For those of use that prefer our technical information printed on paper, Microsoft Press has a book that should hopefully get you started with the new APIs, creating rich Windows 7 enhanced applications in no time.

Introducing Windows 7 for Developers is that book. A collaborative effort between Yochay Kiriaty, Laurence Moroney, Sasha Goldshtein and Alon Fliess, this book looks at most of the cool new features in Windows 7, and how to use them in your own applications.

What it Covers

The book covers the major new features in Windows 7 like the Superbar and Multi-touch, as well as the how to implement the Ribbon that is included for all developers in the new OS. However the book does not cover the new DirectX APIs like Direct2D and DirectWrite, claiming that the APIs are simply too large to cover. Small overviews are provided of each technology so you have somewhere to start from.

The book covers developing for Windows 7 as both a native (C++) developer and a C#/.NET developer, however I noticed quite a large focus on the C++ side of things. The big strength of the book is in explaining the process for working with these new technologies, rather than the syntax. If you find the .NET explanation insufficient, there should be numerous resources online that provide the syntax and class definitions for working with the .NET Windows 7 libraries.

A very short overview is provided at the end for developer oriented features such as troubleshooting or profiling. I would have liked to have seen more detail on these topics, and some of the other “hidden” features of Windows 7 that make maintaining and developing applications easier.

Style

The book approaches each topic with an overview of the new feature, before diving into implementing some example applications that make use of the features. This hybrid theory/hands-on approach works quite well, however the authors expect the reader to know how to work with the other technologies used like WPF.

I found the examples to be simple, but effective. They get straight to the point and tell you what you need to know to get the specific task done. In the topic on multi-touch, they provide examples on what each type of touch should be used for, and throughout the book they provide small overviews of the API relating to that particular topic.

There are plenty of diagrams, tables and screenshots that demonstrate what is going on, and many of those will even provide a little hint on where you can go past the samples and play around with more advanced features.

Conclusion

For those who have a solid background in developing for Windows in general, either using MFC or WPF/WinFoms for .NET, you will find this book to be a good starting point for enhancing your applications with the new features in Windows 7. Topics are explained in detail before they work on implementation, and through this you can gain an understanding of how the features should be used in your application. This is especially important with multi-touch, where there are standard gestures that you should not alter – although you certainly can go your own route, and the book will explain how to do that as well.

Weighing in at 395 pages (including Index), this book is not a hefty tome like many other programming books. The abundance of lists, figures and code samples means that you won’t be reading giant blocks of text all of the time, which makes the reading experience much nicer. This is certainly an introductory book for a very specific topic, and if you are interested in working with these technologies, I would highly recommend using this book as a starting point.

MS Press Australia sells this book through its online store for $69.95 AUD.

Book Details

Title: Introducing Windows 7 for Developers
Author: Yochay Kiriaty, Laurence Moroney, Sasha Goldshtein, Alon Fliess
ISBN: 978-0-7356-2682-9

Buy from Microsoft Press Australia (AU $65.95)

MCTS Self Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-536): Microsoft .NET Framework – Application Development Foundation
Author

At first look, Microsoft .NET Framework – Application Development Foundation sounds like it would just cover the basics of application development in .NET, and one would need to look elsewhere for further information. However those who have looked at the exam description will realise that the “Foundation”  description is rather extensive, ranging from using basic types and collections, through to using the Cryptography classes to secure your applications.

This book is an official training kit designed to teach, or at least push developers to pass the 70-536 Microsoft .NET Framework – Application Development Foundation exam. Whilst you will find plenty of new information about new technologies like Silverlight 3.0, or the changes coming in .NET 4, it is crucial that as a developer you have a solid understanding of the foundations of .NET.

To cover the broad range of content that the exam looks at, the book has been written to cover each topic quickly, but with enough information so the reader either understands, or has enough knowledge to search further, either online or in other books, to expand their knowledge. For example Generics, a powerful aspect of .NET, is covered in about 4 pages, however in those four pages you get to understand what Generics are, how to use them in their most basic form, and for a beginner, this is conveyed in a way that is easy to understand.

You will notice that the title of the book is not specific about which language the book covers, this is because all code samples in the book come in both VB.NET and C#, so whichever language you use, this book will still apply to you. This also lets the book demonstrate the cross-language capabilities given by the .NET platform.

I found that the author wrote very clearly, covering the topics well in the small amount of space he used for each. Each topic basically consists of a short description paragraph, and then a piece of sample code in VB/C#. However whilst the pieces are short and cover the topic well, I found the code samples, which describe how to use each feature, did not have much in the way of comments; generally a single line comment indicating what is happening next, and then a block of code.

If you are looking for a very quick run through the foundations of .NET, or you are a beginner to .NET, this book is very good. It will set you up perfectly for further learning into the areas you want to focus on, and if you ever need the other aspects of the framework, you at least know the basics and have a starting point to learn more. The book comes in at around 700 pages, covering 16 major areas of the .NET framework.

You can buy the book from Microsoft Press using this link.

Overview

“Get the preeminent guide to programming application for Windows with C++. Programming Applications for Microsoft Windows is a classic book (formerly titled Advanced Windows, Third Edition) and is now fully updated for Windows Vista, including the latest information about Windows XP. In-depth and comprehensive, this essential reference covers the Windows operating system and how to program at the API level. Recognized experts provide an inside view of how Windows works and how to use its features in Visual C++ development tasks. Topics covered include processes, thread pooling, virtual memory, DLLs, file I/O, and message crackers. For systems-level programmers, this is a must-have title. Includes code samples in Visual C++.”

Review

Although the title of the book is slightly misleading, this book certainly accomplishes what the overview says. The authors provide a great wealth of information concerning Windows development topics like Threading, Process Management, working with memory, DLLs and many other areas.

Weighing in at 800+ pages, this is a extensive guide to working with Windows. The book presents the information at a rapid pace and ultimately works better as a reference book than something you sit down and read. For example I was working on a wrapper for the Windows API INI functions for a game, and whilst I have worked with strings before, I have not worked much with the Unicode strings that Windows uses. This book really helped me to understand the many different available functions, and realise that even if you use the ASCII versions, Windows will convert behind-the-scenes. (Which could have a detrimental effect on performance)

Whether it be working with strings, or working with DLLs, this book will provide a nice overview of the many different functions available to you in the Windows API, as well as short instructions on how to best make use of them.

The book is split into Strings, Processes/Threads, Memory Management, DLLs and exceptions, and each part has many sub-parts each containing a wealth of information on the topic. Each chapter is laid out with a summary of how you would accomplish the tasks in each area (Thread creation etc), and for each function and structure you may use (or group of functions/structures), there is a small summary of the best way to make use of the capabilities of the function, as well as tables describing each part of the structure or the parameters for the function.

The book not only covers the correct ways to accomplish a task, but also provides information on legacy equivalents in case you encounter them or have to use them. (Although it does strongly advise you use the newer forms)

For those doing Engineering at UTS, this book covers the Windows API equivalents of what you would learn in Real Time Operating systems, and includes all the information about inter-process communication and inter-thread communication. I am unsure what IT students do as an equivalent (if there is one).

You can find the table of contents in the book’s MSDN article here and there is also excerpts from two chapters so you can get a nice example of the structure and writing style, that way you can try before you buy.

This book is aimed at intermediate or advanced developers who already have an understanding of C++ and want to work in a Windows environment. Most of this book applies to both CLI and Win32 development, and could even be used in Game development, as long as it uses the Windows APIs. The book is also up to date with the changes for Vista.

I would say this is a must get for any C++ Windows developer’s reference library. It has many applications and the theory of how things work in Windows on a lower level can be taken into many other languages.

If you are still beginning C++ development, you should probably steer clear from this book for now, and pick it up later when you have a better grasp of the language. This book provides very short and concise code samples that generally only cover the correct way to use a feature instead of a complete sample application. It assumes that you have experience with working with C++ and all of the language specific features, and is best used to extend your knowledge into Windows specific areas.

Rating: 8/10

I have an extra copy of the book to give away, so just leave a comment about the review or the book and I will pick one at random. Preferably Sydney or Melbourne only, since the book is thick and pretty big. If you are not located in Sydney/Melbourne and still want it (and win), then you may need to cover the shipping costs.

You buy this book from Microsoft Press Australia for $145, and get 40% off RRP if you use the code TOOLS when ordering. (Valid until May 2009)

Aside from the 40% off promotion, all students get 20% off if you buy from the online store at www.mspress.com.au, and if you happen to find that Amazon has a cheaper price, then MS Press will match it as well!

Platform: Xbox 360
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Rating (USA): T (Teen)
Rating (AU): PG (Parental Guidance Recommended)
Demo: Available on Xbox.com

(This review is based on a release copy of the game graciously provided by MGS)

Halo Wars is the final game to emerge from the venerable Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires series), and the first title from Ensemble to be exclusive to the Xbox 360 console. The game will be released in PAL territories on the 26th February 2009, and in North America on the 3rd March 2009. The title is available in Standard and Limited editions, with the limited edition contained in a plastic covering that holds a Steelbook case for the game, and an extras package for the bonus items, just like Halo 3.

The limited edition contains a code for a Honour Guard Wraith vehicle that can be redeemed on Xbox Live, and a code to download the upcoming Mythic Map pack for Halo 3. It also contains a rubber patch from the Spirit of Fire (the UNSC ship in the game), 6 leader cards that describe the leader powers, and a graphic novel set in the Halo universe.

Gameplay

If you believed that Halo Wars is simply Halo 3 scaled up, you would be right. The gameplay has the feel of its FPS cousin, and the game manages to maintain that feel in the writing, and even in the menus. However the RTS base of the game still shows, for example when air units sit in place to attack a building. Unit feel and movement was obviously emphasised in the game, Warthogs will fishtail, bounce around when they land, and get knocked about when they ram through a group of enemies.

The unit selection is rather extensive,from units you know and love, like the Warthog and Grunts, to some craft previously unseen in Halo games, like the Vulture super unit, which is great for unleashing devastating barrage attacks on the enemy base. Covenant bring the old favourites like the Elites, Jackals and Hunters to the party, and you gain a feeling of satisfaction when you unleash a couple of Scarab super-units on the enemy, knowing what they were like in Halo 3.

The two sides really differ when it comes to leader powers. The UNSC uses a special attack menu which is called up by pressing Up on the D-Pad. The power you have, depends on the leader chosen at the start of the match. However unlike the UNSC, who does not have any units to represent their leaders in skirmish/multiplayer, the Covenant leader is actually a controllable unit on the battlefield. The covenant deploy their leader abilities through the use of the Special Attack that each unit has. Whilst the UNSC can use their powers in any visible area, the Covenant leader must be within range to use its ability. However the Covenant also gain the ability to teleport other units to the leader’s position, creating a great way to reinforce an attack on the enemy.

The “console simplification” can really be seen in the base building mechanic where all buildings are constructed in fixed locations around a central base, (Firebase for the UNSC, Citadel for the Covenant) and supplies (the resource for the game) are collected over time by a specific type of building. Most maps have at least 4 base locations, with the empty ones being held by an AI party that you simply need to crush to gain control of the position.

The control scheme works very nicely with the Xbox 360 controller, however the lack of control groups and more advanced controls will be an issue for those coming from the PC and wanting to try out Ensemble’s final offering on consoles.

Movement is handled with the Left Thumbstick, and camera rotation and zooming is handled with the Right Thumbstick. The ability to select all units, or just all units on screen, as well as being able to cycle through the unit types selected using the Right Trigger will certainly help those who are willing to learn the controls. Moving around the map can be sped up by using the Left Trigger, and without this, the movement controls simply wouldn’t work.

However this console simplification has really worked for Halo Wars. Whilst the game would most likely fail if it appeared in this state on the PC, the game controls, and mechanics work quite well for console, enough to make Halo Wars one of, if not the best RTS games on consoles to date.

Difficulty in the single player campaign ramps up pretty fast, with the jump from Normal to Heroic being much harder than the jump from Easy to Normal. Certain campaign missions also cause a spike in difficulty. You could be progressing nicely through the campaign, and then get stuck for a long time on one mission due to what look like overwhelming odds. One mission has you defending civilian transports for 20 minutes whilst the Covenant mount a full scale attack on you, your Spartan allies, and the Civilians. Combined with the love that AI Spartans have for hijacking vehicles, this can quickly become a painful mission where surviving through to the end is difficult; especially when the enemy has their full tech tree, and you are limited to just over 1/2 your units.  This can ruin the fun of the game, especially when a reasonably early mission causes a great amount of frustration.

Skirmish has the player fighting alongside AI teammates, or alone, against one or multiple AI foes. The skirmish AI can be challenging, however they are not very “smart”. It is quite possible to take over a base right next to their own, and they will continue to try to send forces to your main base. Recreations of famous maps like Blood Gulch will surely bring fond memories for fans of the previous Halo games, and being able to fight those same battles on a much larger scale is certainly enjoyable. Halo Wars ships with a good number of maps that range from 1v1 to 3v3, and span all of the locale types in the game. More than enough to keep you playing for a while.

Graphics & Audio

Being a console RTS, Halo Wars certainly does not have the detail of Empire Total War, however the game does have a reasonably high quality for its class. Animations are the key point here, with the quality level being close to, if not the same as Halo 3 (I wouldn’t be surprised if the animations were given to Ensemble by Bungie).

Textures are at a pretty good resolution, and the particle effects really add to the scene, and the feeling that this is a Halo game however the game does occasionally slow down at 1080p, although this is very rare and usually only during heavy action.

Halo Wars simply has to be played in High Definition to look good, and due to the detail required and information on screen, players need the extra space afforded by a minimum resolution of 720p to really experience the game.

The pre-rendered cut scenes which break each mission were created by the CG studio Blur and as usual are top notch. The colours in many missions are bright and lush, which looks great as a backdrop to the destruction that is about to occur. However in keeping with the Halo universe, many locales are dull, and Ensemble has put a lot of effort into ensuring that the game looks great in any environment.

The audio in the game is very similar to Halo 3, with many sounds most likely brought over from the FPS title. You cannot fault Halo Wars on the audio, the engine appears to be able to handle the many diverse sounds on screen at once, and the score by Stephen Rippy manages to keep the Halo musical theme alive throughout the game.

Overall

At the end of the day, Halo Wars does not manage to do what Halo did for FPS on the console. If Halo Wars was a PC game, it would be lacking immensely, however for the needs of consoles, the game is executed extremely well. The controls are well designed for the Xbox 360 controller, and this is crucial for the gameplay of an RTS on a console. Difficulty spikes are an issue, and it is never fun repeating the same mission over and over again, especially one running on a timer.

Whilst I am certain that most Ensemble fans would have preferred a PC RTS for their final game, it is nice to see one of the best do justice to a Halo RTS. This is a solid effort by Ensemble to bring RTS to the consoles, and it is certainly above par when compared to other games in the same class. A very fun game to play, and an awesome way to experience the Halo universe. The addition of a timeline will certainly be loved by the Halo universe fans, and provides an easy way for new players to learn about the back story behind the war, as well as the major events leading up until the events on earth in Halo 3.

I did not get a chance to experience the multiplayer, however the skirmish games were good fun, and I can only hope that playing over Live enhances the experience.

If you are a console gamer wanting to experience the wonderful world of RTS games, this is a perfect introduction to the genre in a familiar setting. We can expect DLC and updates for the game to appear down the line from the newly formed Robot Entertainment, which is staffed by ex-Ensemble employees.

If you intend to pick this up, you cannot go wrong by picking up the limited edition, especially if you are a Halo 3 fan. Early access to the Mythic map pack, and a good Halo Graphic Novel is worth the extra price for a fan, however if you do not play Halo 3 on Live, then you should probably just choose the standard edition.

Pros:

• Excellent graphics
• Fitting control scheme
• RTS replay value

Cons:

• Mission difficulty increase is annoying
• Occasional slowdown/stuttering
• Lack of ‘standard’ RTS features (Control groups)

Rating:

8.9/10

Best of luck to the employees of Ensemble in your future endeavours, and great work on your final game as Ensemble studios.

(Originally posted at http://mquandt.com/blog/?p=11)