Which beginners book?

[seerex]

Hi there, i'm currently looking into being rather good at c++. My main goal here is to be able to create games - mainly RPG or those web-based turn games like mafia wars etc - assuming this is all possible with c++?

Anywhoo, i bought this book.http://www.amazon.com/All-One-Desk-Reference-Dummies/dp/0764517953/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302526138&sr=1-2

And so far i've read about 12% of it, and i now have a decent understanding of variables, if-else situations, and currently looking into loops and functions which i find a bit harder.

Though i was thinking of getting this http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Through-Game-Programming-Third/dp/1435457420/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302526194&sr=1-1

It might be more specefic for what im going to do, and on top of that it claims you create small projects for each chapter to sum up what you've learned, and then finish with a major project covering all in the book.

Keep in mind, i have no prior c++ experience :) so which book would you recommend? any usefull inputs are greatly appriciated, may they cover this topic or another :)

thanks on advance and best regards.

[matsom]

On 'Dummies': not sure, I haven't read/browse through it
On Beginning: fairly gentle introduction to STL and OOP (and cheaper too!) -but isn't really useful if you want to do graphical stuff (SC2 or FF or etc)

recommendation for game programming book? I'll leave it to the real experts/enthusiasts :D

[z05DSL3A]

C++ Primer
By Stanley B. Lippman, Josée Lajoie, and Barbara E. Moo
http://www.amazon.co.uk/C-Primer-Stanley-B-Lippman/dp/0201721481/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302529120&sr=1-1-catcorr

[sasanet]

Bjarne Stroustrup. "C++ progmaing language"
the best

[z05DSL3A]

I would not say that 'The C++ Programming Language' is a good book for beginners.

It is a good book and I can't wait for the four edition.

[seerex]

hm not really gaining that much from this chaps, even the c++ primer is not considered a book for the absolute beginner : / thanks for trying though :)

[Stupebrett]

In my opinion this book is pretty good: http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Second-Guides-McGraw-Hill/dp/0072232153

[z05DSL3A]

How about:
Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++
by Bjarne Stroustrup
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Programming-Principles-Practice-Developers-Library/dp/0321543726/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302529843&sr=1-1

[seerex]

They look pretty decent :) no one's got any info on how the c++ through game programming might be? currently my first goal is just to make a consol-text-based rpg, and my later ultimate goal would be an rpg with graphics and web-based text games.

For that i need to learn c++ ofc, and since i'm much into gaming i just thought that c++ game book would be good, and it says its for the absolute beginner? maybe they're just selling it though :)

[blackcoder41]

How about C++ How to Program by Deitel and Deitel.
http://www.deitel.com/Books/C/CHowtoProgram7e/tabid/3472/Default.aspx

I think it's good for the absolute beginner.

[z05DSL3A]

seerex,

I can't say anything specifically about 'Beginning C++ Through Game Programming' but I have seem the likes of it and I have never been overly impressed with them. I feel they miss out or gloss over areas, you may feel like you are making good headway but there may well be large gaps in your understanding. It is kind of like learning to drive by going to a rally school.

NB: Opinions are not fact, I'm always interested in hearing others opinions.

[Stupebrett]

You don't need to read a book specifically about game programming. Any good programming book will do, because you will later understand how to piece the game together by using what you've learned.

[blackcoder41]

I agree with Grey Wolf. Also from my experience, game programming is all about Math and Physics anyway.

[edit]
Uhm about the math thing, maybe that depends on what you as an individual and a programmer want to tackle. And how high and low level you wanna go.