Synopses & Reviews
iPad Multiplayer Magic is a full-color, beginner's guide to developing multiplayer games for iOS devices--specifically the iPad. You don't need previous iOS or Macintosh application development experience to get started all you need is a Mac, an iPad, and this book. IPAD MULTIPLAYER MAGIC distills hundreds of Apple documentations down to the nitty gritty, glossing over concepts you don't need to know to get started. This book also acts as a guide to using Unity iOS, a complex and versatile game authoring tool that makes developing multiplayer games for iOS devices faster and less of a hassle. Along the way, you will be introduced to several other game editors that can be used to make games for the iPad. Code examples are included throughout the book, and all of the sample code can be downloaded from the companion website. By the time you have finished reading IPAD MULTIPLAYER MAGIC, you will have traveled the path from being a novice or someone who doesn't know anything about mobile game development to being someone who can crank out a respectable, playable game for the iPad all on your own.
Synopsis
Discover everything today's readers need to know to develop their own exceptional multiplayer games for the revolutionary iPad with iPad Multiplayer Magic. From single-screen 2D games to split-screen 3D to wirelessly networked multi-device multiplayer games, this unique book clearly demonstrates how to build on the potential of the iPad. iPad Multiplayer Magic focuses on multiplayer game programming utilizing the iOS SDK, Unity, Xcode, 3DS Max, Photoshop, MySQL™, PHP™, Twitter, and Facebook. Unlike other books, it highlights the social, networking, and multiplayer aspects of the iPad with a full-color, inviting presentation. The book details the unique way the iPad enables a group of people to interact simultaneously, making it an ideal device for multiplayer games. An informative, high-energy approach makes it the perfect guide for new game developers as well as existing game developers who are new to mobile, iPad, or multiplayer games.
About the Author
Michael Duggan is an author and illustrator of nine textbooks on the subjects of video game design and digital media. He is also an applications developer and computer art instructor at North Arkansas College. A member of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), he currently resides in the Ozark Mountains with his wife and step-children. His love for making games comes from long days spent thinking up role-playing games as a kid.
Table of Contents
Introduction. 1. Brief History of Gaming and What You Need to Know. 2. iPad Boot Camp. 3. Basic Gameplay Principles. 4. Unity Crash Course. 5. 2D/3D Platformer Tutorial. 6. Networked Multiplayer Game Tutorial. 7. Going Further: Other Games You Can Create. 8. Adding Social Features to a Multiplayer Game. Glossary. Index.