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General => General discussions => Topic started by: SeriousITGuy on April 20, 2017, 08:47:15 am

Title: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: SeriousITGuy on April 20, 2017, 08:47:15 am
Hey guys,

Packtpub gives away a free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML: https://www.packtpub.com/game-development/procedural-content-generation-c-game-development

You can get the free eBook here https://www.packtpub.com/packt/offers/free-learning and only today 20.04.2017, so go get a copy. I already own the book as it was on sale at x-mas last year for 5$, and I can say it is worth it. It is not totally about SFML, but rather focuses on procedural generation of content, but makes good use of SFML to get things on screen.

Cheers!
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Elias Daler on April 20, 2017, 10:09:14 am
Thanks for the tip! I'll check it out, I was always interested in trying some procedural generation things. :D
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Mario on April 20, 2017, 10:39:34 am
To be honest, I'm actually curious to see what exactly this book covers. Because in the end procedural generation of content is often not more than getting the next random number. :D
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: K.F on April 20, 2017, 11:26:30 am
Aaaand your player just spawned in a wall  ;D
Seriously though, making a non-junk procedural game is not that simple, definitely worth a dedicated book. This is the table of content of this book if you want an idea about it:


Table of Contents:
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Brokenhope on April 21, 2017, 02:31:39 am
I am interested in the book, but I can't figure out how to get it. It says $0.00 but $39.99 after the trial. Do I have to sign up and everything?

I went to the second link and it was "Flask by Example", I signed up and went what the heck, downloaded that, but I can't access the book.
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Mario on April 21, 2017, 08:37:47 am
It's  because the free book changes daily at 0:00 UTC.

Once you have a book, click on your name/profile and look under "my ebooks".

Don't subscribe for their "Mapt" offer. It's heavily promoted, but not the free book offer.
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Brokenhope on April 21, 2017, 06:22:04 pm
Dang. I had just noticed that. I was late by 3 hours -_-.
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Barlog on June 20, 2017, 04:19:11 am
Hi folks!

PacktPub is now offering it as free-learn content. Grab it while it's hot. Only 20 hours left. :)
https://www.packtpub.com/packt/offers/free-learning
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Hiura on June 20, 2017, 11:58:51 am
Sadly, even for free I wouldn't recommend  (https://www.amazon.fr/review/R3HHC81AQK4HA8/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1785886711)this book.  :-\
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Rosme on June 20, 2017, 02:30:59 pm
Yeah I started reading it... it's pretty awful. It feels like someone just learned a few part of SFML and C++ and decided he was good enough to make a book, much like half the tutorials you'll find on YouTube.
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: jamesL on June 22, 2017, 04:53:56 am
Sadly, even for free I wouldn't recommend  (https://www.amazon.fr/review/R3HHC81AQK4HA8/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1785886711)this book.  :-\

"I still don't understand why the author/editor decided to use colored images in a black and white book"

because they look great in the pdf version
probably look good in the kindle version too

"too many code snippets are either badly formatted and don't fit properly on the page"

boo freaking hoo 
so the code takes up more than one page
get over it

"on the other he sticks with std::rand, ... no notion of gaussian or any other *actual* distribution."

who cares ?

in 99% of games it will not matter 

that criticism is like putting down an SFML book because it doesn't show fixed delta time and integration

its a fine book for a beginner
especially considering its free
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Mario on June 22, 2017, 11:38:51 am
"I still don't understand why the author/editor decided to use colored images in a black and white book"

because they look great in the pdf version
probably look good in the kindle version too

"too many code snippets are either badly formatted and don't fit properly on the page"

boo freaking hoo 
so the code takes up more than one page
get over it
Well, I'd say this is something the publisher should take care of, e.g. to make sure it looks good in any common format.

"on the other he sticks with std::rand, ... no notion of gaussian or any other *actual* distribution."

who cares ?

in 99% of games it will not matter
I think it's a valid point. A whole book dedicated to generating stuff based on random numbers should at least dab a bit into the basics and explain the "why".

that criticism is like putting down an SFML book because it doesn't show fixed delta time and integration

This heavily depends on what the book wants to teach you. I'd expect it in a book about basic game design, but it would be off topic in procedural content creation.
Title: Re: Free C++ Game Dev Book using SFML only Today!
Post by: Hiura on June 22, 2017, 04:37:52 pm
James, mind your language please. It's okay to have a different opinion but it doesn't help making your point to use such a childish tone.

I cannot emphasis enough how bad this is, especially for beginners. Being free doesn't make things right, at all. If you learn bad practices, you'll have a hard time unlearning those.

Just an example: in addition to being statistically broken, std::rand is much less adequate than using std::discrete_distribution if you want a simple weighed distribution. No need to reimplement the wheel for such things, focus on the game instead.