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Practical C++ Game Programming with Data Structures and Algorithms
Practical C++ Game Programming with Data Structures and Algorithms

Practical C++ Game Programming with Data Structures and Algorithms: Write high-performance code and solve game development challenges with expert-led C++ solutions

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Profile Icon Zhenyu George Li Profile Icon Charles Shih-I Yeh
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$19.99 per month
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3 (1 Ratings)
Paperback Jun 2025 426 pages 1st Edition
eBook
$20.99 $35.99
Paperback
$30.99 $44.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m
Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Zhenyu George Li Profile Icon Charles Shih-I Yeh
Arrow right icon
$19.99 per month
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3 (1 Ratings)
Paperback Jun 2025 426 pages 1st Edition
eBook
$20.99 $35.99
Paperback
$30.99 $44.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m
eBook
$20.99 $35.99
Paperback
$30.99 $44.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m

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Practical C++ Game Programming with Data Structures and Algorithms

Data Structure and Algorithm Fundamentals

In this part, the primary focus is on building a strong foundation in data structures and algorithms specifically tailored for game development. While many traditional algorithm books emphasize theory through pseudo-code, this part bridges the gap between theory and practice by offering real-world C++ examples that demonstrate how these core concepts are applied in actual game scenarios.

You’ll begin by exploring the essential role of algorithms in game design, and how they contribute to creating adaptive, high-performance, and engaging gameplay. From there, you’ll learn how data structures organize and manage game data efficiently, and how algorithms manipulate that data to drive meaningful in-game behavior.

Finally, you’ll dive into a curated set of practical algorithms—ranging from randomization and shuffling to procedural generation and object pooling—that are commonly used in game development projects.

This part includes the following chapters:

  • Chapter 1, Gearing Up: C++ for Game Development
  • Chapter 2, Data Structures in Action: Building Game Functionality
  • Chapter 3, Algorithms Commonly Utilized in Game Development
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Key benefits

  • Build real-time 2D and 3D games using C++ with practical, executable examples
  • Gain proficiency in game programming domains like AI pathfinding, camera systems, animation, and rendering effects
  • Boost runtime efficiency with practical techniques like object pooling, LOD patterns, and terrain partitioning to create smoother, more responsive gameplay systems

Description

Creating responsive, intelligent games takes more than just following engine tutorials. It requires solving real development challenges with practical, efficient code. This book bridges theory and practice with proven algorithms and techniques grounded in real-world production needs, emphasizing clean, portable C++ implementations. Starting with raylib and the custom Knight engine layer, you’ll be introduced to a simple object-oriented scene and game object system. From there, you'll build responsive gameplay systems using essential data structures and algorithms, progressing through 2D rendering, collision detection, effects, and camera control before advancing to 3D graphics environments built using shaders, lighting, quad-tree terrain, and dynamic camera setups. You’ll animate characters using skeletal rigs, interpolation, and inverse kinematics for fluid movement and then develop game AI using FSMs, behavior trees, A* pathfinding, and steering behaviors. The book also covers neural networks, exploring their underlying theories, training processes, and tools. Throughout, the code is written in legacy-compatible C++ to ensure broad support across platforms and compilers. By the end, you’ll have gained the skills to build game systems that not only work but also scale, perform, and adapt like professional-grade code.

Who is this book for?

This book is for junior game developers, hobbyists, and computer science students entering game development, as well as C++ programmers looking to strengthen their skills. While some familiarity with C++ is helpful, the examples are explained step by step to remain approachable. Whether you're starting out or reinforcing your skills before diving into game engines down the road, this book offers a clear and practical foundation to make you a more effective developer, regardless of which tools you choose later.

What you will learn

  • Use C++ data structures and algorithms to build core gameplay features
  • Implement 2D/3D rendering with shaders, particle effects, and terrain systems
  • Design camera systems like third-person, top-down, and split-screen views
  • Optimize performance using object pooling and LOD
  • Animate characters using skeletal rigging, interpolation, and inverse kinematics
  • Build game AI with FSMs, behavior trees, pathfinding, and steering
  • Apply neural network concepts in a turret defense project

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Jun 30, 2025
Length: 426 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781835889862
Languages :

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Product Details

Publication date : Jun 30, 2025
Length: 426 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781835889862
Languages :

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Table of Contents

17 Chapters
Part 1: Data Structure and Algorithm Fundamentals Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Gearing Up: C++ for Game Development Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Data Structures in Action: Building Game Functionality Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Algorithms Commonly Utilized in Game Development Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 2: Graphics Algorithms in Practice Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2D Rendering and Effects Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
The Camera and Camera Controls Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3D Graphics Rendering Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Rendering a 3D Game World Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 3: Breathing Life into Your Games Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Animating Your Characters Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Building AI Opponents Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Machine Learning Algorithms for Game AI Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 4: Reflecting and Moving Forward Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Continuing Your Learning Journey Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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Frank Jul 19, 2025
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Many good explanations and diagrams about how the CPU and GPU cooperate and 2D and 3D concepts. But there is very little about interactivity with the player/user, only simple keyboard commands. Mouse/joy stick/controller input is completely missing. It could also have used at least C++11 concepts without any problem, this is supported by all important platforms nowadays. So the book seems incomplete in relation to the topic in the title.
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