#5918 - Jason Wilkins - Mon May 12, 2003 8:29 pm
Have any books been written about Gameboy Advance development that used DevKit Advanced as a base? I remember someone asking me about it years ago, but I do not think anything ever came of it.
I ask because I feel that I could tackle the task of writing a book about GBA development, but I want to know if it has already been done.
What books are available? What gaps need to be filled?
I assure you that my writing skills are better than my internet postings make them out to be ^_^
How many people would actually buy a book if it was available? How many would just use an online version available for free with DevKit Advance? (That makes it obvious that I would look to O'Reilly to publish it).
I have always wanted to be a writer, but chose to persue computers instead. I have also been trying to figure out a way to get some compensation for DKA in a fair way. I don't really feel comfortable adding a 'PayPal Donate' button DKA's web site ^_^
I'm I still just dreaming, or do I have an audience here?
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http://devkitadv.sourceforge.net
#5919 - niltsair - Mon May 12, 2003 9:11 pm
I think that you could get an audience, were you to do a Combo Book, one part about GBA Programming, another one about all the little details of DevKitAdvance.
I don't think a book about the compiler only would be viable for mass selling.
But i could be interested.
Just my humble opinion :-)
#5920 - darkcloud - Mon May 12, 2003 9:26 pm
I think there needs to be a book about some of the more advanced techniques and aspects of GBA programming.
Like a book that starts out with a basic project, and by the end, you have a fully featured game.
The book can cover some of the basics like collision detection, and then also some of the more advanced things like graphical effects, managing memory, etc.
It would be nice to see an example of how to go about making a game, from the beginning to end, with all the details, and planning.
I know there are books about game development, but I'd like to see one whose focus is on GBA game making. I think there's a gba programming book coming out soon, but I don't think it covers "game-making" stuff.
_________________
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
#5921 - Jason Wilkins - Mon May 12, 2003 9:41 pm
Any book would not just cover the compiler, but how to use it end to end to create a real game. Focusing purely on DKA would make it incomplete. For example, DKA is totally mute concerning IO registers, palettes, sprites, and video memory, and it should probably stay that way.
Whether or not I decide to write a book only determines if I document those things not addressed by DKA as well as the things that are such as the memory map, interrupts, the linkscript, crt0.S, low level IO hooks, appended assets, multiboot-cart loading, etc.
Ultimately, everything about DKA specifically will be documented, and documented well. I am just wondering if there is an opportunity here to get something published.
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#5922 - niltsair - Mon May 12, 2003 9:52 pm
I think there is.
I just wonder about how many people are actually interested about GBA Dev. Isn't it a pretty maginal thing?
#5923 - Jason Wilkins - Mon May 12, 2003 10:21 pm
I have no idea how big the market is. I see an average of 700 hits. (http://sourceforge.net/project/stats/?group_id=67315) to the DevKit Advance web pages a day and think it must be a lot of people. I wonder who all those people are? Especially considering that I only update about once a month. 700 hits should translate to at least 100 individuals.
I can't help but think that if someone was browsing the book store, and saw a book telling them on the cover that they could create Gameboy games at home that they would become very interested.
I would estimate that the number of people downloading the devkit fluctuates between 3 and 20 people a day each week.
I'm not sure what to make of these numbers, maybe they are an illusion, but I think it means that many people are at least curious about it, even if they don't participate in forums or mailing lists, or ever even produce something interesting.
_________________
http://devkitadv.sourceforge.net
#5924 - niltsair - Mon May 12, 2003 10:37 pm
Add a link on your DevKitAdv Soruce Forge Project to this forum we'll see :-)
Those are interesting numbers indeed.
#5930 - antysix - Tue May 13, 2003 8:42 am
I agree with darkcloud, there should be a boek that focuses also on game planning and more advanced things and how to use such things, not only the theory.
_________________
Currently playing: NGC: Metroid Prime
GBA: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Currently developping: Project ~ [ Phail ]
#5932 - Lord Graga - Tue May 13, 2003 11:30 am
Make a section for persons who are not as good at programming yet, i think that Link could use it >:)
*LordGraga is so evil
#5939 - treps - Tue May 13, 2003 2:36 pm
| Lord Graga wrote: |
Make a section for persons who are not as good at programming yet, i think that Link could use it >:)
|
yes but you have to provide the italian translation and I'm not sure babelfish will do this time :-)
Bruno
#5940 - Jason Wilkins - Tue May 13, 2003 2:48 pm
I should have tried to sell the idea more, then people would be less wishy-washy and say yes or no.
I would have to write a book for people who at least know C inside and out. It is such a small, simple language, that I can't imagine wasting space on teaching basics when so many other good books and web sites are available to teach it.
There are already a few, very thick, books on game design. And although none focus on the Gameboy Advance, I'm not sure they need to. The practical design of GBA games is self evident. Just play as many good ones as you can and take notes. I think you may need the more abstract design theories to give you a vocabulary to think and talk about what you learn from actually studying games.
I think when students clamor for less abstract and more practical they are really asking people to do too much of their thinking for them (teachers are supposed to do a little thinking for you). At college I always thought it was a symptom of a person not learning any particular programming language well enough when they could not see a real solution when presented with abstract theory.
Of course, people have different ways of thinking and solving problems, so it is really just my opinion.
In any case, I am not qualified to write a book about game design. I am like a home movie enthusiast who studies great films. I understand a lot, but you would want Spielburg to write you a book about movie directing, not me.
What I do understand is the GNU Compiler Collection and how to use it to get the most out of the Gameboy Advance. My aim would be to write a book that would impart the practical knowledged needed to allow you to know exactly how to do what you imagine.
It would be practical, but it would be practical implementation, not practical game design.
In any case, I am getting started because certain parts of this project have to be completed whether or not they ever get converted into dead tree format.
_________________
http://devkitadv.sourceforge.net
#5946 - Quirky - Tue May 13, 2003 5:58 pm
A lot of people are trying to learn *programming* on the GBA. That's a really, really bad idea in my opinion. It's the old trying to run before you can walk thing.
Sure, learn game programming on it, after all it has some nice game-oriented tricks up its sleeve, but only once you have at least a basic idea of what you are doing with variables, arrays, etc.
Writing about that would be a waste of time, for yourself and anyone who wanted to know about devkit. One question though - wouldn't Nintendo stop you from doing this? I know they *shouldn't*, but they are heartless SOBs. And a general arm targeted GNU gcc manual would be a bit... dry.
#5952 - Jason Wilkins - Tue May 13, 2003 7:41 pm
A general arm-gcc manual would also be very short, probably about 4 pages.
I am 100 percent confident that there is nothing Nintendo could do to prevent anyone from writing about how to program the Gameboy Advance anymore than Toyota could stop someon from writing a Toyota repair manual.
Besides, there is already this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1931841780/ref=sr_aps_books_1_2/026-9015716-0312421
(just don't ask me why it is only available at amazon.co.uk ^_^)
I do not plan on writing anything "For Dummies". DevKit Advance documentation will be for people who know how to program, understand C, the basics of a C toolchain, and just need to know how to use the tools to access every function of the GBA.
After users have had their hands held through some tutorials and have learned the basics from other sources, then they will appreciate the non-tutorial style more.
This doesn't exclude some sort of 'quick start tutorial', which answers questions like 'how do I compile a program', but even that would aimed only at people who have not used gcc before, not people who have never compiled a C program before.
_________________
http://devkitadv.sourceforge.net
#5957 - darkcloud - Tue May 13, 2003 8:23 pm
I still think someone should write a book about how to do special effects, and all that good stuff, on the gba. With some good code examples and everything.
Have you seen Golden Sun: The Lost Age??!?!?
I would love to be able to pull off some of those amazing graphical effects.
_________________
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
#5968 - spankmonkey1987 - Wed May 14, 2003 10:43 am
possibly for the gba using something like book reader as i would getthtat if it was done learn on our gba while on it would have its uses if it was done for selling reasons and of course still a ebook (this has probaly been covered earlyier but i havent actually bothered to read it all as that was the question i wanted to ask about it)
#5971 - Quirky - Wed May 14, 2003 11:49 am
| spankmonkey1987 wrote: |
| possibly for the gba using something like book reader as i would getthtat if it was done learn on our gba while on it would have its uses if it was done for selling reasons and of course still a ebook (this has probaly been covered earlyier but i havent actually bothered to read it all as that was the question i wanted to ask about it) |
And every time you flashed your cart to test out the latest build of your game, you'd wipe out the ebook ;)
| Jason Wilkins wrote: |
(just don't ask me why it is only available at amazon.co.uk ^_^)
|
I know you said not to ask, but why is that book only available at amazon.co.uk? Maybe it's a mess up on their behalf - the author that took over from John Seghers posted on here a while back, but I haven't heard much since. I wonder if he's still reading and could give you/us some advice/information?
EDIT: Found his posts in the search. And here is his website with info on the GBA book.
http://www.jharbour.com/books.html
The expected date is this month though so it might be possible it's out already.
#5979 - spankmonkey1987 - Wed May 14, 2003 3:55 pm
the file is on your pc when you upload anyway i just though that it would be handy and a good puller for people you know novelty and anyway and thing on your gba cart gets wiped when something new is put on right so what difference does it make
#6069 - Link - Fri May 16, 2003 2:57 pm
What are the difference from This to this ??
The first is 450 pages the second 1000!!
#6070 - niltsair - Fri May 16, 2003 3:15 pm
The ISBN is virtually the same, so i'm guessing it was only a typo on their part.
#6115 - Link - Sat May 17, 2003 12:43 pm
I've read it need 1-2 months to ship (Therefore yet more 2 months to arrive to my hose!)
Why?
#6124 - Daedro - Sat May 17, 2003 7:59 pm
| Link wrote: |
I've read it need 1-2 months to ship (Therefore yet more 2 months to arrive to my hose!)
Why? |
Well usually any shipment would take 4-6 weeks, which is 1 month to 1 and a half months. This is amazon, they are probably very busy. Isnt it becuase they send out all the shipments for an area when they get big enough to not lose money from only have a few packages going to one area. Oh, do they not send a package delivery service ( plane, truck ) to the area, or do they just send it threw the mail ( hahaha, lost in a few hours. )
I live about 106 km from where I ordered my skateboard, and they said 4-6 weeks... took 2 months.
Just be happy they dont get you so anxious and say 2-4 weeks and end up getting it in 2 months.
Why do they take so long?
#6195 - Link - Mon May 19, 2003 12:57 pm
but this book exists, that is it is available from Amazon or not?
Somebody have got the above?
#6209 - Daedro - Mon May 19, 2003 10:29 pm
Wether or not the book is really what it says on the front is unknown. The book is avalible from Amazon when it comes out you can just pre-order it now for when its released. The two books from different sites are the same book, but maybe a different langauge or something so theres a page difference, or maybe just a mistake. When it does come out, someone buy it and confirm if its a good book or not, thanks.
#6242 - Link - Tue May 20, 2003 3:41 pm
Maybe you've not understood.. It is NOW avaible but it can be send when it arrive from the publisher!
I understand that!
How do u translate this:
'Availability: usually dispatched within 4 to 6 weeks. Please note that titles occasionally go out of print or publishers run out of stock.'
#6249 - Daedro - Tue May 20, 2003 11:50 pm
Sorry, I was wondering if that is what you ment or not.
| Link wrote: |
| 'Availability: usually dispatched within 4 to 6 weeks. Please note that titles occasionally go out of print or publishers run out of stock.' |
The item (product) that you ordered will probably be sent out four (4) to six (6) weeks. Remember that sometimes the products stop being made or the maker runs out of copies of the product.
So basicly, if they run out of the book then they will refund your money that you give them for the book if they stop making it or it doesn't come out.
#6306 - Link - Thu May 22, 2003 5:41 pm
Why this book is in this condition?
#6315 - Daedro - Fri May 23, 2003 12:36 am
| Link wrote: |
| Why this book is in this condition? |
Why this book is in this condition?
.................... ^
.....................|
.......------------
.......|
.......V
Why is this book in this condition?
( try to remember that in english we do things backwards, or you do them backwards.. at least thats what its like with french, italian too? )
Anyway, I dont know what you mean by "condition." It isnt in any condition, its condition is bran new.
Do you mean why does this book have this statement? the whole availability statement? its just like percaution you could say, to let you know a possible reason why your package might be late. Dont even acknowledge that, just ignore it, this book isnt out yet so dont worry about stock, and the book will most definetly be printed.
Sit back and relax on the posts bro, dont post so many questions about little things. The more you post about little things, the more annoyed people will get with you and ignore the big posts and problems.
Eric Muyser
#7881 - peebrain - Fri Jun 27, 2003 11:45 am
| darkcloud wrote: |
I still think someone should write a book about how to do special effects, and all that good stuff, on the gba. With some good code examples and everything.
Have you seen Golden Sun: The Lost Age??!?!?
I would love to be able to pull off some of those amazing graphical effects. |
I agree ^
~Sean
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#9707 - jenswa - Thu Aug 14, 2003 5:25 pm
| peebrain wrote: |
| darkcloud wrote: | I still think someone should write a book about how to do special effects, and all that good stuff, on the gba. With some good code examples and everything.
Have you seen Golden Sun: The Lost Age??!?!?
I would love to be able to pull off some of those amazing graphical effects. |
I agree ^
~Sean |
So i am not the only one who is wondering about this stuff?
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It seems this wasn't lost after all.
#12498 - dagamer34 - Sun Nov 16, 2003 4:50 am
Include only a little bit of C or C++ stuff in there. And maybe you could actuallyteach someone about programming for a console in general.
I am a pretty good DirectX (that's PC programming for those who don't know) programmer and have had Microsoft's API do all the allocation for me. As of now i am using HAM v2.71 and i am trying to get off the API stuff and do direct programming.
Like talk about how registers control everything and how RAM is used. Don't assume we are dumb in programming, just dumb to console (register) programming.
Would i buy the book.... Maybe... is it worth looking into. YEAH!!!
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