This book gives novice coders an understanding of the methods and techniques used in professional games development. Projects are designed to help develop and strengthen problem solving and basic C/C++ skills. This book also helps develop familiarity with Microsoft Visual Studio’s ability to target and use fixed/restricted hardware, which are key skills in console development.

This book allows readers to increase their confidence as game programmers by walking them through increasingly involved game concepts, while maintaining the understanding that despite the increased complexity, the core methods remain consistent with the advancement of the technology. It also demonstrates underlying principles and some pitfalls of game coding, in practical, step‑by‑step ways, to increase exposure and confidence in game coding concepts and technical advances.

This second edition has been fully updated in line with recent hardware changes, with new and updated cross platform code examples hosted at the companion website, which can also be compiled and run on a standard Windows PC, without a target system if the user does not have one readily available.

This book will be useful to all novice coders seeking to learn the fundamentals of C/ C++ game programming.

The companion material for this book is available at http://www.scratchpadgames.net.