How many times have you spent countless hours completely absorbed in conquering the latest role playing game? Want to experience the thrill of creating your own captivating role playing game? This book is your guide to doing just that. Covering everything that you need to create a role playing game--working with graphics and combat engines, handling players, and making your game multiplayer-capable--this book begins with helpful information on storyline development and design issues specific to role playing games and then progresses to programming basics and RPG-specific gaming code. Finally, wrap up your project with valuable tips for promoting, marketing, and publishing your game.

What's on the CD:

• Microsoft DirectX 8.0 SDK
• DirectMusic Producer
• Trial Versions of:
  • GoldWave 4.23
  • trueSpace 5
  • Poser 4
  • Milkshape 3-D 1.56
  • Paint Shop Pro 7
• Sample games

• Foreword
• Introduction

• A World of Role-Playing

• Exploring RPG Design Elements
• Story-Writing Essentials

• Starting with C++
• Programmming with Windows and Applications Basics
• Drawing with DirectX graphics
• Interacting with DirectInput
• Playing Sound with DirectX Audio
• Networking with DirectPlay
• Creating the Game Core

• Using 2-D Graphics
• Creating 3-D Graphics Engines
• Mixing 2-D and 3-D Graphics Engines
• Implementing Scripts
• Defining and Using Objects
• Controlling Players and Characters
• Working with Maps and Levels
• Creating Combat Sequences
• Getting Online with Multiplayer Gaming

• Putting Together a Full Game
• Marketing and Publishing Your Game
• Epilogue

Index