book

Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 Game Development

by Adam Dawes

June 2013

Intermediate to advanced

512 pages

18h 20m

English

Apress

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A Closer Look at Visual Studio Development for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8Windows 8 DevicesWindows Phone DevicesUsing Visual Studio for Windows 8 and Windows Phone DevelopmentCreating a Windows Store ProjectCreating a Windows Phone ProjectDebuggingCross-Platform DevelopmentGetting HelpGame DevelopmentWelcome to the World of Windows 8 and Windows Phone DevelopmentSummary
What Is MonoGame?Installing MonoGameCreating a MonoGame ProjectAdding Some ContentSprites in DetailUseful Sprite EffectsDisplaying TextSupporting Portrait and Landscape OrientationsExperiment and Play with MonoGameSummary

Designing the Game FrameworkUsing the Game FrameworkBenchmarking and PerformanceAn Example Game: Cosmic Rocks (Part 1)Creating MonoGame GamesSummary
Detecting Input CapabilitiesUsing the Touch ScreenReading Mouse InputReading from a Compatible GamepadReading the Keyboard and Text InputReading the AccelerometerHandling the Windows Phone Back ButtonAn Example Game: Cosmic Rocks (Part II)Considering Input DesignSummary
Sound Effects and MusicPlaying Sound EffectsPlaying MusicAn Example Game: Cosmic Rocks Part IIIMake Some NoiseSummary
A New Approach to DrawingCreating Our First Vertex Rendering ProjectTinting ObjectsUnderstanding Matrix TransformationsDrawing PrimitivesApplying TexturesUsing Transparency and Alpha BlendingHandling OrientationsIntegration into the Game FrameworkEnter the MatrixSummary
Perspective ProjectionRendering 3-D ObjectsThe Depth BufferHidden Surface CullingVertex and Index BuffersLightingOrthographic ProjectionMastering the 3-D WorldSummary
Importing GeometryWorking with the CameraAdding FogAdding a SkyboxParticlesUsing Effect ObjectsMixing Sprite and Matrix RenderingA Universe of PossibilitiesSummary
Managing Multiple Game ModesManaging Game SettingsAdding a High-Score TableCreating Reusable Game ComponentsSummary
Managing the Application Life CycleResponding to the Game Window ResizingSummary
A Brief History of XAMLCreating XAML Projects for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8Exploring XAMLWorking with the Page DesignerColors and BrushesExploring XAMLSummary
The XAML ControlsOrientationMultiple Page ProjectsBut What about MonoGame?Summary
Using MonoGame and XAML TogetherCommunication between the Game and the PageUsing the Application BarPage NavigationSummary
Trial ModeSubmission RequirementsTesting Your GameConsiderations Prior to DistributionPreparing for DistributionSelling or Giving Your Game for FreeOffering Your Game to Beta TestersAutomated Application TestingSubmitting Your Game to the StoreGo Create!Summary

Overview

Creating fun, sophisticated games for Windows devices large or small has never been easier! With masses of example code and fully working games for you to download and run straight away Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 Game Development is your ideal first step into modern games development.

This book gives you everything you need to realize your dreams and produce fantastic games that will run on all Windows 8 devices from desktops to tablets to phones. You can code once and run everywhere. The ubiquity of Windows 8 devices makes this opportunity to good to miss!

The Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 platforms have huge potential for gaming. New form-factors - such as the Surface tablet - coupled with improved processors and higher screen resolutions combine to make Windows 8 the best Windows version yet for independent games development. It's never been easier to create a fantastic game, package it up and deploy it straight to the Windows Store with its audience of millions. This book will show you how.

What you'll learn

Develop using the free or full versions of Visual Studio 2012.

Learn how to share code between the two Windows 8 platforms

Master high performance 2D and 3D graphics using the MonoGame development environment.

Discover how to control your games, including using touch screens, keyboards and accelerometers.

Produce high quality music and sound effects for your games.

Explore masses of example code and working projects with source code available to download and run straight away.

Learn how to publish your games through the Windows and Windows Phone Stores for fun or profit

Who this book is for

Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 Game Development is aimed at those with an existing background in programming and knowledge of the C# programming language.

No prior knowledge is required of programming for Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8, XNA or MonoGame, or games-programming in general. This book will guide the reader through the steps required to become proficient in all of these areas of development.