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The ACCU passes on review copies of computer books to its members for them to review. The result is a large, high quality collection of book reviews by programmers, for programmers. Currently there are 1949 reviews in the database and more every month.
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Title:
NetWarriors in C++; Programming 3D Multiplayer Games
Author:
J Gradecki
ISBN:
0 471 11337 9
Publisher:
Wiley
Pages:
470pp+CD
Price:
£26-50
Reviewer:
Philip Michaelson-Yeates
Subject:
microsoft; games; graphics; advanced c++
Appeared in:
10-4
Although this book has a very specific title and uses a war game example program, the topics described are applicable to a much wider range of Windows programming than just games. The author assumes a basic understanding of C++, leading the reader methodically through development of 'King's Reign'. This is a strategy war game that can be played by up to four people over the Internet, or head to head using a modem.

Gradecki uses a clear and structured style throughout, demonstrated early on with a comprehensive functional specification for his game. The chapters that introduce Windows event loops and WinSock (a popular communications library) stand out as being particularly approachable. Visual C++ and MFC are used extensively, so much so that one or two sections are little more than click by click instructions for using the

ClassWizard
.

Source code for the complete game, which features sound and sprite animation, is summarised in a hefty 98 page appendix and is also supplied in various stages of development on the accompanying CDROM.

This book would be a useful tutorial for an intermediate C++ student who is already comfortable with the language.