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Learning XNA 4.0: Game Development for the PC, Xbox 360, and Windows Phone 7--New from O'Reilly

Press release: January 11, 2011

Learning XNA 4.0

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Sebastopol, CA—Want to develop games for Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7? This hands-on book will get you started with Microsoft's XNA 4.0 development framework right away—even if you have no experience developing games. Although XNA includes several key concepts that can be difficult for beginning web developers to grasp, Learning XNA 4.0 (O'Reilly Media, $39.99 USD) shortens the learning curve by walking you through the framework in a clear and understandable step-by-step format.

"For the first time in history, developers can write games for PC, a next generation console like the Xbox 360 and a next generation smartphone like Windows Phone 7 all with the same code base," says author Aaron Reed. "Amazing! The gaming industry is booming and continues to grow. With hardware advances being made daily and the push toward mobile devices becoming more powerful and interactive, the industry is as exciting as ever."

Each chapter offers a self-contained lesson with illustrations and annotated examples, along with exercises and review questions to help you test your understanding and practice new skills as you go. Once you've finished this book, you'll know how to develop your own sophisticated games from start to finish.

  • Learn game development from 2D animation to 3D cameras and effects
  • Delve into high-level shader language (HLSL) and introductory artificial intelligence concepts
  • Build three complete, exciting games using 2D, 3D, and multiplayer techniques
  • Develop for and deploy your games to the Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7

For a review copy or more information please email gretchen@oreilly.com. Please include your delivery address and contact information.

About the Author

Aaron Reed has extensive software development experience and more importantly, experience in software development education. Since 2004 he has taught courses at Neumont University in .NET, web development and web services, XNA, systems design and architecture, and more.

Aaron's experience in teaching both DirectX and XNA for several years to university-level students helps him understand what topics are easily understood and which ones need more depth and emphasis. Through experience in the classroom he also has a good understanding of what format and sequence makes the most sense to present the material. This book follows that format and is meant to present game development concepts in the way most efficient and most comprehendible as proven in the classroom.

View Aaron Reed's full profile page.

Additional Resources
For more information about the book, including table of contents, author bios, and cover graphic, see: http://oreilly.com/catalog/0636920013709

Learning XNA 4.0 Learning XNA 4.0
Publisher: O'Reilly Media
By Aaron Reed
Print ISBN: 9781449394622   Ebook ISBN: 9781449394714  
Pages: 544
Print Price: $39.99   Ebook Price: $31.99  
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000

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About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

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