Cocoa Desktop Games Book (was Cocoa Puzzle Games Book)

[BeyondCloister]

At the end of last year I started writing a book on writing puzzle games using Cocoa, Objective-C and Project Builder.

The book covers a cut down version of Chromacell, a simple card game and a version of the paper game battleships.

A size able chunk of the book has been completed so far but there is still a lot of work to do.

The reason for this post was to get some feedback to see if there is a demand for such a book and should I return to finishing it or should I just leave it.

Thanks.

[Zwilnik]

sounds like a really good idea as an entry level Cocoa games programming book (especially if it starts with some really simple puzzle games).

[NCarter]

I agree with Zwilnik - it would be nice to see some simple game-related Cocoa tutorials. You might even be able to get me coding in Cocoa!

Do you have a potential publisher yet?

[BeyondCloister]

No publisher yet - that is the main area that has put me off taking it further. If anyone happens to be on first name terms with a publisher then drop me an email.

The aim is to make it as simple as possible with it more being about the game ideas and logic rather than stuff like quick drawing and stuff needed for action games.

It is a known fact that a subject is learnt quicker if it is enjoyable and that is the idea of simple puzzle games which then build up into something bigger.

[BeyondCloister]

This news item from Publishers Weekly (http://publishersweekly.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA322983&publication=publishersweekly) would seem to indicate that things are looking good for Mac books.

All I need now is to get mine written and published before the bubble bursts :?:


I notice that a lot of people have viewed this thread but there has not been many posts. Does this mean that people are not really interested in my proposed book or am I safe to assume that no news is good news?

[Steven]

I'm one of those in the 'watching and waiting' category. I think it's a great idea, but I'm not sure that I personally would buy it. But it'd be great for others.

[NCarter]

Maybe you should post a poll to see if people are interested.

[BeyondCloister]

NCarter,

I had originally thought about doing a poll, but I was a bit wary after the voter fatigue from the last poll I raised where there where about 25 votes out of over 180 views.

[Bjoernke]

don't look at the viewcount too much, its not a real measuere about how many ppl have looked at the thread, for example this is the third time i have looked at the thread.

I am not really interested in a puzzle book, but im neither a puzzle gamer nor a puzzle developer, so i don't count :)

[diordna]

Ever heard of nsNet? Now THERE's a great Cocoa puzzle game. Try VersionTracker.

[BeyondCloister]

I have decided to proceed with my book plan due to suddenly finding myself with a lot of spare time on my hands.

I am looking for a couple of people who would like to help me out by taking a look and working though what I have done so far.

This is your chance of fame by appearing the acknowledgments part of the book :)

[Josh]

What would being a beta tester entail?

[BeyondCloister]

Jabber,

What I had in mind was someone who would work their way through the example code in the book.

Ideally I'm looking for some one who is wanting to start learning Cocoa or just a beginner. This would allow me to judge on how well I have targeted what I have done.

I'm also looking for someone who knows what they are doing so they can point out any obvious mistakes I've made.

I must stress that the current content is still a first draft with the intention of going through to polish it up.

[Leisure Suit Lurie]

I'll try. Bear in mind, I'm half an idiot. If I can get it, it must be good.

[BeyondCloister]

Here is the card game, Patience, that the book shows you how to write. The version provided here is from near the end of the project.

You can download the game from http://www.cloisterroom.com/Patience.zip.

[AGhost]

I'm just new at programming in general, so If you need a very beginner level tester, I'll volenteer.

Very Beginner= I don't even know a programming language :blush:

So if thats what you want, drop me a line! (sgreenlay@gmail.com)

AGhost

[FreakSoftware]

Hey Andrew, if you're still in need of a publisher kind of deal (everything online... none of that store shelf crap with you getting no money and possibly losing a lot) I know an author/friend who's written a few computer books the traditional way and has found a path to do future books on his own etc...

[Duane]

I'd love to beta test, i'm a mediocre programer. hint: include some OpenGL in the book, as well as your CG stuff.

[EvolPenguin]

If you still need testers, I'll go through it.

Alex

[BeyondCloister]

I'd love to beta test, i'm a mediocre programer. hint: include some OpenGL in the book, as well as your CG stuff.

Sorry to disappoint you, but there will be no OpenGL in the book. You don't need OpenGL to be able to write fun desktop games.

Testing is on hold at the moment due to a rewrite and other commitments.

[BeyondCloister]

Sorry to say that I have decided to take this project no further. I've stopped as my return on the time I would have to invest in the project is so low that it is a very bad business case for me to continue.

[BeyondCloister]

Due to the evils of out sourcing it turns out I may end up with a large amount of free time on my hands. Depending on motivation levels, it may be that further work will be done and the book finished after all.

[socksy]

I may buy it depending on how it's worth on the money front, if it's £20 for a book with about 1.5cm deph, then I wouldn't buy it because I have better things to buy. However, if it is an extensive book - explaining from scratch the innings (not too detailed) of cocoa in use for a card game, -like many pc books are- and is around 3.25cm - I may buy it. Though it would be more likely that I won't buy it if it isn't going to be just over a tenner anyway...

[Fruity]

I might upgrade to Panther in the near future, and this is a kind of book that I could be interested in buying. I've not yet decided, but I'll either start programming in Cocoa or BlitzBasic (Very different languages, I know.)

Just wanted to let you know, in case you could need some more motivation. :)

[PowerMacX]

I might upgrade to Panther in the near future [...]

Shouldn't you upgrade to Tiger instead? :blink:

[socksy]

Not if panther is cheaper than tiger on ebay, and you can get the features in tiger in panther with a bit of effort. Not the opengl stuff, but the rest. Including GCC 4.0 . I've said too much now, I shut up.

[Fruity]

Not if panther is cheaper than tiger on ebay, and you can get the features in tiger in panther with a bit of effort. Not the opengl stuff, but the rest. Including GCC 4.0 . I've said too much now, I shut up.

!

Panther can be had used for $10 if you're lucky. I've seen many of them go for $15.

Tiger will cost me a lot more, especially since I would need a bootable external DVD-drive.

Panther will be a huge upgrade from Jaguar, performance wise.

[Josh]

Not if panther is cheaper than tiger on ebay, and you can get the features in tiger in panther with a bit of effort. Not the opengl stuff, but the rest. Including GCC 4.0 . I've said too much now, I shut up.
:blink:


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