Now that Director supports JavaScript and DVD-Video, it's hard to come up with a reason not to use it for all of your interactive Web content creation needs. Buy this book, and you soon will be! In this volume (which is based on the curriculum employed by Macromedia's authorized trainers), veteran author David Mennenoh uses a series of project-based, hands-on tutorials to introduce you to every aspect of interactive content creation with Director MX 2004. As you work your way through the book's four major projects--a portfolio presentation, a training log (which employs an interactive calendar), a 2D game, and a 3D puzzle game--you'll cover topics ranging from setting up the interface to getting interactive, adding video, using MIAWs, packaging your projects for distribution, creating game assets, producing models, and more. Also covered are all of Director MX 2004's newest features: cross-platform publishing, Flash MX 2004 integration, and more. A companion CD includes the lesson files and media you'll need to complete the book's projects.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 7 Ratings

Save your time and money!!! - 2005-03-06
Reviewer Rating:
I bought this book thinking it would teach me a great deal about Director. I had previous experience, but I wanted to further my learning. Training From the Source has always came out with great books and I thought that this would be great for learning Director more in depth. This is also the required text book for a class I am taking. And everyone is having a frustrating time with it, even the instructor.

The chapter on the 3-D game is ok, but it's the database lesson that has proved to be a major frustration. It says at the beginning of the lesson that it takes two hours to complete. It took me more like twelve. I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work. After double checking the code, I knew I didn't make any mistakes. So I checked the lesson file that came on the disk. It turned out that some of the sprites on the stage on the score were placed on the wrong channels. Fortunately, I had previous experience with Lingo, and was able to fix the problem. This book is not ideal for people new to Director. The graphing lesson and movie in a window lesson has proved to be equally frustrating.

In conclusion, if you are new to Director and want to build a basis for learning it, or even a novice who wants to build on their skills, then don't buy this book. Like the previous reviewer said, It is a waste of time and money.

A complete waste of time and money. - 2005-01-15
Reviewer Rating:
I bought this book for a college course thinking it would help introduce me to Director MX 2004. While it does serve some purpose, you would be better off spending your hard-earned money on any of the other ones out there. I am only two chapters into it and already I have encountered six errors, three debilitating ones that have caused a week's loss in productivity among the entire class, until our next class meeting when our professor could explain what the hell went wrong.

Very Dry and a difficult read - 2005-12-01
Reviewer Rating:
to be honest - this book was impossible to read. director is an exciting program and this book was impossible to read, i felt like i was trying to make it through mobey dick, and everyone knows, its hard to learn when you aren't engaged. I bought this from borders, and im planning on bringing it back there. I bought director MX 2004 Bible instead, and within reading 2 pages i bought it knowing i'd love it. This is a manual, a very dry manual.

Awesome book - 2005-08-04
Reviewer Rating:
This is a truly awesome book. Except for the scattered typos, the book really teaches a lot. You actually work through entire visually appealing real world type projects. The author takes you through step by step with plenty of screenshots to keep you on the right track.

Ambitious and mean... but not lean - 2005-08-02
Reviewer Rating:
A useful and more advanced alternative in relation to the Demystified series and the like. I don't know if this is really "advanced", but it's coverage of themes like creating and managing a SQL database, building a shooting spaceships 2D game, a 3D memory game, and others, was what I considered advanced for years. It was delightful finding myself making this exercises with relative ease. Not for absolute beginners, it requires some 50 hours to devote to this material. Intermediate-advanced.

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