Rating: 
Summary: Excellent starting point
Review: For those that are interested in multiplayer game programming, whether beginners or intermediate coders, will enjoy this book. A large section is dedicated to network connections, showing examples in both C and C++. The back half works with DirectX and beyond. This isn't just good reference material but a template to get started.
Rating: 
Summary: The First to Fully Cover DirectX with Direct Play
Review: How many books have you bought for DirectX that "forget" to include Direct Play? I have bought many and every single one either A) Doesnt include Direct Play information or B) Includes very little about it (mainly repeating what is in the SDK documentation.)This book is the first one I have ever read that covers tons of information about Direct Play and making games for the Internet. It's all there: Peer-to-peer, client/server, custom packets, packet queues, synchronization, etc. Even 3D is made amazingly simple to understand. Before reading this book I didnt much like Direct Play. But after seeing how DirectX 8 uses a completely rewritten DPlay system, I am now an advocate of it. DPlay is amazing! It has almost everything you could ask for in a communication API and much more. On that note, I never would have realized how cool DPlay is if I hadnt read this book. The SDK documentation does not come even close to explaining it like this book does. Now that I understand the core of Dplay, I am hoping that Advanced Multiplayer Game Programming will be released. One reason I cant wait is that the author answered my email questions very promptly. Other authors could learn from this guy what customer service should be like for all tech books.
Rating: 
Summary: Really just an intro
Review: I did find this book useful as it covers all the basics of setting up socket and directplay programming and also gives you an overview of Direct3D, DirectSound and DirectInput. Keep in mind that the treatment is superficial and also Barron is not a teacher but a programmer. This means that his way to explain things is just to walk you through some example code telling you what tis code does, but rarely explaining you why it is so and the possible alternatives. It is pretty much like having an experienced co-developer giving you a quick overview of his code to get you into a new project, but not like attending a class or a course. I have to say I might also show little enthusiasm because of the "natural repulsion" I get for any Windows code.
Am I the only one who wonders how a giant company like MS who certalinly has great developers working in it can produce such
downright UGLY design and APIs?
Rating:
Summary: Multiplayer Programming is just the Tip of the Iceberg
Review: I found this book to be amazing. I purchased this book because I wanted to learn more about multiplayer programming, but I soon found out that Barron wanted to assure that his readers had enough knowledge to build a complete game. This book covers the basics behind Direct3d, DirectSound, DirectInput, DirectPlay, as well as windows programming. I got the Direct3D book that many people reccommend, but you have to understand windows programming going in, this book assumes no previous knowledge and teaches you EVERYTHING you need to get started. Sample code is amazing! It all compiles, and even though it IS often duplicated, it is a very helpful approach to including code samples, because when he dulplicates code, he bolds changes in the code so you can sort of see the code being built as he walks you through it. Intermediate C++ experience is reccomended. This is an API book, so you gotta know the basics before coming into it. Personally though, I like a book to explain things to me in detail. Even if I KNOW the material, review is always good, and I find myself nodding with familiarity when reading some of it. Barron's tone is very relaxed, and comical at times to help the read go quicker (it's pretty thick). In the end, you'll have created two online games, a peer-to-peer game, and a server-controlled game (for MMO games). In Short: Easy read, and covers much more than Multiplayer Programming. All good stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for learning multiplayer game programming!
Review: I have been working on my own game projects for a couple of years now and was always confused when it came to implementing network communication within my games. I tried to understand the DirectX SDK documentation but the examples are too confusing. After little more than a couple of hours with this book, everything started to make sense! I love the fact that the writer walks you through each piece of code, step-by-step, without assuming anything. It is true, some of the code is duplicated throughout the book, but I would have been confused otherwise. I would rather have too much code than too little. The sections on Direct3D, DirectInput, and DirectSound are some of my favorites from any book as well. I have read other books dedicated to these subjects but none of them made the subject matter as clear as this book does. Sure, the book is about network communication, but graphics and sound are part of gaming too. Did I mention the book includes a couple of working games as well? Its amazing how many gaming books fail to include working games; thankfully, this book does not let you down. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn how to incorporate multiplayer support into their games or projects.
Rating:
Summary: A great book for beginners and intermediate programmers
Review: I only have 1 semester of C programming under my belt, with no previous exposure to COM or WINAPI programming, but this book has done a great job of helping understand some of these concepts, as well as DirectX and what it is capable of... I am currently about 2/3 of the way through the book and I have been typing out every program example... This has done wonders for my comprehension and understanding of the material. I would recommend this book for anyone who is new to programming and may not understand some of the more advanced concepts (such as operator overloading), but I think it would be good even for intermediate level as well... A great book all-around...
Rating:
Summary: Splendid coverage of multiplayer gaming
Review: I went to the author's site and pulled the following table of contents from the book. Chapter 1 - The History of Online Gaming
Chapter 2 - The Technology of Online Gaming
Chapter 3 - Introduction to Network Communications
Chapter 4 - Sockets Programming
Chapter 5 - Sockets Programming with C++
Chapter 6 - Introduction to Windows Programming
Chapter 7 - Practical Windows Programming
Chapter 8 - Introduction To Direct Play
Chapter 9 - Writing a Peer-to-Peer Application With DPlay Chapter 10 - Writing a Client-Server Application With DPlay
Chapter 11 - Introduction To DirectX Graphics
Chapter 12 - Adding Direct 3D To Your Games
Chapter 13 - Inside Direct Input & Direct Audio
Chapter 14 - Space Pirates, Your First Complete Game
Chapter 15 - MMORPG Design & Implementation
Chapter 16 - Writing The RPGQuest Game Server
Chapter 17 - Writing The RPGQuest Game Client I must say it is the most complete game development book I have ever read. The multiplayer development information starts off at the lowest level of connecting to another computer using sockets and works you all the way up to connecting games together over the internet to play with your friends. With this book, I have updated my projects from school to include network support and 3d graphics. It has been invaluable to my development efforts. If you don't have this book, or are looking for a source to get started with DX 8, you need to buy this one.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for beginners and enthusiasts.
Review: If you're a C++ programmer mainly experienced with UNIX and wanna learn about the Windows API and DirectX along with tips and tricks of game programming. This book is for you! Great guide to both windows and game programming.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic for me.
Review: My position was, I had done some C++ for a few weeks, and wanted to move onto bigger things. Windows programs, networking, multiplayer games all interested me. This book helped me understand all the above. I like the amusing comments, cartoons and the way the book is styled. It keeps me interested and never bores me. Overall a fantastic read and I personally, learned a lot without the pain, maybe not for the super-advanced programmer, but great if you havn't been doing C++ for 20 years.
Rating:
Summary: BEST BOOK EVER
Review: This book is the best book ever if you want to make games that are to be played over the internet or network. You dont even know how to program!!!! (although it does help alot). It will teach you from the ground up how to make games accross networks. GET THIS BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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