Do you like playing video games and want to learn how to make your own games for fun so you can show off your creations to your friends? Or are you interested in the becoming a designer in the game industry and need help getting started? Wherever your interest in game creation lies, "Torque for Teens" will teach you the techniques you need to design your very own video games using the powerful 3D computer game engine, Torque. Written in simple language, each chapter begins with a basic overview of the topic being covered, followed by step-by-step instructions to help you conquer each new skill presented, and ending with a summary to reinforce what you've learned. Throughout the course of the book you will put your new skills into action with a hands-on project that ends with the creation of a first-person shooter game. Before you begin creating the game, you'll get a quick technical introduction to the Torque Game Engine, followed by a lesson on how to create a basic game outline. You'll then get started with your game, creating the terrain and buildings, and modeling and animating your player. From there you"ll learn how to add an interface and menu screen and sounds and effects, and program the mission of your game. Each chapter builds upon the previous until your very own video game is complete! You'll also explore the other cool functions of Torque such as setting up a multiplayer game, how to test and fix your game, and even how to advertise and get the word out about your game online. With "Torque for Teens" you'll conquer all the tools and techniques you need to create and modify your video game creations!

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 12 Ratings

DO NOT BUY this book - 2008-10-13
Reviewer Rating:
First thing out of the box tutorial number 1 not even 2 or 3 but number one , is wrong error on error, 2nd thing the software that is included with the book isnt even on the disk, you need to go to garage games and download the correct files ,and that still has the same ERRORS as the included wrong software , ie particles/smoke not found , you can verify this on the web as i am not the only one to encounter this, now I ask you what kind of writer writes a book that hasnt even checked the software functioality or has even made sure the correct software is included, do yourself a favor and do not buy this book you will have nothing but a dissapointed teen and god help you if its a 3 or 4 day weekend like what happened to me.

Good entry level read - 2009-05-16
Reviewer Rating:
As an educator, I needed a book for quick visual entry into game design using Torque. This book does the job well. The unfortunate problem is the older version of Torque (1.5) supplied on the CD inhibits using the current program.

Many things are lacking - 2009-02-27
Reviewer Rating:
The first few chapters are just reading and an overview of the game industry (no big deal here). When you start into using Torque the CD is missing the game engine needed to perform the exercises. The CD has the demo Torque engine but not the actual Torque engine - you have to purchase the engine (a few more $ to spend). The instructions on how to use the Torque Constructor (for creating crates and houses) seems to have been written by someone who knows how to use the software and assumes you are familiar with the software (too bad for you if you are not familiar with the Torque Constructor). When it comes time to create the character 'Little Reaper' for your first game the author includes Blender software on the CD but in the book he uses 3ds max to create the character (another piece of software you have to search for, download, and install). The examples given on how to use Torque, Torque Constructor and 3ds max to create your first game are very ambiguous at best. Many errors on how to do something (screenshots not matching the software) and I spent way too much time trying to figure out how the author wanted to do it as his examples and instructions were quite often wrong. I do not suggest this book to anyone wanting to start in on Torque due to the book errors and software not included on the CD.

Torque for teens? - 2009-02-04
Reviewer Rating:
The source disk is missing information needed to complete the lessons. Who QC'd this junk? I wish I could return it as a paid full boat. I'll never purchase from this publisher or author again.

Didn't live up to high hopes... - 2008-06-30
Reviewer Rating:
Purchased this book for my son who is interested in learning game programming. The book had a cd which was suppose to be all inclusive, but we ran into problems. Could not find examples it talked about in Chapter 4. Think there are items missing that we should have. The book does not spell out if you have to go to the website and download the development kit.

My son is not to happy with the book. I have a degree in computer science and I'm not happy with the book either. It's simple, if the book says go and get this file from this directory then it should be there.

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Programming

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Programming > Game Programming