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Allegro 5 Book |
Specter Phoenix
Member #1,425
July 2001
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weapon_S said: Not you too! Couldn't the purpose of the book be to make someone a programmer? Do you even have to be a "programmer" to want such a book? Well, no, not for the purpose he is claiming he is writing it for. It would focus on Allegro (just an API) and make example games with it. You would have to make it a language specific game programming book that teaches game programming while teaching a language and using Allegro API (and that would make for a huge 1000+ page book.
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AleX-G Squadron
Member #13,593
October 2011
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I have included only the chapter 2, so no wise or clever people do anything with it. It is very short, 8 pages and you wont get bored reading it. www.anothergames.com |
J-Gamer
Member #12,491
January 2011
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Sorry to say, but the your grammar actually sucks... The first paragraph in that chapter is enough to make me feel sorry for anyone who would buy it. And honestly I don't think anyone will if they get the chance to look in the book before buying it. " There are plenty of wonderful ideas in The Bible, but God isn't one of them." - Derezo |
AleX-G Squadron
Member #13,593
October 2011
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, ok, i understand you are out of topic. www.anothergames.com |
Elias
Member #358
May 2000
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Maybe you should write the book in your native language (someone wrote a German book for Allegro 4 for example). Then have it translated once it's done. On the other hand, writing a book might be a good way to improve your English, so if you see it as an exercise for yourself, go for it anyway. AleX-G Squadron said: Post in here a single grammar problem. Is a good example in itself as it uses a wrong word order, it should be: "Post a single grammar problem in here." -- |
AleX-G Squadron
Member #13,593
October 2011
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If i have any grammar error, please can anyone post at least a single error??? www.anothergames.com |
Matthew Leverton
Supreme Loser
January 1999
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There are a lot of grammar errors, but it's easy to understand. I wouldn't really worry about it. (Of course if you plan on selling it, then you will need to find a good editor.) Even if the book is nothing more than a collection of tutorials like that chapter, it might still help people out, so I wouldn't listen to any of the useless criticism. Just be sure the stuff is factually correct. |
weapon_S
Member #7,859
October 2006
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AleX-G Squadron is 99% understandable. But it is clear it is written by someone who isn't fluent in English. Quote: Right now we have created nothing, but at least the error thing. This is one of the cases where it is not understandable. This sentence could be 'corrected' in two different ways. Especially the use of "thing" makes it vague. Quote: two rows "Two lines" would be the more common way to describe them. Quote: al_show_native_message_box(P1,P2,P3,P4,P5,P6) Not my first choice to write it out like that. Still there is something to say for it. Have you explained the comma and function arguments in the first chapter? Quote: The same thing goes to the third parameter and the fourth. Again the use of "thing". Doesn't hurt to be a little more explicit and descriptive in text. Quote: There are some options which you will have to recognize them Bad English. Probably needs to be worded differently in the whole[2] Quote: These will make your day like a piece of cake if you learn them. That's... actually... pretty funny. Missing a comma BTW. Quote: costume native box Funny, but less tolerable. AleX-G Squadron said: if statement Technically correct. My personal preference is "if-statement", though. On the whole, good use of italics and other typography can make it much more legible. Quote: wont That won't do. :p References
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AleX-G Squadron
Member #13,593
October 2011
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The more i write, the more it gets complex. I have writen 68 pages in total. I wrote about math real numbers. I explain negative and positive numbers and what is an XY graph in math. The differences with Allegro. I dont want to let it just an example book. I want to add in great math and physic. I am very good at math and physic so it will be a very good bet from my side. I have one big question though: @weapon www.anothergames.com |
J-Gamer
Member #12,491
January 2011
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If you want to use 3D in your game, you'll need to use OpenGL/DirectX directly. Allegro only handles 2D stuff AFAIK. " There are plenty of wonderful ideas in The Bible, but God isn't one of them." - Derezo |
bamccaig
Member #7,536
July 2006
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You're using the wrong terminology. main is not a class. It is a function or subroutine. The editor is going to have a lot of work on his hands. He had better be a native English speaker... Your al_show_native_message_box call seems wrong as well. You are passing the flags parameter as a string, but it is supposed to be an int. Also, the way you've described the arguments is strange. The reader will likely memorize the parameters by position all on their own. When describing them, you should associate the description with the semantic name to keep things easy. It's ridiculous to say that the reader is adept at creating boxes. They aren't creating dialog boxes. Allegro is. They are just asking Allegro to make them. And it's only one function call. It's hard to be good or bad at that. You either do it or you don't. I would suggest that you focus on the facts and avoid subjective content. -- acc.js | al4anim - Allegro 4 Animation library | Allegro 5 VS/NuGet Guide | Allegro.cc Mockup | Allegro.cc <code> Tag | Allegro 4 Timer Example (w/ Semaphores) | Allegro 5 "Winpkg" (MSVC readme) | Bambot | Blog | C++ STL Container Flowchart | Castopulence Software | Check Return Values | Derail? | Is This A Discussion? Flow Chart | Filesystem Hierarchy Standard | Clean Code Talks - Global State and Singletons | How To Use Header Files | GNU/Linux (Debian, Fedora, Gentoo) | rot (rot13, rot47, rotN) | Streaming |
AleX-G Squadron
Member #13,593
October 2011
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That thing "Allegro is" sounded like saying: "It is not you who lives, it is god". Actually, i needed some help with the high scores board and saving the game. www.anothergames.com |
Specter Phoenix
Member #1,425
July 2001
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Matthew Leverton said: Even if the book is nothing more than a collection of tutorials like that chapter, it might still help people out, so I wouldn't listen to any of the useless criticism. Just be sure the stuff is factually correct. I fall under this comment, I think. If the book is just to teach Allegro 5 to programmers then that is fine. I just don't agree with the saying the wiki and manual are bad or saying they have grammar errors just because they don't make sense to him. A book of tutorials for doing things in A5 would be nice. Now, let me re-iterate a previous comment. You cannot get a person into programming with just teaching them A5. You book would have to be written so that the first few chapters would cover a language you are using (C, C++, C#, D, etc.) and the basics of that language. Following chapters could cover setup, installation, and first test example to show A5 is properly installed and working. Then after that you would have to have examples that show A5 and the language features with it ultimately finishing in either multiple games or one complete game at the end of the book.
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AleX-G Squadron
Member #13,593
October 2011
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The book has math and physics inside, so don't expect it to be easy. Can anyone help with the spline? www.anothergames.com |
furinkan
Member #10,271
October 2008
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AleX-G Squadron said: I explain everything possible, which is normally in my knowledge. Late to the party, but I just got a sig quote! EDIT: I see now what you were talking about on #allegro. I need to stop by more often; I miss all the juicy bits. |
AleX-G Squadron
Member #13,593
October 2011
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Thanks for stopping by. Can you help out with the spline? www.anothergames.com |
alehbeer
Member #12,996
July 2011
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AleX, I highly recommend you review pure C and C++. Before you do too much more with your book, you should check out http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/c++-tutorial.html and http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/c-tutorial.html . I think you would benefit from at least a quick review. If nothing else, it might help you better understand the terminology in English. You seem to be off to a decent start, but spending a day or two refreshing your c/c++ understanding may make your endeavor easier. Also, I read through the pdf you uploaded. I think it could be useful to somebody, but you will need to editing and revising. However, since its a first draft don't worry about that yet. That said, you should be aware that when you are ready to finalize it in whatever your preferred format is, and after editing and correcting the font size, the book will most likely be about 1/4 its size as a draft. I say this because upon editing your work, the document becomes around 1 page + code. Finally, you may be interested in using LATEX for layout. It will help make the images more standardized and there is a plug-in which will give your source code context highlighting.
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AleX-G Squadron
Member #13,593
October 2011
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Last time i read about C\C++ was when i left programming with Allegro. So basically i am not that great as i have a year i dont learn C++ and C. www.anothergames.com |
Fishcake
Member #8,704
June 2007
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Reading the draft you have attached reminds me of this wiki, which I wrote 2-3 years ago for my classmates (which is an epic fail because I suck at explaining, the tutorials are badly structured, and most of my classmates are not interested in game programming AT ALL). IMO, you should just turn your book into a wiki (or a website) for several reasons:
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superstar4410
Member #926
January 2001
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Alex I definitely applaud your efforts to write this book. This is really great. I like how you saw a problem and attempted to fix it. I really do applaud you for working on this book, I just think its awesome. Often times people complain about something but do nothing, you my friend are taking action. We need more people like you my friend. {"name":"applause.gif","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/1\/9\/19c5066b2332d87b4b5f61e0bbeeb3bb.png","w":300,"h":314,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/1\/9\/19c5066b2332d87b4b5f61e0bbeeb3bb"} Now my suggestion is that you start basic then refine. Instead of just jumping into the book. I suggest going back over your outline. If you don't do that I fear you will end up trying to connect the dots as you go along or force dots to connect to which may lead you slightly off topic. I think a solid outline is very very very crucial. There is no need to set sails on the grandest ship of all if you have an incorrect map of the sea, the journey will be doomed before it starts. Someone made a point about the topic of the book. I agree that you should not make the book too specific. Determine your audience first. My assumption is that you are not making the book for yourself but for others. So ask yourself am I writing this book for: (a)beginners with basic C++ experience but not allegro experience. Based on if you select A or B above, the book will be different. The main difference will be that for those with no C++ experience you would have to teach them C++ first before you can teach them about the Allegro library. My recommendation is that you refer those that don't know C++ to a C++ tutorial to read first and just focus the book mostly on A5. I think you should aim to teach basic concepts and you can be specific as in teaching specific algorithms or programming design modals. For example, you said you do web programming. Something common in web design is login features. That is something one could teach in a web tutorial. With games something common may be a side scrolling game, you could teach how to create functions and classes to handle player movement. The danger though with being too specific is that you are assuming the reader wants to duplicate what you are doing. Instead of teaching someone how to make a car game, it is better to teach them how to create an object, how to control objects, how to display objects to the screen, and how to create artificial intelligence for objects. With that knowledge the person can take those tools and make any game, a car, plane, boat, shooting, etc(just an example). Yes for beginners I do think it is valuable to include for example a car game source code example to show how the components fit together, but don't make that car game(for example) the main point you are trying to teach them, make the components that make the game possible what the focus of the book will be. That way you foster creative thinking in the person and they can take the components and use them independent of the example in the book. Once again good luck, I'm available to help with your book, email me at neh@dimdigital.com, I can help out on the outline and some theory and concepts and some code. Good luck Don't take yourself too seriously, but do take your responsibilities very seriously. |
AleX-G Squadron
Member #13,593
October 2011
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Thank you very much! www.anothergames.com |
Arthur Kalliokoski
Second in Command
February 2005
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It would be really difficult, if not impossible to make one single book so interesting that beginners as well as advanced game programmers would want to read it. And I think if you're going to include C++ programming for beginners, you're well on the way to writing an encyclopedia, not just one book. They all watch too much MSNBC... they get ideas. |
bamccaig
Member #7,536
July 2006
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C++ is an extremely complicated language. C++ is the kind of language where the more you know the less you know. And you can do everything in C that you would in C++, if a little bit more verbosely. You should focus on C and leave C++ to specialized books and resources. -- acc.js | al4anim - Allegro 4 Animation library | Allegro 5 VS/NuGet Guide | Allegro.cc Mockup | Allegro.cc <code> Tag | Allegro 4 Timer Example (w/ Semaphores) | Allegro 5 "Winpkg" (MSVC readme) | Bambot | Blog | C++ STL Container Flowchart | Castopulence Software | Check Return Values | Derail? | Is This A Discussion? Flow Chart | Filesystem Hierarchy Standard | Clean Code Talks - Global State and Singletons | How To Use Header Files | GNU/Linux (Debian, Fedora, Gentoo) | rot (rot13, rot47, rotN) | Streaming |
Gideon Weems
Member #3,925
October 2003
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furinkan
Member #10,271
October 2008
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Well if you get a portion written, I'll edit and index it. Maybe I'll contribute, in the unlikely event I have something intelligent to say. |
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