The Video Game Theory Reader 2 picks up where the first Video Game Theory Reader (Routledge, 2003) left off, with a group of leading scholars turning their attention to next-generation platforms-the Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360-and to new issues in the rapidly expanding field of video games studies. The contributors are some of the most renowned scholars working on video games today including Henry Jenkins, Jesper Juul, Eric Zimmerman, and Mia Consalvo. While the first volume had a strong focus on early video games, this volume also addresses more contemporary issues such as convergence and MMORPGs. The volume concludes with an appendix of nearly 40 ideas and concepts from a variety of theories and disciplines that have been usefully and insightfully applied to the study of video games.

The Video Game Explosion: A History from PONG to PlayStation and Beyond traces the growth of a global phenomenon that has become an integral part of popular culture today. All aspects of video games and gaming culture are covered inside this engaging reference, including the leading video game innovators, the technological advances that made the games of the late 1970s and those of today possible, the corporations that won and lost billions of dollars pursing this lucrative market, arcade culture, as well as the demise of free-standing video consoles and the rise of home-based and hand-held gaming devices.

In the United States alone, the video game industry raked in an astonishing $12.5 billion last year, and shows no signs of slowing. Once dismissed as a fleeting fad of the young and frivolous, this booming industry has not only proven its staying power, but promises to continue driving the future of new media and emerging technologies. Today video games have become a limitless and multifaceted medium through which Fortune 50 corporations and Hollywood visionaries alike are reaching broader global audiences and influencing cultural trends at a rate unmatched by any other media.

This edition discusses current, practical rendering methods used in games and other applications. It also presents a solid theoretical framework and relevant mathematics for the field of interactive computer graphics, all in an approachable style.
Price=$61.68
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:22 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/real-time.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/real-time.htm
Today millions of people around the world are playing video games at any given time. From Pong to Playstation 2 and beyond, Understanding Video Games is the first general introduction to the burgeoning field of video game studies-it traces the history of the medium, introduces the major theories developed to analyze video games, examines the core elements of game design, and addresses the major debates surrounding the medium.

Authored by members of the Center for Computer Games Research, described by The New York Times as the "hub" of game studies research, this book is essential reading for scholars, gaming enthusiasts, aspiring game designers, and anyone interested in understanding the ways video games are reshaping popular culture and entertainment.
Price=$26.62
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:22 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/understanding.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/understanding.htm
The enormous popularity of the Nintendo Wii, Guitar Hero, and smaller games like Bejeweled or Zuma has turned the stereotype of the obsessed young male gamer on its head. Players of these casual games are not required to possess an intimate knowledge of video game history or to devote weeks or months to play. At the same time, many players of casual games show a dedication and skill that is anything but casual. In A Casual Revolution, Jesper Juul describes this as a reinvention of video games, and of our image of video game players, and explores what this tells us about the players, the games, and their interaction.

With this reinvention of video games, the game industry reconnects with a general audience. Many of today's casual game players once enjoyed Pac-Man, Tetris, and other early games, only to drop out when video games became more time consuming and complex. For a long time, video games asked players to structure their lives to fit the demands of a game; with casual games, it is the game that is designed to fit into the lives of players. These flexible games make it possible for everyone to be a video game player.

Juul shows that it is only by understanding what a game requires of players, what players bring to a game, how the game industry works, and how video games have developed historically that we can understand what makes video games fun and why we choose to play (or not to play) them.
Price=$16.47
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:23 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/a-casual.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/a-casual.htm
In this fully revised and updated Second Edition, you'll discover the very latest information about living in Second Life—from how to enter the world, get started, and get around, to the many exciting new ways you can earn real-world incomes, meet other residents, and enjoy all there is to do.   Authored by Second Life experts with contributions from Linden Lab employees and Second Life residents, it’s the perfect companion for anyone who wants to create his or her own reality in Second Life. Includes a CD.
Price=$23.09
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:23 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/second-life.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/second-life.htm
Practical, complete coverage of game design basics from design process to production

This full-color, structured coursebook offers complete coverage of game design basics, focusing on design rather than computer programming. Packed with exercises, assignments, and step-by-step instructions, it starts with an overview of design theory, then progresses to design processes, and concludes with coverage of design production.

Jim Thompson, Barnaby Berbank-Green, and Nic Cusworth (London, UK) are computer game designers and lecturers in animation and computer game design.
Price=$31.50
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:23 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/game-design-3.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/game-design-3.htm
Computer role-playing games (CRPGs) are a special genre of computer games that bring the tabletop role-playing experience of games such as Dungeons & Dragons to the computer screen. This genre includes classics such as Ultima and The Bard's Tale as well as more modern games such as World of Warcraft and Guild Wars.

Written in an engaging style for both the computer game enthusiast and the more casual computer game player, this book explores the history of the genre by telling the stories of the developers, games, and gamers who created it.
Price=$31.20
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:24 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/dungeons-and.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/dungeons-and.htm
An Introduction to Game Studies is a core textbook for game studies as an academic discipline, and is the comprehensive guide to the field. It introduces the student to the history and character of games studies as an analytical study of games in culture, and then moves to provide an overview of games as signifying and dynamic cultural constructs. This book shows how to analyze games by introducing the core analytical concepts in the contexts of games and game cultures of four periods. It covers the prehistory of games, the 70s, 80s, and 90s and also contemporary developments. Students will be introduced to both the theoretical core and the essential genres and classics of the subject.

Price=$38.65
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:25 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/an-2.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/an-2.htm
The Official Halo 2 Guide: Strategy Evolved
Developed on-site at Bungie studios and written by the elite Piggyback team, this guide includes an encyclopedic appraisal of Halo 2's multiplayer mode; a full, highly accessible walkthrough for the epic Campaign mode; and everything on basic play, all in one book.
The product of over four months of writing, research, and design, this guide includes:
·Detailed annotated maps: outwit multiplayer opponents with your intimate knowledge of level architecture
·Study all features of multiplayer maps, from power-up locations to "secret" areas, attack routes, and more
·Includes and exhaustive rundown of preset and custom game types—design your own multiplayer match and attract the best crowd
·Features hundreds of digital screenshots to illustrate key points
·Packed with tips, tactics, and techniques from the Bungie team
·Learn about every adversary, vehicle, and weapon—their strengths and shortcomings and how you can exploit these
·Confidently negotiate the huge Campaign mode with our exclusive maps and step-by-step walkthrough
·Designed to enhance the Halo 2 experience for newcomers and Halo: Combat Evolved veterans alike
Price=$16.98
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:25 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/halo-2-the.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/halo-2-the.htm
Redefine the way you look at video games and how they relate to you and your children! "Play the Game: The Parent's Guide to Video Games" explores how electronic games can be used to strengthen communication between parents and children as well as revolutionize the way we live. Written in an accessible style and language, Play the Game is perfect for any parent, from those who are unfamiliar with video games to those who are active gamers themselves. Through interviews and analysis with experts and families like yours, you'll discover how to use games to enhance parent-child and family relationships, for education, and as a career path. Provides parents with: - A comprehensive guide to the video games currently available on the market including ratings, genre, intended audience, and educational use - Tips, research, and advice from game developers, educators, psychologists, parents, and teens - Information on game development as a career, including examples of higher education programs and how to start building important skill-sets - A listing of useful additional references so that readers can continue to explore the role of video games in today’s society Discover new ways to connect with your children through video games with "Play the Game!"
Price=$15.84
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:26 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/play-the-game.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/play-the-game.htm
Get ready to build a complete, professional-quality 2D game engine from start to finish! "Advanced 2D Game Development" is your comprehensive guide to 2D game development using DirectX in the C++ programming language. Each chapter of the book covers one major component of the game engine, including 2D and 3D rendering, DirectInput, FMOD audio, game math, multi-threading, Lua scripting, and more, and the game engine is built upon chapter by chapter. Through the creation of the game engine, you’ll learn step by step how to write solid code for multiple compilers, adding to the code as you work through each chapter. And every chapter includes an example game that illustrates the new techniques being taught. Perfect for game programming students and professionals alike, this book is your ultimate guide to awesome 2D game development.
Price=$26.40
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:26 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/advanced-2d.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/advanced-2d.htm
For many players, games are entertainment, diversion, relaxation, fantasy. But what if certain games were something more than this, providing not only outlets for entertainment but a means for creative expression, instruments for conceptual thinking, or tools for social change? In Critical Play, artist and game designer Mary Flanagan examines alternative games—games that challenge the accepted norms embedded within the gaming industry—and argues that games designed by artists and activists are reshaping everyday game culture.

Flanagan provides a lively historical context for critical play through twentieth-century art movements, connecting subversive game design to subversive art: her examples of "playing house" include Dadaist puppet shows and The Sims; her discussion of language play includes puns, palindromes, Yoko Ono's Instruction Paintings, and Jenny Holzer's messages in LED. Flanagan also looks at artists' alternative computer-based games, examining projects from Persuasive Games and Gonazalo Frasca and other games created through the use of interventionist strategies in the design process. And she explores games for change, considering the way activist concerns—among them Darfur, worldwide poverty, and AIDS—can be incorporated into game design.

Arguing that this kind of conscious practice—which now constitutes the avant-garde of the computer game medium—can inspire new working methods for designers, Flanagan offers a model for designing that will encourage the subversion of popular gaming tropes through new styles of game making, and proposes a theory of alternate game design that focuses on the reworking of contemporary popular game practices.
Price=$19.77
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:26 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/critical-play.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/critical-play.htm
Despite the emergence of computer games as a dominant cultural industry (and the accompanying emergence of computer games as the subject of scholarly research), we know little or nothing about the ethics of computer games. Considerations of the morality of computer games seldom go beyond intermittent portrayals of them in the mass media as training devices for teenage serial killers. In this first scholarly exploration of the subject, Miguel Sicart addresses broader issues about the ethics of games, the ethics of playing the games, and the ethical responsibilities of game designers. He argues that computer games are ethical objects, that computer game players are ethical agents, and that the ethics of computer games should be seen as a complex network of responsibilities and moral duties. Players should not be considered passive amoral creatures; they reflect, relate, and create with ethical minds. The games they play are ethical systems, with rules that create gameworlds with values at play.

Drawing on concepts from philosophy and game studies, Sicart proposes a framework for analyzing the ethics of computer games as both designed objects and player experiences. After presenting his core theoretical arguments and offering a general theory for understanding computer game ethics, Sicart offers case studies examining single-player games (using Bioshock as an example), multiplayer games (illustrated by Defcon), and online gameworlds (illustrated by World of Warcraft) from an ethical perspective. He explores issues raised by unethical content in computer games and its possible effect on players and offers a synthesis of design theory and ethics that could be used as both analytical tool and inspiration in the creation of ethical gameplay.
Price=$28.63
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:27 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/the-ethics-of.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/the-ethics-of.htm
Professional XNA(r) Programming

Building Games for Xbox 360(r) and Windows(r)with XNA Game Studio 2.0, 2nd Edition

This improved and updated edition of the bestseller will get you up and running quickly with building games for Xbox 360 and the Windows platform. Professional game developer and Microsoft MVP Benjamin Nitschke begins by explaining how to install the free XNA Game Studio 2.0 and then goes on to share essential advice for using it in a productive way.

Before you know it, each successive chapter will have you developing small games that increase in difficulty. By using the chapters as building blocks, you'll evolve from 2D programming to 3D, and you'll ultimately create a full-blown graphics engine that can be used for more advanced game projects. Plus, you'll get an inside look at six fully functional games, including the popular Racing Game and the new Dungeon Quest.

What you will learn from this book
*

Tips for adding music and sound with XACT
*

Techniques for creating unique visual effects through Shaders
*

Ways to access keyboard, mouse, and Xbox controllers with XInput
*

How to write your own XNA graphics engine and create a game engine
*

How to manage content in XNA
*

Myriad ways of fine-tuning, debugging, and troubleshooting
*

How to make sure games run on the Xbox 360
*

Ways to generate landscapes and tracks
*

How to take advantage of XNA's new networking APIs

Who this book is for

This book is for anyone who wants to create games on the Xbox 360 and Windows platforms. Experience with C# or a similar .NET language is necessary, but previous game programming is not required.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.
Price=$29.19
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:28 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/professional.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/professional.htm

Since the beginning of time, the angelic hosts of the High Heavens and the demonic hordes of the Burning Hells have been locked in a struggle for the fate of all Creation. That struggle has now come to the mortal realm...and neither Man nor Demon nor Angel will be left unscathed....

Legend speaks of a long-dead city known as Ureh, thought by many to have been a gateway to the High Heavens. It is believed that every two thousand years, when the stars align and the shadow of Mount Nymyr falls upon the ruins, Ureh is reborn -- and all its lost riches are revealed to those brave enough to seek them out.

Now, after a lifetime of research and intense calculation, the Vizjerei sorcerer, Quov Tsin, has come to witness Ureh's rebirth for himself. But that which awaits Tsin and his hired band of mercenaries is nothing like what they expected. They will find that the dream of radiant Ureh is, in fact, a twisted nightmare of horror -- one that will draw them inexorably into
The Kingdom of Shadow

An original tale of swords, sorcery, and timeless struggle based on the bestselling, award-winning M-rated computer game from Blizzard Entertainment. Intended for mature readers.
Price=$7.99
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:29 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/kingdom-of.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/kingdom-of.htm
Welcome to ShaderX6, the latest volume in the cutting-edge, indispensable series for game and graphics programmers. This all-new volume is packed with a collection of insightful techniques, innovative approaches to common problems, and practical tools and tricks that provide you with a complete shader programming toolbox. Every article was developed from the research and experiences of industry pros and edited by shader experts, resulting in unbiased coverage of all hardware and developer tools. ShaderX6: Advanced Rendering Techniques provides coverage of the vertex and pixel shader methods used in high-end graphics and game development. These state-of-the-art, ready-to-use solutions will help you meet your everyday programming challenges and bring your graphics to a new level of realism. This collection offers time-saving solutions to help you become more effi cient and productive, and is a must-have reference for all shader programmers.
Price=$37.79
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:30 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/shaderx6.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/shaderx6.htm

Price=$16.46
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:30 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/the-race-for-a.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/the-race-for-a.htm
Welcome to the seventh volume of the must-have reference series for game developers, Game Programming Gems, the series that helped define the standards for game programming and continues to be an essential source for new, innovative techniques. "Game Programming Gems 7" provides the tools and inspiration that game developers need to excel. Featuring cutting-edge, ready-to-use techniques contributed by industry veterans and experts, this new collection is a key resource for inspiration, insight, and a plethora of time-saving, ready-to-use methods for the developer’s tool box! Gems 7 answers the needs of passionate developers, eager newcomers, voracious production requirements, and the demand for innovating and entertaining gameplay. Covering all the key development areas including math and physics, artificial intelligence, audio, and even scripting and data-driven systems, each section is edited by an expert in the field to ensure that the ideas are original, accurate, and useful.There are gems that contribute directly to a player’s experience of the game, including audio production gems and human-game interactions. Does your development team include a DBA? Inside you’ll find a gem that suggests ways to integrate your object system with a relational database. Recognizing the need for good solutions for managing ever-increasing team sizes and facilitating efficient internal and external communications, there is a networking gem that applies tools to multiplayer development that are common to many network administrators, but may not yet have widespread use in our industry. Dig into this new volume of useful, practical ideas and techniques and get ready to make games that are more inventive, entertaining, and satisfying!
Price=$47.24
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:31 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/game-2.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/game-2.htm
Listening to pundits and politicians, you'd think that the relationship between violent video games and aggressive behavior in children is clear. Children who play violent video games are more likely to be socially isolated and have poor interpersonal skills. Violent games can trigger real-world violence. The best way to protect our kids is to keep them away from games such as Grand Theft Auto that are rated M for Mature. Right?

Wrong. In fact, many parents are worried about the wrong things!

In 2004, Lawrence Kutner, PhD, and Cheryl K. Olson, ScD, cofounders and directors of the Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and Media, began a $1.5 million federally funded study on the effects of video games. In contrast to previous research, their study focused on real children and families in real situations. What they found surprised, encouraged and sometimes disturbed them: their findings conform to the views of neither the alarmists nor the video game industry boosters. In Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth about Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do, Kutner and Olson untangle the web of politics, marketing, advocacy and flawed or misconstrued studies that until now have shaped parents' concerns.

Instead of offering a one-size-fits-all prescription, Grand Theft Childhood gives the information you need to decide how you want to handle this sensitive issue in your own family. You'll learn when -- and what kinds of -- video games can be harmful, when they can serve as important social or learning tools and how to create and enforce game-playing rules in your household. You'll find out what's really in the games your children play and when to worry about your children playing with strangers on the Internet. You'll understand how games are rated, how to make best use of ratings and the potentially important information that ratings don't provide.

Grand Theft Childhood takes video games out of the political and media arenas, and puts parents back in control. It should be required reading for all families who use game consoles or computers.

Almost all children today play video or computer games. Half of twelve-year-olds regularly play violent, Mature-rated games. And parents are worried...

"I don't know if it's an addiction, but my son is just glued to it. It's the same with my daughter with her computer...and I can't be watching both of them all the time, to see if they're talking to strangers or if someone is getting killed in the other room on the PlayStation. It's just nerve-racking!"

"I'm concerned that this game playing is just the kid and the TV screen...how is this going to affect his social skills?"

"I'm not concerned about the violence; I'm concerned about the way they portray the violence. It's not accidental; it's intentional. They're just out to kill people in some of these games."

What should we as parents, teachers and public policy makers be concerned about? The real risks are subtle and aren't just about gore or sex. Video games don't affect all children in the same way; some children are at significantly greater risk. (You may be surprised to learn which ones!) Grand Theft Childhood gives parents practical, research-based advice on ways to limit many of those risks. It also shows how video games -- even violent games -- can benefit children and families in unexpected ways.

In this groundbreaking and timely book, Drs. Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson cut through the myths and hysteria, and reveal the surprising truth about kids and violent games.
Price=$19.00
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:32 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/grand-theft.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/grand-theft.htm
Join a battle of mythical proportions.
·Covers all 6 main characters and 12 allies, plus villains and colleagues
·Maps for every area reveal shrines, containers, and key locations
·Advanced training for the Martial, Weapon, Support, Transformation, and Magic fighting styles
·Comprehensive walkthroughs for each chapter, including every quest
·Follow the lofty path of the Open Palm, or tread the dark road of the Closed Fist
·Proven strategies for mastering every mini-game
·Detailed appendices feature complete info for all items and weapons
Price=$11.55
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:32 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/jade-empire.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/jade-empire.htm
Written for serious Magic players, the ADVANCED STRATEGY GUIDE features cards and techniques for the intricacies of high-level and tournament play. Topics include constructed deck vs. sealed deck; evaluating cards; draft tournaments; metagame; and Magic ethics. 100 color illustrations.
Price=$14.00
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:34 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/magic-the.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/magic-the.htm
Make your own games using DirectX 10 and C++ with Ultimate Game Programming with DirectX, Second Edition. Written for experienced programmers who want to learn DirectX 10 and how to apply it to game creation, this book goes in-depth with DirectX 10 and each of its subsystems. Every part of the gamedevelopment process is covered and you’ll apply your existing game-development skills to the new techniques and tools covered in the book. Beginning with an introduction to DirectX and Direct3D, you’ll work your way through graphical interfaces, animation paths,advanced lighting and shadows,various surfacemapping techniques, and even sound. One topic is covered per chapter and end-of-chapter questions help you practice and reinforce your new skills.Whether you’re a current gamedevelopment student or a professional developer, you’ll find the information and techniques you need to gain a clear understanding of game programming with DirectX 10.
Price=$36.49
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:35 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/ultimate-game.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/ultimate-game.htm
The Rough Guide to the PSP is the ultimate handbook to Sony''s hugely successful handheld games console. From the basic buying and operating instructions to downloading and listening to music, this guide helps the reader to understand the technical processes of tweaking the PSP and to perform operations never dreamed of by Sony. It explains how to: Find the right model and get the best deal Explore the best online sites and forums Play movies, music, and games with the Universal Media Disc Fully exploit the PSP’s WiFi functionality Downgrade firmware and run homebrew applications Use emulators to play classic games Maximize the potential of the memory stick Extend your PSP with software and hardware accessories Plus much, much more... Whether you''re an experienced gamer or just getting started, this is the book for you.
Price=$9.99
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:35 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/the-rough-2.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/the-rough-2.htm
Learn to create network games from start to finish with "Fundamentals of Network Game Development." Covering all the essential elements of network game development, this book provides the techniques and strategies necessary to create a quality game. Organized into three core sections—design, design and development, and development—the book explores all the unique, underlying aspects that game designers and developers need to consider when building a game that uses a network to connect players both with the game and with each other. You'll examine the characteristics that set a network game apart from one that is played offline, the different types of games and networks, how the design and development processes differ depending on the type of game, how design elements affect development implementation and vice versa, how to prevent cheating and hacking, and how to test the final product. Throughout each chapter, real games are used as case studies to help guide you through the challenges of creating your own games. "Fundamentals of Network Game Development" provides you with the foundation you need to create professional-caliber network games.
Price=$30.39
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:36 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/fundamentals.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/fundamentals.htm
Playing the Past brings together a group of interdisciplinary scholars to examine the complementary notions of history and nostalgia as they are expressed through video games and in gaming culture. The scope of these related concepts moves from the personal to the cultural, and essays in this collection address video game nostalgia as both an individual and societal phenomenon, connecting the fond memories many of us have of classic gaming to contemporary representations of historical periods and events in video games. From Ms. Pac-Man and Space Invaders to Call of Duty and JFK: Reloaded, the games many of us have played since childhood inform how we see the world today, and the games we make and play today help us communicate ideas about real world history. By focusing on specific games, historical periods and media ecologies, these essays collectively take an in depth look at the related topics of nostalgia for classic gaming, gaming and histories of other media, and representations of real history in video games.
Price=$23.89
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:37 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/playing-the.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/playing-the.htm
Guinness World Records 2009 continues to build on the intriguing, informative, inspiring and instructional records and superlatives that have made Guinness World Records one of the most famous brands and an annual best-seller around the world.

This year, we've created a revolutionary new design and filled it with more records than ever before. And the 2009 edition will have two gatefold spreads and over 20 pages of special records all with 3-D photos, which can be viewed with enclosed 3-D glasses!!

Combined with a new, research-tested, eye-catching cover, over 1,000 new records and 100% new photos, this year's edition once again sets out to be the best Guinness World Records book ever!!
Price=$28.95
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:37 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/guinness-world-5.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/guinness-world-5.htm
"Even though I've worked with these systems for years, I found new ways of looking at several topics that make them easier to remember and use. For someone new to 3D programming, it is extremely useful-it gives them a solid background in pretty much every area they need to understand." -Peter Lipson, Toys for Bob, Inc.

Based on the authors' popular tutorials at the Game Developers Conference, Essential Mathematics for Games and Interactive Applications presents the core mathematics necessary for sophisticated 3D graphics and interactive physical simulations. The book begins with linear algebra and matrix manipulation and expands on this foundation to cover such topics as texture filtering, interpolation, animation, and basic game physics. Essential Mathematics focuses on the issues of 3D game development important to programmers and includes optimization guidance throughout.

*Covers concepts in sufficient detail for a programmer to understand the foundations of 3D without feeling overwhelmed by proofs and theory
*Companion CD-ROM with code examples built around a shared code base, including a math library covering all the topics presented in the book, a core vector/matrix math engine, and libraries to support basic 3D rendering and interaction
*Provides guidance for students trying to understand how games are actually developed, including optimization techniques
Price=$68.95
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:37 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/essential.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/essential.htm
This is the exclusive, official guide to Dungeon Siege II, the sequel to Microsoft's best-selling role-playing game (RPG). Expected to be one of the biggest PC games this year, Dungeon Siege II promises the same hack-n-slash action with more involved character development options, a more fully developed story plus three times as many quests. Cover-to-cover, this guide is packed with comprehensive walkthroughs, detailed maps, in-depth strategies, and complete statistics straight from the game's designers. Its attractive, high-quality, full-color design will truly capture the spirit of the game.
Price=$18.98
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:38 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/dungeon-siege.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/dungeon-siege.htm
Out of the Arena, and Into the Adventure
·Kombat 101 teaches you the deadliest kombos, brutalities, and launchers to defeat your enemies
·Comprehensive moves list for both Liu Kang and Kung Lao show you how to exploit your characters' strengths
·Learn to navigate the single-player campaign using our extensive walkthrough of every level, including tips on how to excel at the Test Your Might Challenges
·Detailed maps for every stage show you all major item locations
·Ko-Op mode covered to make the most of your two-player game
·Exclusive CD-ROM with time release codes and wallpaper
Price=$11.55
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:39 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/mortal-kombat-4.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/mortal-kombat-4.htm

Playing to Learn: Video Games in the Classroom is one of first practical resources that helps teachers integrate the study of video games into the classroom. The book is comprised of over 100 video game related activity ideas appropriate for Grades 4 to 12. Virtually every subject area is addressed. The book is augmented with several discussion articles contributed by scholars, journalists, and bloggers who routinely write about video games. In addition, the book includes dozens of activity modification and extension ideas, Web links, data tables, and photos.

• Presents a unique philosophical approach to the art of videogaming, situating videogames in the framework of analytic philosophy of the arts
• Explores how philosophical theories developed to address traditional art works can also be applied to videogames
• Written for a broad audience of both philosophers and videogame enthusiasts by a philosopher who is also an avid gamer
• Discusses the relationship between games and earlier artistic and entertainment media, how videogames allow for interactive fiction, the role of game narrative, and the moral status of violent events depicted in videogame worlds
• Argues that videogames do indeed qualify as a new and exciting form of representational art

What could one man find if he embarked on a journey through fantasy world after fantasy world?

In an enthralling blend of travelogue, pop culture analysis, and memoir, forty-year-old former D&D addict Ethan Gilsdorf crisscrosses America, the world, and other worlds—from Boston to New Zealand, and Planet Earth to the realm of Aggramar.

* Learn how to use the Crystal Space 3D engine.

* Integrate the Object Management System with an existing application.

* Find out how to build a GUI, add signup and login capabilities, and

implement chat in an application.

* Develop a massively multiplayer game prototype using the Butterfly Grid

technology. ON THE CD:

* All the source code from the book

Microsoft DirectX 9.0 SDK Update (Summer 2003)

Paint Shop Pro 8 demo

Crystal Space third-party libraries

WinCVS client
Price=$37.96
Buy ]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:02:47 -0700 http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/official-2.htm http://wiiwhiz.com/products/wii-books/official-2.htm

This collection explores the relationship between digital gaming and its cultural context by focusing on the burgeoning Asia-Pacific region. Encompassing key locations for global gaming production and consumption such as Japan, China, and South Korea, as well as increasingly significant sites including Australia and Singapore, the region provides a wealth of divergent examples of the role of gaming as a socio-cultural phenomenon. Drawing from micro ethnographic studies of specific games and gaming locales to macro political economy analyses of techno-nationalisms and trans-cultural flows, this collection provides an interdisciplinary model for thinking through the politics of gaming production, representation, and consumption in the region.

LEARN TO:
• TOP THE CHARTS
• MAKE HEADLINES
• IMPROVE REVIEW SCORES
• INSPIRE MILLIONS OF FANS
• ENHANCE JOB PERFORMANCE

INCLUDES:
• IN-DEPTH HOW-TO’S
• EXPERT ADVICE
• HANDS-ON FEEDBACK
• PROVEN TIPS
• CEO-LEVEL INSIGHT