Michael Abrash's Graphics Programming Black Book (Special Edition)

Michael Abrash's Graphics Programming Black Book (Special Edition), 9781576101742 (1576101746), Coriolis Group Books, 1997

Michael Abrash's Graphics Programming Black Book is a collection of the author's previous books on assembly language and graphics programming, as well as past columns for Dr. Dobb's magazine. Though much of the book (such as 8088/286/386 assembly language optimization and VGA graphics programming) is out-of-date by now, the reader can see some of the larger tendencies in the author's work over the years--a reliance on profiling in order to test code, and creative thinking to improve performance wherever possible. This text features assembler optimization for a variety of problems including searching algorithms, and records the author's approaches to optimizing code for the evolving line of Intel CPUs, from the 8088 on to the early Pentium lines. The last few chapters of this book are more relevant, and include a series of explorations of some of the technology behind the popular Doom and Quake 3-D games by id Corporation (where the author worked). Optimized solutions to 3-D graphics problems from texture mapping, hidden surface removal, and Binary Space Partitioning (BSP) trees are explained. Current gaming and 3-D technology, such as Direct3D and VRML is left out, but it's clear that game programmers like the author will continue to push the limits of current hardware technology in inventive ways. This book is clearly targeted at game developers and serious assembly language programmers, not for the general reader.

Comments

Amazing Books

XBOX 360 Forensics: A Digital Forensics Guide to Examining Artifacts

Syngress Publishing, 2011

Game consoles have evolved to become complex computer systems that may contain evidence to assist in a criminal investigation. From networking capabilities to chat, voicemail, streaming video and email, the game consoles of today are unrecognizable from complex computer systems. With over 10 million XBOX 360s sold in the United States the...

Dominicans, Muslims and Jews in the Medieval Crown of Aragon

Cambridge University Press, 2009

With their active apostolate of preaching and teaching, Dominican friars were important promoters of Latin Christianity in the borderlands of medieval Spain and North Africa. Historians have long assumed that their efforts to convert or persecute non-Christian populations played a major role in worsening relations between Christians, Muslims and...

MCTS: Microsoft Windows Vista Client Configuration Study Guide: Exam 70-620

Sybex, 2007

Get in-depth preparation for Microsoft's new MCTS: Windows Vista exam.

With the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft is introducing a new job-skills Windows Vista certification. The MCTS: Windows Vista Client Configuration exam (70-620) serves as both a one-exam certification for the Technology Specialist certification track...

HF Filter Design and Computer Simulation

Noble Publishing, 1994

A book for engineers who design and build filters of all types, including lumped element, coaxial, helical, dielectric resonator, stripline and microstrip types. A thorough review of classic and modern filter design techniques, containing extensive practical design information of passband characteristics, topologies and transformations,...

Mobile Device Game Development (Game Development Series)

Charles River, 2004

Mobile Device Game Development explores game development tools and practices for the rapidly growing mobile device market. The text uses the AppForge® MobileVB SDK and Paint Shop Pro® in conjunction with Visual Basic® to create games that can be played on numerous mobile game devices(e.g., Palm, Nokia, and PocketPC). The book and...

The Automotive Chassis: Volume 1: Components Design (Mechanical Engineering Series)

Springer, 2009

The aim of the book is to be a reference book in automotive technology, as far as automotive chassis (i.e. everything that is inside a vehicle except the engine and the body) is concerned. The book is a result of a decade of work heavily sponsored by the FIAT group (who supplied material, together with other automotive companies, and sponsored...