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SFX Collection - No.54 2012 (UK)
English | PDF | 124 pages | 38.2 Mb

Starling is an ActionScript 3 2D framework developed on top of the Stage3D APIs (available on desktop in Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR 3). Starling is mainly designed for game development, but could be used for many other use cases. Starling makes it possible to write fast GPU accelerated applications without having to touch the low-level Stage3D APIs.

Most Flash developers want to be able to leverage GPU acceleration (through Stage3D) without the need to write such higher-level frameworks and dig into the low-level Stage3D APIs. Starling is completely designed after the Flash Player APIs and abstracts the complexity of Stage3D (Molehill) and allows easy and intuitive programming for everyone.

Obviously Starling is for ActionScript 3 developers, especially those involved in 2D game development; of course you will need to have a basic understanding of ActionScript 3. By its design (lightweight, flexible and simple), Starling can be used also be used for other use cases like UI programming. That said, everything is designed to be as intuitive as possible, so any Java™ or .Net™ developer will get the hang of it quickly as well.

Get a solid grounding in all the fundamentals of Cocoa Touch—and avoid problems during iPhone and iPad app development. With this revised and updated edition, you’ll learn how to work effectively with Objective-C and Xcode, using iOS 5 and Xcode 4.2 features, such as ARC memory management, storyboards, Core Image filters, and Emitter layers.
This book covers iOS 5 in a rigorous, orderly fashion—ideal whether you’re approaching iOS for the first time or need a reference to bolster existing skills.

• Learn Objective-C language details and object-oriented programming concepts
• Understand the anatomy of an Xcode project and all the stages of its lifecycle
• Grasp key Cocoa concepts such as relationships between classes, receiving events, and model-view-controller architecture
• Know how views are managed, drawn, composited, and animated
• Delve into Cocoa frameworks for sound, video, sensors, maps, and more
• Touch on advanced topics such as threading and networking
• Obtain a thorough grounding for exploring advanced iOS features on your own

Ready to create rich interactive experiences with your artwork, designs, or prototypes? This is the ideal place to start. With this hands-on guide, you’ll explore several themes in interactive art and design—including 3D graphics, sound, physical interaction, computer vision, and geolocation—and learn the basic programming and electronics concepts you need to implement them. No previous experience is necessary.
You’ll get a complete introduction to three free tools created specifically for artists and designers: the Processing programming language, the Arduino microcontroller, and the openFrameworks toolkit. You’ll also find working code samples you can use right away, along with the background and technical information you need to design, program, and build your own projects.

• Learn cutting-edge techniques for interaction design from leading artists and designers
• Let users provide input through buttons, dials, and other physical controls
• Produce graphics and animation, including 3D images with OpenGL
• Use sounds to interact with users by providing feedback, input, or an element they can control
• Work with motors, servos, and appliances to provide physical feedback
• Turn a user’s gestures and movements into meaningful input, using Open CV

If you were to analyze your team’s performance on a typical project, you’d be surprised how much time is wasted on non-productive tasks. This hands-on guide shows you how to work more efficiently by organizing and managing projects with SharePoint 2010. You’ll learn how to build a Project Management Information System (PMIS), customized to your project, that can effectively coordinate communication and collaboration among team members.
Written by a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Microsoft SharePoint MVP with 15 years of IT project management experience, each chapter includes step-by-step guides as well as workshops that help you practice what you learn.

• Build a SharePoint PMIS that requires little assistance from your IT/IS department
• Define access permissions for project stakeholders and team members
• Centralize project artifacts and keep track of document history with version control
• Track project schedules, control changes, and manage project risks
• Automate project reporting and use web parts to generate on-demand status reports
• Integrate project management tools such as Excel, Microsoft Project, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Apply your knowledge of PMIS techniques by working with a case study throughout the book

"If you are a project manager looking for a technology-based, easily implemented, and usable solution for project communications, document management, and general project organization, this book is for you!"
–Susan Weese, PgMP, President and Founder, Rhyming Planet

In fewer than fifty years video games have become one of the most popular forms of entertainment, but which are the best games, the ones you must play? Video game expert Tony Mott presents 1001 of the best video games from around the world and on all formats, from primitive pioneering consoles like Atari's VCS to modern-day home entertainment platforms such as Sony's PlayStation 3. Each entry includes an illustrated screenshot of the game in action, along with details of its original release date and platform, with informative and authoritative text outlining its play mechanics, artistic qualities, contributions to its respective genre, and more. From "Donkey Kong" to "Doom", and from "Frogger" to "Final Fantasy", "1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die" is the essential guide to everything from the old favorites to those breaking new ground. These are the games that should not be missed.