Book Description

Android NDK is all about injecting high performance into your apps. Exploit the maximum power of these mobile devices using high-performance and portable code.

This book will show you how to create C/C++ enabled applications and integrate them with Java. You will learn how to access native API and port libraries used in some of the most successful Android applications.

Using this practical step-by-step tutorial, highlighted with comments and tricks, discover how to run C/C++ code embedded in a Java application or in a standalone application. You will create a real native application starting from project creation through to full implementation of native API and the porting of existing third-party libraries. You will discover OpenGL ES and OpenSL ES, which are becoming the new standard in mobility. You will also understand how to access keyboard and input peripherals and how to read accelerometer or orientation sensors. Finally, you will dive into more advanced topics such as debugging and troubleshooting applications. By the end of the book, you should know the key elements to enable you to start exploiting the power and portability of native code.

What you will learn from this book

• Jump in the starting block and create your first Android native project
• Communicate with Java through Java Native Interfaces
• Display 2D and 3D graphics with OpenGL ES
• Play sound and music with OpenSL ES Download Now »

Book Description

This engaging book presents the essential mathematics needed to describe, simulate, and render a 3D world. Reflecting both academic and in-the-trenches practical experience, the authors teach you how to describe objects and their positions, orientations, and trajectories in 3D using mathematics. The text provides an introduction to mathematics for game designers, including the fundamentals of coordinate spaces, vectors, and matrices. It also covers orientation in three dimensions, calculus and dynamics, graphics, and parametric curves.

• Contains numerous C++ and HLSL examples that illustrate how to put the techniques into practice
• Provides hundreds of worked problems that reinforce the basic concepts and explore interesting side quests
• Includes expanded, graceful introductions to the mathematics fundamental to game development
• Covers two important application areas—graphics and physics—in introductory ove

Review
“With solid theory and references, along with practical advice borne from decades of experience, all presented in an informal and demystifying style, Dunn & Parberry provide an accessible and useful approach to the key mathematical operations needed in 3D computer graphics.”
—Eric Haines, author of Real-Time Rendering

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Book Description

Beginning Android 4 Games Development offers everything you need to join the ranks of successful Android game developers. You’ll start with game design fundamentals and programming basics, and then progress toward creating your own basic game engine and playable game that works on Android 4.0 and earlier devices. This will give you everything you need to branch out and write your own Android games.

The potential user base and the wide array of available high-performance devices makes Android an attractive target for aspiring game developers. Do you have an awesome idea for the next break-through mobile gaming title? Beginning Android 4 Games Development will help you kick-start your project.

The book will guide you through the process of making several example games for the Android platform, and involves a wide range of topics:

• The fundamentals of Android game development targeting Android 1.5-4.0+ devices
• The Android platform basics to apply those fundamentals in the context of making a game
• The design of 2D and 3D games and their successful implementation on the Android platform

What you’ll learn

• How to set up and use the development tools for developing your first Android 4 or earlier version game app
• The fundamentals of game programming in the context of the Android platform Download Now »

Book Description

Practical Android 4 Games Development continues your journey to becoming a hands-on Android game apps developer. This title guides you through the process of designing and developing game apps that work on both smartphones and tablets, thanks to the new Android SDK 4.0 which merges the User Interface and Experience APIs and more.

The author, J.F. DiMarzio, has written eight books, including Android: A Programmer’s Guide—the first Android book approved by Google—recently updated and translated for sale in Japan. He has an easy-to-read, concise, and logical writing style that is well suited for teaching complex technologies like the Java-based Android.

From 2D-based casual games to 3D OpenGL-based first-person shooters, you find that learning how to create games on the fastest growing mobile platform has never been easier.

• Create 2D and 3D games for Android 4.0 phones and tablets such and the Motorola Xoom
• Build your own reusable “black box” for game development
• Easy-to-follow examples make creating the sample games a hands-on experience

What you’ll learn

• How to design and develop compelling 2D and 3D games
• How to create rich environments and characters
• How to do collision detection Download Now »

Book Description

Ready to create rich interactive experiences with your artwork, designs, or prototypes? This is the ideal place to start. With this hands-on guide, you’ll explore several themes in interactive art and design—including 3D graphics, sound, physical interaction, computer vision, and geolocation—and learn the basic programming and electronics concepts you need to implement them. No previous experience is necessary.

You’ll get a complete introduction to three free tools created specifically for artists and designers: the Processing programming language, the Arduino microcontroller, and the openFrameworks toolkit. You’ll also find working code samples you can use right away, along with the background and technical information you need to design, program, and build your own projects.

• Learn cutting-edge techniques for interaction design from leading artists and designers
• Let users provide input through buttons, dials, and other physical controls
• Produce graphics and animation, including 3D images with OpenGL
• Use sounds to interact with users by providing feedback, input, or an element they can control
• Work with motors, servos, and appliances to provide physical feedback
• Turn a user’s gestures and movements into meaningful input, using Open CV

Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introducing Interaction Design
Chapter 2. Programming Basics Download Now »

Book Description

Starling is an ActionScript 3 2D framework developed on top of the Stage3D APIs (available on desktop in Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR 3). Starling is mainly designed for game development, but could be used for many other use cases. Starling makes it possible to write fast GPU accelerated applications without having to touch the low-level Stage3D APIs.

Most Flash developers want to be able to leverage GPU acceleration (through Stage3D) without the need to write such higher-level frameworks and dig into the low-level Stage3D APIs. Starling is completely designed after the Flash Player APIs and abstracts the complexity of Stage3D (Molehill) and allows easy and intuitive programming for everyone.

Obviously Starling is for ActionScript 3 developers, especially those involved in 2D game development; of course you will need to have a basic understanding of ActionScript 3. By its design (lightweight, flexible and simple), Starling can be used also be used for other use cases like UI programming. That said, everything is designed to be as intuitive as possible, so any Java™ or .Net™ developer will get the hang of it quickly as well.

About the Author
Thibault Imbert is a Flash Player product manager focused on graphics and rendering. After a few years working for different French agencies as a Flash developer, Thibault became an Adobe Certified Instructor in Paris where he taught ActionScript at an Adobe training center. Download Now »