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The seventh volume of the "Game Programming Gems" series is the latest volume is this must-have reference series for game developers. This series helped define the standards for game programming and continues to be the main resource for game programmers searching for new, innovative techniques. This volume has something for everyone on the programming team. It will help with a variety of specialized issues, as well as the more general issues that arise in every game today. These cutting-edge, ready-to-use techniques are shared by your peers in the industry and are written to make you more efficient and save hours of development time and money.With the new platforms, high-quality models, animations, physics and effects are more important than ever. Players expect nothing but the best quality, so to help ensure that your games are still delivered on time and on budget, you can use this all new collection as a key resource for achieving these goals. So, whether you're a new game programmer starting out in game

PL/SQL is more than just a 3GL sequel to SQL; instead it can be used as a methodology for application development using Oracle. The techniques covered here have a broader scope, in applications ranging from OLTP to OLAP and from data warehousing to business intelligence. The world of PL/SQL is exciting and this book provides a repository of techniques for PL/SQL developers and DBAs alike. CONTENTS: Part I: Introductory Concepts Chapter 1: Introduction to PL/SQL Chapter 2: PL/SQL by Dissection Chapter 3: New Features in PL/SQL Part II: Techniques for PL/SQL Programming Chapter 4: Data Structure Management in PL/SQL Chapter 5: Error Management in PL/SQL Chapter 6: Data Management in PL/SQL Chapter 7: Application Management in PL/SQL Chapter 8: Transaction Management in PL/SQL Part III: Applying PL/SQL in the real world Chapter 9: Application Development Frameworks Using PL/SQL Chapter 10: Applying PL/SQL in 3GL and Web Environment Chapter 11: Miscellaneous Techniques Chapt

"Maya 2008 Character Modeling and Animation: Principles and Practices" shows beginner to intermediate animation students and enthusiasts how to create professional-quality characters, explaining the full character animation process from pre-production to final full body and facial animation. Each chapter begins by exploring the why behind the techniques being presented, followed by step-by-step tutorials to apply your new knowledge. CONTENTS: 1. The animation production process 2. Fundamentals of computer animation 3. Modeling and texturing a simple character 4. Rigging and animating a simple character 5. NURBS modeling and path animation with dynamics 6. Modeling a biped character 7. Rigging a biped character 8. The art and science of animation 9. Facial expression

Design and deploy Cisco WAN optimization and application acceleration solutions for the enterprise WAN Today, IT organizations are increasingly squeezed by competing demands. They must support more distributed users who demand greater availability and performance. They must protect their digital assets with far more robust security. And they must do it all while gaining far greater control over cost. Distributing IT resources increases management, hardware, and software overhead, but centralizing IT can worsen application performance. There is a solution to this quandary: Cisco application acceleration and WAN optimization technologies that permit IT to safely centralize distributed IT resources, meeting user performance expectations without replacing existing network infrastructure. Deploying Cisco Wide Area Application Services is the first comprehensive guide to designing and deploying solutions with these Cisco technologies. Zach Seils and Joel Christner show how to deploy Cisco WAAS in a s

Want to learn computer programming but aren't sure where to start? Programming for the Absolute Beginner provides a gentle learning curve in programming for anyone who wants to develop fundamental programming skills and create computer programs. The primary focus is on teaching the reader how to program using a free implementation of BASIC called Just BASIC. As such, the book focuses on developing programs that run on Microsoft Windows, but also presents programming principles that apply to different environments, including other operating systems and the Internet. Additionally, the book provides a solid foundation for advancing to different programming languages as you gain confidence in your newly acquired programming abilities. As part of the for the absolute beginner series, Programming for the Absolute Beginner teaches all the concepts through the creation of simple computer games, making the learning process much more fun and enjoyable.

AppleScript is a high-level scripting language that comes free on the Mac platform. This handy scripting language adds functionality to the Mac operating system by automating tasks and adding functions to your Mac. If you are new to programming with AppleScript and are looking for a solid introduction, this is the book for you. Developed by computer science professors, books in the "for the absolute beginner" series teach the principles of programming through simple game creation. AppleScript Programming for the Absolute Beginner provides you with the programming skills that you need and shows you how to put these skills to use in real-world scenarios. Best of all, by the time you finish the book, you will be able to apply the basic principles you've learned to the next programming language you tackle. CONTENTS: Part I Introducing AppleScript Scripting Chapter 1 AppleScript Basics Chapter 2 Getting Comfortable with the AppleScript Script Editor Part II Learning How to Write AppleScr

Tcl/Tk is enjoying a resurgence of popularity and interest in the computing community due to the fact that it is relatively easy to learn, powerful, fast, permits rapid development, and runs on all computing platforms. Until now, there has not been a guide book available that teaches Tcl/Tk to those with little or no programming experience. Covering the newest versions of Tcl and Tk, Tcl and Tk Programming for the Absolute Beginner teaches beginning and novice programmers concepts such as loops, conditional execution, input and output, and events, and shows readers how to implement these concepts using the grammar and syntax of the Tcl language. As part of the for the absolute beginner series, the book teaches all the concepts through the creation of simple computer games. Not only will this learn by doing approach provide you with an instant sense of accomplishment, but it's also a fun way to learn. Plus, in addition to learning Tcl and Tk, you'll also learn the basics of computer programming, so you'll hav

Covering both Studio and Producer Editions, Sonar 7 Power! is the seventh edition of the best-selling Sonar Power book series providing detailed training for Cakewalk's Sonar 7 music recording software. Written for both new users and veteran upgraders alike, Sonar 7 Power! walks you through all of the features of the software with step-by-step instructions and exercises. New users will start at the beginning and learn everything they need to know to use Sonar 7 for recording, editing, producing, mixing, and bringing their music to the masses. Upgraders will learn about all the new features in Sonar 7 as well as enhancements to existing features that may affect their current production workflow. New topics covered include: Flexible PRV Tools, PRV Microscope Mode, MIDI Data Lanes, EQ Settings Copy, Step Sequencer, CD Ripping/Burning, Sidechaining, Using External Hardware, Boost 11 Maximizer, Linear Phase EQ, Linear Phase Compressor, Dimension LE, Rapture LE, DropZone, Z3TA+, and more. CONTENTS:

Description Jerry Lee Ford, Jr. is an author, educator, and an IT professional with over 18 years' experience in information technology,including roles as an automation analyst,technical manager, technical support analyst,automation engineer, and security analyst. He is the author of 24 other books and coauthor of 2 additional books. His published works include AppleScript Studio Programming for the Absolute Beginner, Microsoft Windows PowerShell Programming for the Absolute Beginner, Visual Basic 2005 Express Programming for the Absolute Beginner, VBScript Professional Projects, Microsoft Windows Shell Scripting and WSH Administrator's Guide, Microsoft Windows Shell Scripting for the Absolute Beginner, Learn JavaScript in a Weekend, and Microsoft Windows XP Professional Administrator's Guide. Jerry has a master's degree in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and has over five years' experience as an adjunct instructor teaching networking courses in infor

Ready to learn computer programming but aren't sure where to start? Look no further, Computer Programming for Teens is the book for you. Other books on programming tend to be language specific and often get bogged down in the syntax of the language. That is fine if you already have a strong background in programming, but if you're a novice, the language-specific approach can make things unnecessarily difficult. Computer Programming for Teens stresses concepts over language, but still includes examples in the most popular languages - specifically HTML, C++, and Java. It begins by explaining the fundamental topics, like data storage, and progresses through to more complex topics, such as decisions, loops, design, and complex data structures. Written by a high school teacher, the book includes helpful tips and analogies to guide readers through the maze of programming techniques, concepts, and common pitfalls. It introduces the most relevant topics for beginners and pinpoints the essential skills needed for pro