Quick Take
Trying to pick a game development programming book isn't a one-size-fits-all decision. You might need the broader engineering discipline, a refresher on the math that makes objects move, a focused look at DirectX animation, or a scripting language like ActionScript for interactive projects. The four books here cover all of those angles, and each one is priced differently.
Price Comparison
All four are pre-owned copies in Good or Very Good condition. The table below shows the listed price for each book.
| Book | Price | Condition | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineering for Game Developers | $35.74 | Very Good | |
| Beginning Math Concepts for Game Developers | $16.08 | Very Good | |
| Advanced Animation with DirectX (Focus on Game Development | $9.92 | Good | |
| Game Development with ActionScript | $18.24 | Good |
Decision Matrix
- Go with Software Engineering for Game Developers if you want a structured, project-level approach to building a game and prefer a Very Good copy.
- Choose Beginning Math Concepts for Game Developers if you want to strengthen the math behind game physics and geometry and like the idea of a New Edition with a CD-ROM.
- Pick Advanced Animation with DirectX if you're focused on DirectX animation and want the lowest-priced book here.
- Turn to Game Development with ActionScript if you're working with ActionScript and want a trade paperback dedicated to that language.
Product Notes
Software Engineering for Game Developers
This trade paperback from John Flynt and Omar Salem takes a software engineering view of game development, so you get a process-oriented way to think about planning, coding, and finishing a game. It's a Very Good copy with a tight binding and clean covers. At $35.74, it's the most expensive book in this group, but it gives you a strong foundation in how to run a game project like a software project. The trade-off is that it focuses on engineering methodology rather than a specific graphics API or scripting language, so you'll need to pair it with technical manuals if you want to go deep into DirectX or ActionScript.
Beginning Math Concepts for Game Developers
Written by John P. Flynt and Boris Meltreger, this New Edition paperback is all about the math you'll use in game development. It's a Very Good copy with pages that are unmarked, though the cover pages might have limited writing. The format includes a CD-ROM, which is useful if you want a hands-on resource. At $16.08, it's a solid middle-ground price. The limitation is that it's specifically a math book, so it won't teach you animation, DirectX, or general programming patterns. If you already know the math, this won't add much to your game development toolkit.
Advanced Animation with DirectX (Focus on Game Development
Jim Adams wrote this 2003 book to focus on animation using DirectX. It's the most affordable title here at $9.92, which makes it an easy entry point if you want to learn that specific graphics API. The condition is Good, meaning you might see light writing or highlighting, but the pages should be intact. The obvious limitation is the narrow scope: it's about advanced animation with DirectX, not about the entire game development process. You'll want other resources to cover game logic, audio, and production, but for the price, it's a targeted way to learn DirectX animation.
Game Development with ActionScript
Lewis Moronta's trade paperback is dedicated to building games with ActionScript, a scripting language for interactive projects. It's priced at $18.24, which puts it in the middle of this set. The condition is Good; the spine and cover show signs of wear, and pages may include notes, highlighting, or owner inscriptions. The benefit is that the book is focused specifically on ActionScript, so if that's the language you're using, you're getting a relevant tutorial rather than a general overview. The limitation is the same as the DirectX title: it's language-specific, so it won't help you if you're working with a different engine or coding environment.
Final Recommendation
If you want a big-picture understanding of the software engineering side of games, Software Engineering for Game Developers is the one. If you need to brush up on the mathematical foundations, Beginning Math Concepts for Game Developers offers a good balance of condition and price. For a low-cost way into DirectX animation, Advanced Animation with DirectX is the obvious pick. And if ActionScript is your language of choice, Game Development with ActionScript is the focused resource you're looking for.
