Challenge: Write a Game Component5.6. Summary
6. Shader Management
6.1. Shader Overview6.1.1. History6.1.2. Shaders Everywhere in XNA6.1.3. Example Games6.2. Step-by-Step Shader Tutorial6.2.1. FX Composer6.2.2. FX File Layout6.2.3. Parameters6.2.4. Vertex Input Format6.2.5. Vertex Shader6.2.6. Pixel Shader6.3. Importing the Shader into Your Engine6.3.1. Compiling Shaders6.3.2. Using Parameters6.3.3. Vertex Formats6.3.4. Rendering with Shaders6.3.5. Testing the Shader6.4. Challenge6.5. Summary
7. Realism Through Normal Mapping
7.1. Adding Detail to Objects7.1.1. Problems7.1.2. Asteroids! Wrong Game or What?7.2. So How Do Shaders Work?7.2.1. Vertex Shaders and Matrices7.2.2. Pixel Shader and Optimizations7.3. ShaderEffect Class7.3.1. TangentVertex Format7.3.2. Normal Mapping Unit Test7.3.3. Adding Tangent Data with a Custom Processor7.3.4. Final Asteroid Unit Test7.4. More Shaders7.4.1. Offset Mapping7.4.2. Glass Shader7.4.3. Reflection and Water7.5. Challenge: Add Parallax Mapping7.6. Summary
8. Post-Screen Shaders and the Rocket Commander Game
8.1. Handling Post-Screen Shaders8.1.1. Pre-Screen Sky Cube Mapping8.1.2. Writing a Simple Post-Screen Shader8.1.3. Improvements8.2. Implementing Post-Screen Shaders8.2.1. RenderToTexture Class8.2.2. PostScreenDarkenBorder Class8.2.3. Unit Test Result8.3. More Post-Screen Shaders8.3.1. Motion Blur8.3.2. Color Correction8.3.3. Menu Effects8.4. Rocket Commander Game8.4.1. Performance in XNA8.4.2. Moving from MDX to XNA8.4.3. Using Threads to Improve Performance8.4.4. Result and Screenshots8.5. Challenge: Write an Edge Detection Shader8.6. Summary
III. Improving Your Game Engine
9. Adding Sound with XACT
9.1. No DirectSound9.1.1. Handling .wav Files9.2. Using XACT9.2.1. Creating Projects9.2.2. Creating Your Wave Bank9.2.3. Compressing Music Data9.2.4. Sound Banks9.2.5. Cue Variables9.2.6. Other Effects9.2.7. Changes in XNA 2.09.3. Sound Class9.3.1. Rocket Motor Sound9.3.2. Whoosh, What Was That?9.3.3. Menu Sounds9.4. Challenge: Create Your XACT Project9.5. Summary
10. Player Input and the User Interface
10.1. Input Class10.1.1. The Update Method in the Input Class10.1.2. Mouse Rectangles10.1.3. Entering Text in XNA10.2. Game Screens10.2.1. Help Screen10.2.2. In-Game User Interface10.2.3. Tips10.3. Cameras10.4. Space Camera10.5. Challenge: Write a Free Camera Class10.6. Summary
11. Creating XNA Shooter
11.1. Putting It All Together11.1.1. Sounds11.1.2. User Interface11.1.3. Textures11.1.4. 3D Models11.1.5. Animated Textures11.1.6. Billboards11.2. Landscape Rendering11.2.1. Base Texture and Normal Map11.2.2. Height Map11.2.3. Adding Objects11.3. XNA Shooter Game11.3.1. Game Logic11.3.2. 3D Effects11.3.3. Unit Class11.3.4. Projectile Class11.3.5. Item Class11.3.6. Final Screenshot11.4. Challenge: Write a Game with Your Engine11.5. Summary
IV. Writing a Racing Game
12. Generating Landscapes and Tracks
12.1. Game Comparisons12.1.1. Gran Tourismo12.1.2. Need for Speed12.1.3. Trackmania12.1.4. XNA Racing Game12.2. Landscape Rendering12.2.1. Textures12.2.2. Rendering12.2.3. Optimizing Tips12.3. Tracks12.3.1. Unit Testing to the Rescue12.3.2. Interpolating Splines12.3.3. More Complex Tracks12.3.4. Importing the Track Data12.3.5. Generating Vertices from the Track Data12.3.6. Final Result12.4. Challenge: Create a New Unit Test Track12.5. Summary
13. Physics
13.1. Newton's Laws of Motion13.1.1. Keep It Simple13.1.2. Gravitation13.2. Physics Engines13.2.1. Ageia PhysX13.2.2. Havok13.2.3. ODE13.2.4. Other13.3. Implementing Physics13.3.1. Handling Loopings13.3.2. Spring Physics13.3.3. Collision Detection13.3.4. PhysicsAsteroidManager13.3.5. Car Collision13.4. Challenge: Figure Out the Road Collision13.5. Summary
14. Fine-Tuning and "Modding" the Racing Game
14.1. Game Concept14.1.1. Game Idea14.1.2. Additional Features14.2. Game Screens14.2.1. Splash Screen14.2.2. Main Menu14.2.3. Game Screen14.2.4. Highscores14.3. Final Unit Testing and Tweaking14.3.1. Tweaking the Track14.3.2. Shadow Mapping14.3.3. Final Testing on Windows14.3.4. Final Testing on the Xbox 36014.4. Additional Ideas14.4.1. More Cars14.4.2. Online Highscore List14.4.3. More Shaders and Effects14.4.4. More Game Modes14.4.5. Multiplayer Mode14.5. Challenge: Write Your Own Mod!14.5.1. Example Game: Speedy Racer14.5.1.1. Step 1: Changing the Car Model14.5.1.2. Step 2: Menu Changes14.5.1.3. Step 3: New Landscape and Objects14.5.1.4. Step 4: Driving Faster14.5.1.5. Step 5: Adding Items and New Sounds14.6. Summary
V. Writing Multiplayer Games
15. Multiplayer and Xbox Live
15.1. What's New in XNA 2.015.1.1. Overview About Networking in XNA 2.015.1.2. TCP Versus UDP15.1.3. Firewalls and Punching Through NATs15.2. Network Architecture15.2.1. Sending UDP Data15.2.2. Connecting Two Players15.2.3. Network Messages15.2.4. Server Game List15.3. Writing a Chat Application15.3.1. Game Screens15.3.2. Handling Chat Messages15.3.3. The Final Chat Application15.4. Challenge: Write a Multiplayer Application15.5. Summary
16. Role-Playing Games
16.1. Types of Role-Playing Games16.1.1. "Hack and Slash" Role-Playing Games16.1.2. Massively Multiplayer Role-Playing Games16.2. Designing Dungeon Quest16.3. Ideas16.4. Scenario16.5. Story16.6. Characters16.7. Enemies16.8. Weapons and Items16.9. Abilities and Spells16.9.1. Abilities16.9.2. Spells16.9.2.1. Barbarian Spells16.9.2.2. Priest Spells16.9.2.3. Mage Spells16.9.2.4. Hunter Spells16.9.3. Leveling System16.10. Challenge: Improve the Leveling System16.11. Summary
17. Dungeon Quest
17.1. Creating the Engine17.1.1. Changes to the Graphic Engine17.1.2. Using Collada Model Files17.1.3. Handling Many Point Lights17.1.4. Adding AI17.1.5. Path-Finding17.1.6. Alert-System via Cries17.2. Multiplayer Support17.2.1. Network Messages17.2.2. Xbox LIVE Support17.3. The Dungeon Quest Editor17.4. Summary
A. Resources
A.1. LinksA.2. Code Download StructureA.3. BooksA.3.1. Graphics and Shader TechnologiesA.3.2. AI ProgrammingA.3.3. General Development and ProgrammingA.3.4. Another Useful TitleA.4. Tips and Golden RulesA.4.1. TipsA.4.2. Golden RulesA.5. Class Overviews

Overview

This improved and updated edition of the bestseller will get you up and running quickly with building games for Xbox 360 and the Windows platform. Professional game developer and Microsoft MVP Benjamin Nitschke begins by explaining how to install the free XNA Game Studio 2.0 and then goes on to share essential advice for using it in a productive way.

Before you know it, each successive chapter will have you developing small games that increase in difficulty. By using the chapters as building blocks, you'll evolve from 2D programming to 3D, and you'll ultimately create a full-blown graphics engine that can be used for more advanced game projects. Plus, you'll get an inside look at six fully functional games, including the popular Racing Game and the new Dungeon Quest.

What you will learn from this book

Tips for adding music and sound with XACT
Techniques for creating unique visual effects through Shaders
Ways to access keyboard, mouse, and Xbox controllers with XInput
How to write your own XNA graphics engine and create a game engine
How to manage content in XNA
Myriad ways of fine-tuning, debugging, and troubleshooting
How to make sure games run on the Xbox 360
Ways to generate landscapes and tracks
How to take advantage of XNA's new networking APIs

Who this book is for

This book is for anyone who wants to create games on the Xbox 360 and Windows platforms. Experience with C# or a similar .NET language is necessary, but previous game programming is not required.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help pxsrogrammers do a better job

Examples link provided by the publisher.Errata link provided by the publisher.

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