13 replies to this topic

[round]

Hello, I have some questions.


Are these two books for GameMaker 8.0? Thanks.
http://www.apress.com/9781590596159
http://www.apress.com/9781430228264

I also want to know whether the books sold on Amazon are for GameMaker 8.0? Thanks again.
http://www.amazon.co...t/dp/1590596153
http://www.amazon.co...d/dp/1430228261


Finally, I want to know whether there will be a third GameMaker book. I think that a lot of GM users are looking forward to a third book. What topics should the third book talk about?

[Futhark]

Hi there.

I'm currently reading, and doing the sample programs in "The Game Maker's Apprentice" book by Habgood & Overmars, and am using GM8.1

I can't recommend it enough, it's a great book, and so easy to read and follow. I am actually learning something here!

Am currently just about to finish chapter 4 (Page 84) and have not had any issues with anything not working. The only thing I've seen being different in v8.1 are some of the windows either have more options or an option may be placed slightly differently in the window but the logic of the programming is sound, and therefore beneficial.

I also have the second book and already know that with these two books, along with the excellent and helpful GMC forum, I can not fail in using GM

[round]

Hi there.

I'm currently reading, and doing the sample programs in "The Game Maker's Apprentice" book by Habgood & Overmars, and am using GM8.1



I also have the second book and already know that with these two books, along with the excellent and helpful GMC forum, I can not fail in using GM

Yes...I believe that you will not fail in using GM...SURE..!!!!!


May I ask a question? Were your two books purchased from Amazon? Or pdf books from Apress? Thanks..!

Moreover, your two books are new editions for GM 8.0 or old editions for GM7.0? Thanks again.!!!

[Futhark]

...May I ask a question? Were your two books purchased from Amazon? Or pdf books from Apress? Thanks..!

Amazon as physical books, with paper pages

I don't care for e-books

I like to take notes and scribble in the margins, and use an actual physical book-mark.

Moreover, your two books are new editions for GM 8.0 or old editions for GM7.0? Thanks again.!!!

The first book I got back in 2007, that's the one I am going through right now. I believe it covers GMv6 (and 7 ?) as all the references seem to hint at it being v6 (or at least the file extensions, *.gm6).

As I said, I have not bumped into any issues with incompatibilities using that book with my registered GM8.1

The second book is as up to date as possible (well ... up to an including gm8 ?) I am mainly looking forward to the last section of it, the pirates game as that introduces you to a "different way" of using sprites, almost like shadow puppetry.

I don't know if either book has been edited, to reflect any changes/additions, since their first publication years. Maybe they are both "first editions" i.e. without any new changes, or perhaps there have been other editions since they first came out. It is quite possible, though I have no idea about that. I do know that the aPress site has a special section for their books where you can look up changes to code or the actual full code, and other changes which the authors may have posted, though I have not looked at if these two books in particular offer that on the aPress site. It is easy enough to contact not only aPress or the authors about this, if you are in dire need of knowing if they have updated their books.

BTW Both of my books are "first editions".

[round]

...May I ask a question? Were your two books purchased from Amazon? Or pdf books from Apress? Thanks..!

I don't know if either book has been edited, to reflect any changes/additions, since their first publication years. Maybe they are both "first editions" i.e. without any new changes, or perhaps there have been other editions since they first came out. It is quite possible, though I have no idea about that. I do know that the aPress site has a special section for their books where you can look up changes to code or the actual full code, and other changes which the authors may have posted, though I have not looked at if these two books in particular offer that on the aPress site. It is easy enough to contact not only aPress or the authors about this, if you are in dire need of knowing if they have updated their books.

BTW Both of my books are "first editions".

Hello, I understand now. Thanks a lot.!!!!!

I want to buy these two books since I want to write some very professional good games...yes..!!!!

I think that I will learn a lot from the books..!

[Enoch11223344]

I also want to know if there is going to be a third book. I hope that there is.

[Yal]

Hmm... mentioning Professor Overmars? I was pretty sure Smarty was the author behind those books... at least the second one.

I think the main reason there hasn't been another book yet is that once you get advanced enough you should start to make "the games you want to play" instead of following tutorials... and it might be hard for the authors to put the bar at the correct level, how advanced games they should cover in a third book. At an "advanced level" there's suddenly loads of different game genres (RPG, Metroivania, FPS, Puzzle, Danmaku...) that could fit in, and each one of them would need a book on its own! You might have noticed that the first book covers more, but smaller games, while the second one covers less games but in greater detail? More advanced games need more information to be fully conveyed just because they are more complex.

[Smarty]

Hmm... mentioning Professor Overmars? I was pretty sure Smarty was the author behind those books... at least the second one.

The driving force behind both books is Jacob (Jake) Habgood. Mark collaborated on the first book, he didn't have time for the second. The second book is a collaboration between 4 authors, of which I am one. My participation was relatively minor compared to the others (one big chapter).

At this point I'm unsure if or when we're going to revise the books to reflect the latest version, we have not yet spoken about it. I can't speak for Jake, Nana and Kevin, but I currently have some reservations. Despite the differences, the books can be used quite well with the current version of GameMaker. And the speed with which changes are following each other in GameMaker quickly makes any revision outdated. For example we're currently looking at GM Studio, which is two steps up the ladder already, but I have no idea how they will do with GameMaker 9 (which I understand is due somewhere within a year). Doing a revision at this point may either be too soon or too late.

As for a third book... I've got plenty ideas and the new export possibilities have only made it more interesting, although I think it would make sense to wait for GM9. But it's really up to Jake to see if the series will continue, and who will collaborate on that. Even if I was considered, I'm unsure if I could participate. Like the other authors I am fully employed so it's work in spare time, which for me personally has become so sparse that in order to do it, it must become financially rewarding enough to be able to drop something from my regular job. Considering how heavily pirated the Companion was (I'll blame its theme), I'm afraid this isn't going to happen.

Edited by Smarty, 26 April 2012 - 12:05 PM.

[round]

The driving force behind both books is Jacob (Jake) Habgood. Mark collaborated on the first book, he didn't have time for the second. The second book is a collaboration between 4 authors, of which I am one. My participation was relatively minor compared to the others (one big chapter).


As for a third book... I've got plenty ideas and the new export possibilities have only made it more interesting, although I think it would make sense to wait for GM9. But it's really up to Jake to see if the series will continue, and who will collaborate on that. Even if I was considered, I'm unsure if I could participate. Like the other authors I am fully employed so it's work in spare time, which for me personally has become so sparse that in order to do it, it must become financially rewarding enough to be able to drop something from my regular job. Considering how heavily pirated the Companion was (I'll blame its theme), I'm afraid this isn't going to happen.

Hello, I understand now. Thanks for your explanation..!


"Considering how heavily pirated the Companion was (I'll blame its theme)," <---- Don't sell PDF version. Only sell books in Amazon. I think that this problem will be solved.!


" I'm afraid this isn't going to happen." <---- Please persuade Jacob (Jake) Habgood not to abandon the plan of a third book.

[round]

I also want to know if there is going to be a third book. I hope that there is.

Yes..! Sure.!


My suggestions:


The third book can be about the techniques of making board games, card games, puzzle games, etc. Also talks about different modern programming skills for artificial intellegence..!


The fourth book should be about skills in making games for IOS, Android and HTML5. Also talks about skills in marketing, promotion, selling games for different platforms.!

This book can also include the experiences of YoYo Games selling IOS games in Apple's App Store. Many GM users will be interested..!

and it might be hard for the authors to put the bar at the correct level, how advanced games they should cover in a third book.

Hi, I agree..!


I hope that these authors will continue writing books for us.
Their books help many many people to learn GM.!!!


I also think that GM users can write down what they want in the third book in this thread. Then the authors will have more ideas for the third book...!

[Smarty]

Don't sell PDF version. Only sell books in Amazon. I think that this problem will be solved.!

Yes, we knew the risk well in advance. However, it was a requirement for this book to be available in PDF because digital books are quickly replacing old-school (sic) text books in educational institutes.

I was personally hoping the GM user base to be a bit more supportive, but I'll admit that this has been disappointing.

[chance]

I was personally hoping the GM user base to be a bit more supportive...

Ironically, that "support" might actually reduce your sales. Since the GMC provides good (free) support with Q&A and tutorials, many new users who might otherwise buy a book don't need to.

I suspect the availability of useful (and free) information on the internet has reduced "how-to" book sales in many fields. I've read that sales of dictionaries, thesaurus, and encyclopedias have been hit hard. That probably includes other reference and how-to books too.

Difficult times for traditional (and even digital) publishers of that type of material.
.

Edited by chance, 27 April 2012 - 10:48 AM.

[Smarty]

Ironically, that "support" might actually reduce your sales. Since the GMC provides good (free) support with Q&A and tutorials, many new users who might otherwise buy a book don't need to.

We were talking piracy here. What I mean with support is a user base who actually buys the books they read.

I also think you somewhat underestimate the added value of a book versus pulling your information from the Internet. Yes, there is quality information on the Internet and most of it is free, and unlike a book it can be very interactive. But unless you're pulling your information from a single site or a single author, it's often not very contiguous, there is hardly a leading theme that guides your learning from A to Z, and it's difficult to discern who the voices are that actually matter. It also doesn't get the kind of editorial reviews and after-publishing that usually goes into books.

I've read that sales of dictionaries, thesaurus, and encyclopedias have been hit hard. That probably includes other reference and how-to books too.

I'm unsure if you can lump the two together, because dictionaries, thesaurus and encyclopedia are rather ad-hoc. So are how-to's, unless they are part of a longer story.

The series by Jake, by the way, aren't strictly how-to. They aren't even books about Game Maker, even though Game Maker is the tool in use. What I've noticed from my cooperation with Jake is that he is a game designer first, and a programmer second (maybe even third). There is actually quite some elementary game design theory in both books, it's just that he doesn't stop to spend chapters on it but rather jumps straight into the development and then teaches it along the way.

[chance]

I also think you somewhat underestimate the added value of a book versus pulling your information from the Internet. <snip>

I wasn't commenting on the value of books. I completely agree that books (both hard cover and digital) have advantages over dispersed, piece-meal internet information. But even though that information is often inferior, the internet (and user forums) are competing with certain types of book sales.

It's a challenge facing authors and publishers today. Of course, the answer is to keep improving books and to go beyond what readers can get online. I hope you and your colleagues can do that.