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AppGameKit Classic Chat / AGK Book Available For Preorder!

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danctodd
13
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Joined: 31st Jul 2010
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Posted: 12th Jun 2012 00:41 Edited at: 12th Jun 2012 00:45
I've just noticed that the Hands On AppGameKit BASIC book is now available for preorder at http://www.digital-skills.co.uk
The book should start shipping on the 23rd of June! I've just booked my copy
basjak
14
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Joined: 16th Apr 2010
Location: feel like signing up for mars
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 04:07
am in

Digital Awakening
AGK Developer
21
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Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: Sweden
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 07:24
MrValentine
AGK Backer
13
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Joined: 5th Dec 2010
Playing: FFVII
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 08:04
if I have spare cash I will order this and also the original HO-DBP 1 and 2 but if not I will wait for some kind of digital edition... I don't use 3 screens for nothing...

Alien Menace
AGK Developer
19
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Location: Earth (just visiting)
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 10:07
Nice but I cannot justify paying $73 for it.

Apps published: 3
MarcoBruti
12
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Joined: 20th Nov 2011
Location: Caput Mundi
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 16:18
I bought DBPro 1&2, but at the moment I cannot justify such purchase because:
1) I could write a book myself, since so far I have written 5 not trivial apps (specially App-In-Ball, BlackHole and ReadMusic), all on sale on Google Play Market, and I am writing a complex platform game that I think to complete after summer.
2) AppGameKit is not yet stable, so to buy now a book, when at the end of the year the 3D commands shall be available, it's a waste of money.
3) The price is high.
By the way, I am not so negative, and I strongly advice the purchase for beginners, since Alistair is very good at teaching how to program, even the basics, and how to write basic video-games. I do not exclude that in the future I'll buy it, but only with stable AppGameKit and robust additions.
DennisW
15
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Joined: 15th Jun 2008
Location: Ohio
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 17:56
@MarcoBruti

That pretty much sums that up I think I would have to agree with you

Dennis

Ham and Eggs Breakfast
The Chicken was involved the Pig was Committed
Trisect Development
21
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Joined: 8th Sep 2002
Location: Denmark
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 18:21
I'm in also.

Check my games for iPad, Android Tablet and PlayBook.
www.ipad-apps.dk
Kobaltic
12
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Location: PA, USA
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 18:51 Edited at: 12th Jun 2012 18:51
Disappointed at the price. Too high.
Impetus73
12
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Joined: 28th Aug 2011
Location: Volda, Norway
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 18:55
Just ordered it, something to read in the summer

----------------
AGK user - novice
Did Amiga / AMOS programming in the 90's, just started programming again with AGK.
MarcoBruti
12
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Location: Caput Mundi
Posted: 12th Jun 2012 21:59
@Impetus
summer in Norway is so short, I think that you'll have to read the book fast, but you are an expert, you'll make it, unless you come to Italy, and you'll have plenty of time
Only joking, I beg your pardon, we are in a lot of financial troubles, some humour helps.
bjadams
AGK Backer
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Posted: 12th Jun 2012 22:57
Marco, 3/4 of the world is in financial trouble in one way or another. let's try to enjoy a bit of summer... tutti al mare, tutti al mare, a veder...
Impetus73
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Joined: 28th Aug 2011
Location: Volda, Norway
Posted: 13th Jun 2012 00:10 Edited at: 13th Jun 2012 00:11
The summer in Norway this year is cold, only 8 degree celsius right now... I'd love to go to Italy, and I'm sure I will in the near future

----------------
AGK user - novice
Did Amiga / AMOS programming in the 90's, just started programming again with AGK.
MarcoBruti
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Location: Caput Mundi
Posted: 13th Jun 2012 01:02
@bjadams: to say the truth, there are countries where people spend their time killing themselves, children and women, or have nothing to eat or drink, so maybe we could be happy with our financial troubles.
@Impetus: so you will read your book heavily dressed, I suppose, and near the fireplace? Come to Italy, you are part of the 1/4 part of the world without economical problems (lot of oil under the sea).
@All, Seriously, I advice all European people to go to Emilia Romagna (Rimini, etc), a lot of amusing things to do (discos, etc), good food, good price, great hospitality and organization, and you will help the people that have been damaged by the recent earthquake...no fear, on the seaside there has not been any earthquake, only in the internals. A lot of Russian and German people come and enjoy the vacation. I have no personal interest, but I remind that only to help those people, as I would do vs any other people that need help in the world.
JimHawkins
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Location: Hull - UK
Posted: 13th Jun 2012 01:17 Edited at: 13th Jun 2012 01:21
Marco - you're right. I'll be off to Greece as usual in a few weeks. Sun, sea and hospitality is still there across southern Europe, and it's not that hard to support the local economy by lying on a beach drinking cold beer!

Personally, I think £40 is way over the top as pricing goes. Is it being printed on gold-leaf?

-- Jim
Greenster
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Location: US ©
Posted: 13th Jun 2012 17:01 Edited at: 13th Jun 2012 17:02
If you're one of the people who have been trying to roll out a project but can't because the tool is peppered with core bugs across all platforms and updates are scarce.. you should buy this book too
Impetus73
12
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Location: Volda, Norway
Posted: 13th Jun 2012 19:40
JimHawkins, it's a 770 page book, that's £0.051948 / Page, a reasonable price I think And it's not like they are gonna sell millions, if they did, they could lower the price. This is an extremely small market.

----------------
AGK user - novice
Did Amiga / AMOS programming in the 90's, just started programming again with AGK.
fallen one
17
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Location: My imagination!
Posted: 13th Jun 2012 22:40 Edited at: 14th Jun 2012 00:21
I'm still fuming over not winning the art comp for that book using my bad ass art skills, so I'm going to go with Unity, its got some awesome and powerful add ons/plug in tools for visual programming, plus you can learn unity proper via a kickstarter learn programming game I sponsored. But, not to be a TGC traitor, I still reckon Ive made the best AppGameKit app EVER, my first and possibly last. Cant show it though, its got prawn jokes, so its too fishy, got poo poo and pee pee too.

Not this guy, I mean proper pee pee, its sick I tells thee... Its got that too.

If I make mac daddy cash on it, Ill be unbearable... Imagine if the most successful developer of an AppGameKit or perhaps any TGC app cannot be shown. My reputation here will have reached its zenith.


JimHawkins
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Location: Hull - UK
Posted: 14th Jun 2012 01:11
Impetus - anybody who writes a 770 page book needs to learn some editing skills!

-- Jim
AgentSam
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Joined: 14th Mar 2012
Location: Virtual Space
Posted: 14th Jun 2012 04:29
I'm sort of in the same camp with Jim there... The book is way overpriced no matter how it's justified.

Well, I do enjoy large books, or at least I did before I started to prefer everything in digital format - The MS-DOS Encyclopedia (1988) was one of my favorites, at around 1500 pages.

In any case, assuming I would actually need this book about Tier1 Basic, I would have been willing to pay around 15-20£ for a digital version.
Stormwire
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Posted: 14th Jun 2012 13:21
"Prices include air mail shipping" I think this should be noted when purchasing this book. Shipping a 700 page book isnt cheap. Also for 700 pages I dont see the price being high. It isnt bad considering what I have payed in the past for books.
CyberGamer
AGK Gold Backer
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Posted: 15th Jun 2012 20:46 Edited at: 15th Jun 2012 21:38
Quote: ""Prices include air mail shipping" I think this should be noted when purchasing this book. Shipping a 700 page book isnt cheap. Also for 700 pages I dont see the price being high. It isnt bad considering what I have payed in the past for books. "


Airmail shipping? What to England post would do?

Haha I see there are two different tariffs
Trisect Development
21
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Joined: 8th Sep 2002
Location: Denmark
Posted: 23rd Jun 2012 15:19
Well my book is coming.


Quote: "I am pleased to inform you that your book was despatched today by Airmail post and you should receive it within the next 14 days."


Check my games for iPad, Android Tablet and PlayBook.
www.ipad-apps.dk
Impetus73
12
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Joined: 28th Aug 2011
Location: Volda, Norway
Posted: 23rd Jun 2012 20:28
I got the same message today Trisect, I guess 3-4 days for delivery and customs inspection in Norway.

----------------
AGK programmer
Did Amiga / AMOS programming in the 90's.
basjak
14
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Joined: 16th Apr 2010
Location: feel like signing up for mars
Posted: 23rd Jun 2012 21:53
Quote: "AGK is not yet stable, so to buy now a book, when at the end of the year the 3D commands shall be available, it's a waste of money."


for me is not about learning AGK. DBpro programmers will find AppGameKit very easy. the book for me is more about finding ways to teach the others and how delivering information can be done.

Quote: "when at the end of the year the 3D commands shall be available, it's a waste of money."

the as DBpro: 1 for 2D. 2 for 3D.

Impetus73
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Joined: 28th Aug 2011
Location: Volda, Norway
Posted: 24th Jun 2012 12:59
When 3D is implemented, I will eventually by the AppGameKit 3D book, or download an addendum to the physical first book.

----------------
AGK programmer
Did Amiga / AMOS programming in the 90's.
Trisect Development
21
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Joined: 8th Sep 2002
Location: Denmark
Posted: 28th Jun 2012 16:26
My book just arrived today!!

Check my games for iPad, Android Tablet and PlayBook.
www.ipad-apps.dk
Impetus73
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Location: Volda, Norway
Posted: 28th Jun 2012 23:23
I got mine yesterday, already on page 148, found 2 errors I'll have to email to the author

----------------
AGK programmer
Did Amiga / AMOS programming in the 90's.
fallen one
17
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Location: My imagination!
Posted: 29th Jun 2012 01:16
Any good then, this there bookewooky.


Impetus73
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Location: Volda, Norway
Posted: 29th Jun 2012 13:58
Yes, mainly aimed at complete beginners, but after 150 pages, I actually learned a thing or two, I guess it will increase as I get to the network and physics chapters

----------------
AGK programmer
Did Amiga / AMOS programming in the 90's.
Nickydude
Retired Moderator
17
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Joined: 4th Nov 2006
Location: Look outside...
Posted: 13th Jul 2012 03:23
Any ideas if this would be sold through TGC like the Hands-On DB books?

I reject your reality and substitute my own...
Lost Dragon
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Posted: 15th Jul 2012 09:56
Good grief. The book costs more than the software.

I want to learn but not for that price.

Get the electronic version out for a reasonable fee, okay?
FakeBlood
21
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Joined: 18th Nov 2002
Location: Alabama, United States
Posted: 15th Jul 2012 17:59
Agree..ridiculous price for a book
Digital Awakening
AGK Developer
21
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Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: Sweden
Posted: 16th Jul 2012 00:19
The book is huge, one of the largest ones I've ever bought. And if you want to learn as quickly as possible I would say a book is a great investment. I have limited time to code so speeding things up are very useful for me. Also I don't have to sit in front of a computer to read it. I have a full time job so I'm not concerned about the price of the book.

The first chapter could have been better. Quite good for absolute beginners. The chapters on sprites and physics are really good for learning about the commands. Not at the level of making a game though. And that's all I've read so far. For absolute beginners and those who want to learn about all the features in AGK. It's not a guide on how to code a game though.

Lost Dragon
13
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Posted: 20th Jul 2012 19:09
It kind of sounds like more of a reference guide than a "hands on".

I'd still be interested if the got the cost down.

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