This engaging, learn-by-doing guide combines fun and games with the fundamentals of computer programming. Computer programming often has a reputation as being mired in details and short on fun. Now Xbox gamers and aspiring developers can have fun while learning hands-on how to create and customize Xbox 360 games! With XNA Game Studio and Visual C# 2005, beginning programmers can easily modify existing Xbox games—and even learn how to build their own!

1. Getting Started

   1. Chapter 1 Computers, Xboxes, C#, XNA, and You

      1. Introduction
      2. How the Book Works
      3. C# and XNA
      4. Getting Started
      5. Writing Your First Program
      6. Conclusion
      7. Pop Quiz

   2. Chapter 2 Programs, Data, and Pretty Colors

      1. Introduction
      2. Making a Game Display
      3. Controlling Color
      4. Conclusion
      5. Pop Quiz

   3. Chapter 3 Getting Player Input

      1. Introduction
      2. Reading a Gamepad
      3. Using the Keyboard
      4. Adding Vibration
      5. Program Bugs
      6. Conclusion
      7. Pop Quiz

2. Using the XNA Framework

   1. Chapter 4 Displaying Images

      1. Introduction
      2. Resources and Content
      3. Using Resources in a Game
      4. Conclusion
      5. Pop Quiz

   2. Chapter 5 Writing Text

      1. Introduction
      2. Text and Computers
      3. Getting the Date and Time
      4. Making a Prettier Clock with 3D Text
      5. Creating Fake 3D
      6. Conclusion
      7. Pop Quiz

   3. Chapter 6 Creating a Multiplayer Game

      1. Introduction
      2. Conclusion
      3. Pop Quiz

   4. Chapter 7 Playing Sounds

      1. Adding Sound
      2. Using the XACT Audio Creation Tool
      3. Conclusion
      4. Pop Quiz

   5. Chapter 8 Creating a Timer

      1. Making Another Game
      2. Finding Winners Using Arrays
      3. Conclusion
      4. Pop Quiz

   6. Chapter 9 Reading Text Input

      1. Using the Keyboard in XNA
      2. Working with Arrays, Objects, and References
      3. Displaying Keys
      4. Conclusion
      5. Pop Quiz

3. Games and Programming

   1. Chapter 10 Using C# Methods to Solve Problems

      1. Introduction
      2. Playing with Images
      3. Creating a Zoom-Out
      4. Conclusion
      5. Pop Quiz

   2. Chapter 11 A Game as a C# Program

      1. Introduction
      2. Creating Game Graphics
      3. Projects, Resources, and Classes
      4. Creating Game Objects
      5. Conclusion
      6. Pop Quiz

   3. Chapter 12 Games, Objects, and State

      1. Introduction
      2. Adding Bread to Your Game
      3. Adding Tomato Targets
      4. Conclusion
      5. Pop Quiz

   4. Chapter 13 Creating Gameplay

      1. Introduction
      2. Making a Finished Game
      3. Improving Code Design
      4. Adding a Background
      5. Adding a Title Screen
      6. Conclusion
      7. Pop Quiz

   5. Chapter 14 Making Complete Games

      1. Introduction
      2. Hide The Gamepad
      3. Pelmanism
      4. Pell Mell Pelmanism
      5. Game Creation
      6. Conclusion
      7. Very Silly Games
      8. verysillygames.com

1. Appendix Pop Quiz Answers

   1. Chapter 1: Pop Quiz Answers

   2. Chapter 2: Pop Quiz Answers

   3. Chapter 3: Pop Quiz Answers

   4. Chapter 4: Pop Quiz Answers

   5. Chapter 5: Pop Quiz Answers

   6. Chapter 6: Pop Quiz Answers

   7. Chapter 7: Pop Quiz Answers

   8. Chapter 8: Pop Quiz Answers

   9. Chapter 9: Pop Quiz Answers

   10. Chapter 10: Pop Quiz Answers

   11. Chapter 11: Pop Quiz Answers

   12. Chapter 12: Pop Quiz Answers

   13. Chapter 13: Pop Quiz Answers

2. Appendix Glossary

3. Appendix Rob Miles