This highly-anticipated title provides a clear introduction to game programming for VB .NET programmers! Microsoft insiders have written an easy-to-read guide, so you can start programming games quickly. This book even includes an introduction to Managed DirectX9, and other advanced .NET features, like animation and sounds. Code examples are actually complete games, and include .Nettrix , .Netterpillars, River Pla.NET, Magic KindergarteN., D-iNfEcT, Nettrix II (for the Pocket PC), and a version of the classic game, Spacewars. * Adapted to VB .NET by key Microsoft Insiders --Lead author is the .NET Game evangelist at Microsoft! * An easy-to-read, soup-to-nuts guide that helps you start programming games fast. * Packed with code examples that are complete games, Beginning .NET Game Programming in VB .NET includes an introduction to Managed DirectX 9 and is also an introduction to exciting advanced features of .NET, including the Speech API to generate voices, synchronizing mouth animations with generated sounds, the .NET Compact Framework, data access with ADO.NET, collision detection, and artificial intelligence. * Includes complete code listings and applications for all games included in the .Nettrix (a Tetris clone), .Netterpillars (a Snakes clone), River Pla.Net (River Raid clone), Magic KindergarteN., D-iNfEcT, and Nettrix II (for the Pocket PC) as well as a version of the classic game Spacewars and a "Twisty Cube" game. Front Matter....Pages N2-xxvi .Nettrix: GDI+ and Collision Detection....Pages 1-64 .Netterpillars: Artificial Intelligence and Sprites....Pages 65-139 Managed DirectX First Steps: Direct3D Basics and DirectX vs. GDI+....Pages 141-206 Space Donuts: Sprites Revisited....Pages 207-243 Spacewar!....Pages 245-269 Spacewar3D: Meshes and Buffers and Textures, Oh My!....Pages 271-326 Adding Visual Effects to Spacewar3D....Pages 327-341 Taking Your Next Steps....Pages 343-350 Porting .Nettrix to Pocket PC....Pages 351-369 Back Matter....Pages 371-414 * Includes complete code listings and applications for all games included in the book: .Nettrix (a Tetris clone), .Netterpillars (a Snakes clone), River Pla.Net (River Raid clone), Magic KindergarteN., D-iNfEcT, and Nettrix II (for the Pocket PC) as well as a version of the classic game Spacewars and a "Twisty Cube" game. "Because DirectX 9 is accessible to .NET, you can now write fantastic games without the pain of complex C++ code!"--Back cover note
