Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0 Review

If you’re interested in learning game development or have been looking for a resource that will help you get started, the Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0 might be worth checking out. This kit comes with various resources that can help beginners learn about game development and programming.

Introduction

The kit comes with a CD-ROM that contains various tools that can help you create games. In addition to the CD, the kit also includes a book that covers the basics of game programming, game design, and programming languages used in game development.

In this review, we will go over some of the features of the Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0 and discuss whether it is worth your investment.

What’s Included?

The Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0 contains a CD that includes the following tools:

Microsoft DirectX 8.0 SDK: A collection of tools, libraries, and documentation provided by Microsoft for game development.
Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Standard: A programming language that allows developers to create powerful applications.
Microsoft Visual C++ .NET Standard: A programming language that developers can use to create efficient Windows applications.
HomeSite 5.0 Trial: An HTML editor designed for web developers.
Beyond Compare 3: A file comparison utility that helps developers find and resolve differences between files and folders.
WinZip 9.0: An archive utility that lets you zip and unzip files.

The kit also includes a book titled “Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0.” This book was written by Jonathan S. Harbour and covers the basics of game development, game design, and programming languages used in game development.

What Can You Learn?

The Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0 is designed to help beginners learn about game development and programming. By using the tools and resources included in the kit, you can learn how to:

Create a game engine
Build a game world
Design game characters and animation
Program game mechanics and systems

The Pros

One of the best things about the Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0 is that it is designed for beginners. The book and tools included in the kit are easy to use and are meant to provide a gentle introduction to game development and programming.

The book itself is written in a friendly and approachable style. It covers everything from the basics of game development to more advanced topics such as game physics and artificial intelligence.

The tools included in the kit are also well-designed, and they can be used to create games that run on various platforms. Microsoft DirectX 8.0 SDK, in particular, is a powerful tool that can be used to create complex graphics and audio effects.

The Cons

One potential downside of the Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0 is that it is quite dated. The kit was originally released in 2001, and some of the tools included in the kit are now outdated.

For example, Microsoft DirectX 8.0 SDK is no longer supported by Microsoft, which means that it may not work on newer versions of Windows. Similarly, HomeSite 5.0, which was included in the kit as an HTML editor, is no longer being developed and is not compatible with modern web development practices.

Another potential negative is that the book can be quite dense at times. While it is written in an engaging style, some of the topics covered in the book can be quite technical and may be difficult for beginners to understand.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to get started with game programming and development, the Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0 can be a good resource. While it is outdated, the book and tools included in the kit can still provide a good introduction to game development and programming.

However, if you’re already familiar with game development and programming, you may find the kit to be too basic. In this case, you may want to look for more advanced resources and tools.

Overall, the Game Programming Starter Kit 4.0 is a good resource for beginners who want to learn about game development and programming.