Where can I get the Book <Programming 2D scrolling games>?

[xMystik]

Hi,

There are only about 20 copies left now. The cost for orders outside the UK will have to be £20 in future though.
This does not include any orders currently being processed that have already paid the old price.

All the best

Steve.

[StPaul]

I bought the book a couple of months ago & read it. My reaction is:
1. Book is logically organized & composed. Writing style effectively communicates problem, scope & solution
2. First half of book provides commands in context of games.Its a language tutorial in context. Brief programs that show you how to do various things. This is useful for someone transitioning from a different language. You could these out from Fred's examples, but I think the examples will speed you along.
3. 2nd half of book addresses various game programming problems & their solutions. Most are things you would readily figure out if you are a programmer, but personally I am happy if someone offers me some "canned" solutions to common issues.

The author's style is quite readable. The book is not boring. It is generally written on a much lower level than many of the discussions I see on this forum, but personally I think there is a great need for this book.

[Lostdragon]

I know the thread is getting old, but it's still on the first page and this forum is not very active so I'll call it game.

There is still a need for this sort of book. The original Programming 2D Scrolling Games book is nice, but the PB language has been updated so many times since it was written that the book's code is outdated and will not compile out of the box. Since new users are the type who would gravitate towards this sort of book, they are also going to be the ones who are most frustrated when the code won't compile because a command got deprecated or changed.

For this book to be of much use to a new user, all the code examples would have to be updated along with whatever explanations went along with them.

Also of note is that the book doesn't concern itself with making a map editor for the scrolling game it produces. The author hand-waves over this by using a pre-made one, leaving new users to make their own as an exercise. That's nice, but it doesn't really teach, so a third of the process of creating a game (making the tools) is left out or glossed over.

I hope that helps anyone who is thinking about digging up a copy of this book from somewhere.

If anyone out there is thinking about writing a new book using a modern version of PB and covers all facets of making a 2D tile scrolling game I have my cash in hand waiting.

[utopiomania]

Check out google books as well. Switch to advanced search and select no restrictions. It's a goldmine.

[MachineCode]

The "editor" called RadioFan at Wikipedia refuses to believe that the book "Programming 2D Scrolling Games" exists, and he keeps deleting it from Wikipedia's PureBasic article. Can someone provide a third-party link to it, or take photos of their copy and post them on a non-PureBasic related website with a small review, also showing the ISBN in the photo, please?

The only links I found are this PureBasic forum thread, http://socoder.net/?topic=520 (private sales), and http://web.archive.org/web/200712181501 ... =300023962 (the old ShareIt page for buying it). Seems these links are not enough for him to believe it exists. There is also the author's original page for it, but it no longer exists either: http://web.archive.org/web/200906041759 ... _book.html How can we prove to him that it exists?

[IdeasVacuum]

Incidentally, John Logsdon has released the K-2D MapMaker that was developed to aid in the level creation for the Migz Call: Laser Blazer game (the example game in Programming 2D scrolling games).

Download

[IdeasVacuum]

I have asked John Logsdon if he would consider making an e-book of Programming 2D scrolling games. He has got back to me to say that he will look into the possibility of doing so! So, there might be light at the end of the tunnel.........

[electrochrisso]

That would be , the quality of Laser Blazer game is good, it would be good to know how it was created.

[Zach]

God I hate Wikipedia.

Those people are such power-hungry clique-ish ass hats


Frankly, since it is out of print.. I would love it if someone reading this who HAS a copy could scan the thing and upload it somewhere


Also, if you have the URL for the original home page, trying finding it on Wayback Machine as well. I know I have seen it somewhere, but I can't remember where.
All I can find these days is this

http://www.krylarskreations.com/games.html

Which does list Migz in referrence to the book.

[IdeasVacuum]

...The original Publisher has the copyright for the printed book, so I don't think it would be a good idea if someone were to scan it and upload to the internet.

Fortunately, the Publisher has agreed that John can release an e-book version, so I have my fingers (and toes) crossed in the hope that it happens.

There are some very strange people working on Wikipedia, that is true It is an interesting and often useful resource though.

[IdeasVacuum]

Since new users are the type who would gravitate towards this sort of book, they are also going to be the ones who are most frustrated when the code won't compile because a command got deprecated or changed.

In a way, that's actually a good thing. Too often on the forum we see Newbies who are effectively saying 'write my game for me' (or 'do my homework for me'). So, having to think about the provided code and modify it so that it will compile is a good exercise (though of course, if that gets confusing, there are plenty of people at hand on the forum who are willing to help). The book is based on PB v3.93 and there is not really a huge difference, in terms of functions, between v3.93 and v4.61 - yes there are a lot of new things, mostly libs and yes some functions are depreciated, but not too bad at all imho.

[Demivec]

Since new users are the type who would gravitate towards this sort of book, they are also going to be the ones who are most frustrated when the code won't compile because a command got deprecated or changed.

In a way, that's actually a good thing. Too often on the forum we see Newbies who are effectively saying 'write my game for me' (or 'do my homework for me'). So, having to think about the provided code and modify it so that it will compile is a good exercise (though of course, if that gets confusing, there are plenty of people at hand on the forum who are willing to help). The book is based on PB v3.93 and there is not really a huge difference, in terms of functions, between v3.93 and v4.61 - yes there are a lot of new things, mostly libs and yes some functions are depreciated, but not too bad at all imho.

Most of the tutorial code in the book was updated to PureBasic v4.51 by swos2009. It is talked about in this thread.

[IdeasVacuum]

Most of the tutorial code in the book was updated to PureBasic v4.51 by swos2009

shhhhh -don't tell 'em!

[Krylar]

Hi everyone,

It's been a looooooong time! I hope everyone is doing well.

IdeasVacuum contacted me a week or so back to ask if I would re-release the "Programming 2D Scrolling Games" as an eBook. As he pointed out above, I did contact Idigicon and Giles gave me to the okay to release the book.

I have just gotten my license from Fred so I can snag the latest version of the compiler and do some code updates so it works with the latest rev. I currently have multiple projects going on, so I can't give 100% of my time to this...but I will be working on it over the next couple of months.

Note that I won't be expanding the book. Just a port (where I can), reformatting for eBook, and then releasing it out.

All the best.

[electrochrisso]

, hello, and thanks in advance for your efforts Krylar, I am looking forward to the release.