This book does a very good job of covering the basics of C++. Whenever I come across a book that delivers what it promises I am happy... and "Beginning C++" delivers.

A friend bought me a copy of this book through amazon.
Both of us (my friend and I) started to learn C++ together through the internet before having this book.

The book is amazingly good, very good structure for teaching the programming language, C++.
Everything is done in a very interactive way, giving you concepts on how game developers do it, how stuff run in more advanced program.
And what use every function has.

While it doesn't go into deep details of every possible library and function in C++, it teaches you enough to get on your own and go from there.

After finishing this book, it was very easy to go on and move to DirectX, Allegro and SDL libraries.

Very recommanded!

(In reference to 1st Edition) As my title suggests this book is a pretty good introduction to C++ using basic games as the subject of the examples and exercises. Its main focus is on teaching the fundamental aspects of C++ for beginners and how to use the Standard Template Library (STL). Creating games is not really the focus as much as the the chosen subject of the examples and lessons. That said, what this book does, and does fairly well in my experience, is give a good overview and introduction to C++ and how it can be used to create the basic flow structure of a game program. Console text output is the focus, not windows programming. Those with more programming experience and looking for material on 2D or 3D graphics, or event scripting and control using C++, would be better served by another text as it does not address these subjects at all.

I have used this book successfully to help teach teens fundamental C++ and the basics of game programming (within the limits described). It is an easy step from here to go to basic text adventures and RPGs, and a then onto adding graphics, etc. as a more advanced topic (using other texts). This is really a natural progression for someone who wants to learn programming and games, but perhaps not for someone who wants to design games from an art or interaction perspective. More advanced topics such as AI, graphics, and scripting can really only be learned after one understands basic programming (in C++ or another language) and the basic of how game programs are structured.

I have found many students do not necessarily understand what it means to "program games" or how programming relates to game design and implementation. Beginning C++ Game Programming is a good text but if you are already a programmer and/or not interested in the basic code structure of games then perhaps you should find another book.

Bottom Line: Good choice for a real beginner, who is really interested in learning programming because of games, but not a good choice if you are an experienced programmer or want to make your own 2D or 3D video game "right now".

This book was nothing more than another poor purchase decision on my behalf. Written towards the audiance of those who ought not be reading it in the first place this book takes on an annoying simplistic tone. Reading it is like sitting through the basic trig review before taking multi var calculus, the most complex example is a cheap command line version of blackjack.

If you have any computer knowledge at all and you purchase this book I can guarantee you that it will be one of the ones that just sit on the shelf and make you look smart, never to be opened.

Seriously this book is the best I have read yet when I first started it I was a newbie programmer but the way micheal dawson explains the c++ fundamentals keeps things fun and exciting this is one of the only c++ books you can find that isnt dry or boring think of it like being in a game industry school he has you apply your new skills in projects by the end of the project you learn what you need to learn and quick you wont want to miss this book I guarantee it!

First of all you have to keep in mind that the purpose of this book is not to teach game programming, but C++ programming. With that in mind, don't expect to learn graphics, AI or anything like that (except for some extremelly basic concepts).

However, in teaching C++ it succeeds. But it doesn't go much deep into anything and it is somewhat disjointed. If you can't be motivated by anything but game programming and can't stand to learn any other way, then pick this book - if you really want to learn pick another and this book to give you some (very basic) basics on game programming.

I've read my fair share of C++ programming books and they all have one thing in common... BORING. Not this one! All the examples are geared towards game programming so at the end of each lesson you actually have a playable, albeit simple, game.

As an example, take the chapter on string manipulation. Instead of making some trivial program that displays a bunch of strings to prove how they work, the author walks you through writing a word jumble program that you get to play with when you're finished. For me this had two positive consequences. First, I didn't just skip the example (like I usually do) because it was pointless. I wanted to see how the word jumble game actually worked. Second, once I had programmed it, I went back and played around with the code, adding more words to the jumble to make it more difficult. As anyone whose ever programmed knows, the way to really grasp a concept is to experiment with the code.

I highly recommend this book to ANYONE who wants to learn how to program C++, especially to younger readers. The straightforward examples and a dash of comedy here and there keep the reading light and engaging.

This book is an amazing book if you take it for what it is. It teaches the basics of C++ programming. The games you make in this book are fun and used as instructional tools, they aren't meant for you to go off and start making WoW 2. It's a great book if you want to learn the basics of C++ but in a more entertaining method than in a standard C++ book.

I bought this book thinking I'm going to learn something about game programming but that wasn't the case.

The book is like any other C++ learning book. There's only 10% game programing which was the Tic Tac Toe game and that's it.

If you are looking to learn game programing with C++ then i don't recommend this book.

If you'd like to get into game development I can certainly recommend this book. C++ is fairly easy to learn, but takes a long time to master. This book will help you learn how to use C++ to create working applications, but it is just an introduction.
You'll want to read up on some type of graphics programming to make a real game, but as far as general coding goes this book provides a great start.

This book is great for anyone looking to get off the ground with C++. The game examples throughout the book are fun and the logic used to put them together flows very well. I highly recommend using the compiler he promotes as its truly the easiest and least fussy of the bunch. This book is great for those looking to get into game or financial programming.

While not the most in depth C++ book, it is effective in its approach. Uses game examples that helps develop your mind towards game development thinking. Overall, I enjoyed it.

hi all,
I bought this brand new book for 21$ including delivery charge.(New one is 31$) Once i ordered it, It comes to my apartment door in 4 days. I feel its the easiest way to buy book. Event i dont have to worry about going to store.

This book doesn't explains well the fundamental of c++. What this book does is basically gives you a piece of code to copy and tells briefly why it works.

Everything's useless unless you know how and why does that code work. And the how and why is lacking on this book.

I have to say, I have had my fill of programming books over the years. And, C++ books were so boring that I never wanted to read them and do the homework. I worked at Borland Tech Support for one of the programmming language products and had a mentor in the C++ Builder department. I picked up this book because I had been working out some issues with Random Number Generator and other design issues involved with mathematical logic. I was looking at C++ because I had previously prototyped my project in FORTH. Since I do not have a graphics library for FORTH, I need to port my prototype to another language. It seemed that I had to finally do some C++. I would say that reading this book helped to figure out the simple issues of restating a problem for C++ syntax.

This book is very, very basic.It's for beginners. It not contains graphics
or videogames programming.

I teach c++ and while I could use this as a text book or for demonstrations, I think there are really too many details left out for someone to read this on their own and learn to program.

I have read C++ for dummies and this book was actually easier to read than that. Not only was the language that much clearer but it covered nearly every aspect of C++ console programming. But therein lies the one flaw. It is called C++ Through Game Programming, but the closest you can get to a game right from this book is a text-based adventure. It may seem a little misleading, but nowhere on or in the book does it mention visual/graphical work or tutorials. Great book for the basics though!