Best Minecraft Guides
1 Ultimate Minecraft Secrets: An Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Tips, Tricks and Hints You May Not Know
You can learn hundreds more fun, interesting and exciting tips and tricks like these, with this ultimate Guide to Minecraft Secrets.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He *might* fight our 8 year old for computer time to play... he *might* have gotten so tickled with himself when he figured out how to turn Zombies into Villagers, he *might* have multisheet Minecraft spreadsheets full of data, project du jour analyses and formulae for computing how many tracks he needs to build a track from one village to the next... but he will *never* admit to any of it. I may have gotten this book for him for Christmas this year and he *might* have squealed-stifled-by-a-manly-throat clearing every few minutes as he "uninterestedly" perused it and made notes on what he wanted to try out..."
"Love it, easy to read and illustrated great for kids or adults that recognize this game as a logic and basic engineering game that even a 6 yr old will benefit from."
"Kids love anything minecraft, there were seveal 'secrets' that aren't so much."
"Seeing as how my son is obsessed with Minecraft, this was a great purchase, he enjoyed learning the tips and tricks, and now we know more about the game than we ever wanted to!"
"Some of the things I already know but there are lots of things that are new to me."
"Very helpful."
"My seven year old grandson loved it, and used the tricks right away."
Whether you’re a Minecraft megafan or a newbie, you’ll see Minecraft in a whole new light while learning the basics of programming. Uses Python 3. "This book makes it easy for you and your middle and high school students to learn how to program in Python through very engaging Minecraft projects."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Lots of helpful q&a and reviews."
"One of the first things that typically hits you when you want to prepare a package to teach the kids is to ensure that all the software is in place and organized into appropriate folders, so that the setup is not just minimal but also is intuitive enough for you to explain to the kids and for the kids to follow. Most aspects of Python are covered and some of these include: - Variables. - Expressions and Operators. - String Manipulation. - Conditional Statements. - Loops. - Functions. - Lists. - File Operations. - Object Oriented Concepts. The above Python concepts are mapped beautifully to fun things that you can do inside Minecraft."
"If you kid loves Minecraft, this could turn their play time into a lifelong career."
"Baught it for my little (14) brother."
"You'll need OS X 10.10 or later and a paid version of the Minecraft desktop program (as far as I'm aware this book doesn't support mods to MC Pocket Edition or even playing MCPE on the supplied server software). + I like that using Python's IDLE (Integrated Development Environment) makes it very easy to write code and make changes in your game straight away (a JavaScript book for MC I'm evaluating in parallel requires a bit more work from the reader and the JS API doesn't feel as tightly integrated as this Python API (Application Programming Interface)). + It's good to see that the book's companion website has tabs for "Reviews" and - critically - "Updates" as you can bet there will be errata and updates as and when the MC client - server - Python API - JDK dependencies break at some point in the future (any book on programming needs to be well supported for a good few years; that's just the way things are). The book states that the supplied Spigot server will only allow one player to play on the server but I think most kids would be dying to show off their changes to friends on the same server. Really, these are unfair criticisms because they're not at all required in order to do what the book says: learn to program python with MC; they'd just make it a better experience."
"My son hasn't used his gift yet, but I looked inside and the book seems like a great way to learn some coding."
How to spawn and kill the Wither boss How to rescue a baby zombie villager How to make a portal without a diamond pickaxe How to make a secret passageway using paintings This is the greatest, unparalleled guide especially for readers who love the fight of good vs. evil, magical academies like Hogwarts in the Harry Potter saga and games like Terraria and Pokemon GO, ideal for both the young newcomer and the seasoned player. From abandoned mineshafts to mini-games, mods, and zombie sieges, The Ultimate Unofficial Encyclopedia for Minecrafters reveals expert tricks of the trade for gamers. “My husband and I love that it encourages his imagination but also propels him to want to read and learn from books rather than just watching YouTube. I highly recommend this book as a way for parents to engage in an activity with their kiddos if they enjoy Minecraft.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My grandson loves this book, he has read it three times."
"Highly recommend for anyone that's into minecraft."
"Purchased as gift for my 12 yr old son who is very into minecraft."
"Fast shipping."
"Guess it has a lot of useful information."
"My 9 year old enjoys this book but he's a big fan."
"Holiday gift."
Best Children's Nonfiction Game Books
In the first book of this hilarious Minecraft adventure series, we get to read the diary of an actual 12 year old, Minecraft Zombie.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The ten year old read this book. His review is, "It was good but short." Here is the question and answer session that followed in order to elicit more information: What's it about? A zombie who has troubles at schools and goes on a couple of adventures. Is there any bad language or violence in it?"
"Obviously the premise of the story is based on the Wimpy Kid series, so you're basically getting a point-of-view story in diary form. There are little black and white pictures scattered throughout, so it breaks up the story and makes it more entertaining for the reader. I also have to add that we were given a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for a fair review, but I went ahead and purchased another copy for myself as well as book 4 in the series for my son - we loved it that much!"
"He got it for Christmas and spent that afternoon reading it--and this is a kid who didn't really read on his own for fun!"
"Overall I think it is a great book- especially good for encouraging boys to find the love for reading."
"My 6 year old read this in one day, he thought it was so entertaining!"
"It is for a younger group but I have been reading the freebie digital copy on my tablet and I have to admit, I am amused with it."
"Great gift for 10 yr old grandson!"
"My son loves being read to and we read to him every night, but this is the FIRST book that he has read independently!"
Best Pokemon Guides
Inside, you'll discover: ·The video game that saved Nintendo from bankruptcy. ·The serendipitous story of Pac-Man's design. ·The misstep that helped topple Atari's $2 billion-a-year empire. ·The coin shortage caused by Space Invaders ·The fascinating reasons behind the rise, fall, and rebirth of Sega. ·And much more! In this rollicking, mammoth history of video games from pinball to Pong to Playstation II Kent, a technology journalist and self-professed video game addict, covers almost every conceivable aspect of the industry, from the technological leaps that made the games possible to the corporate power struggles that won (and lost) billions of dollars. Also addressed is the public backlash of the '80s, when video games were thought to distract students from homework, and the '90s, when Doom and other violent games were linked to the massacre at Columbine High School.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am actually taking a class at the university about the history of video games."
"The early history, though, is solid and quite intriguing, a great book for history buffs and trivia fans of all persuasions."
"This book is hands-down one of the best ever written on the history of videogames."
"This is the only book I've read that covers video games history and my first and only gaming console was original Game Boy so I had poor knowledge in how video games industry started and progressed before reading this book."
"A fantastic tale of the beginnings of an industry that was viewed at times as a form of gambling, a pointless enterprise, and today a rival to cinema."
"Kent's book reads like more than a chronology of events. While the book ended back in the early 2000s, it hasn't aged at all. Lots of factoids about release dates and sales figures, but fewer of the compelling and entertaining tales and characters that the first part of the book offered."
"Great synthetized history of videogames.. too much atari at first and it fast forward soon to the rest of the golden ages of gaming!"
"If you grew up with video games--ESPECIALLY if you're a child of the 80's who was too young to properly appreciate the movements in the industry in the 8-bit and 16-bit days--this book is a must-read."
Best Computer & Internet Game Strategy Guides
COLLECTOR’S EDITION BONUS: Premium hardcover,extra-large map poster and dedicated 16-page art section. AT-A-GLANCE WALKTHROUGHS: Annotated maps and screenshots show you the way through every quest and dungeon.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is an excellent buy."
"As beautifully illustrated as the Adventure Game it follows, this walk-thru has everything you need to know to enjoy new levels of RPG gaming."
"My only gripe is the font and print is so small it isn't always what I reach for to find things about the game sadly."
"I would highly recommend buying sticky tabs to mark numerous locations in the book (you WILL need them)."
"Delivered with slightly bent corners from shipping, so if someone is looking for pristine PRISTINE condition I'd recommend buying from a store, but honestly it's not too noticeable for someone who will be using the guide a lot."
"The quality is excellent and what I would expect from a Collector's Edition guide."
"Beautiful and helpful!"
Best Game Programming
Good game design happens when you view your game from as many perspectives as possible. Game Nite ’s Editors’ Choice "… this book is considered by many to be the ‘bible’ of game design. … Much of the material has been updated … the introduction to probability … is a must read for aspiring game designers … engaging and thought provoking … a substantial book for someone looking to get serious about game design. … this book trains you to think as a designer …". ―James Portnow, Game Designer, CEO of Rainmaker Games, and Writer of Extra Credits. "This book was clearly designed, not just written, and is an entire course in how to be a game designer. "As indicated by its title, Jesse Schell’s The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses uses many different perspectives (the titular lenses), which each prompt their own important questions, ranging from ‘What problems does my game ask the players to solve?’ to ‘What does beauty mean within the context of my game?’ These distinct points are interwoven throughout a step-by-step analysis of the design process that begins with the designer and his or her basic idea, and builds successfully from there. "Easily the most comprehensive, practical book I’ve ever seen on game design." "Jesse Schell’s new book, The Art of Game Design , is a marvelous introduction to game design by a true master of the form. " The Art of Game Design describes precisely how to build a game the world will love and elegantly crank it through the realities of clients and publishers. "Packed with Jesse’s real-world experience and humorous insight, The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses is a tool chest crossed with a kaleidoscope. Like a chemistry set for making mental explosions, it’s an idea(l) book guiding the design process for both new and seasoned game designers. "On games industry desks, books tend to come and go, but they all seem to go on top of Jesse Schell’s The Art of Game Design , because that’s the one book that seems to stick around." "Ken Rolston, internationally celebrated game designer, recommends Jesse Schell’s The Art of Game Design both for smart people and for people who are learning how to be smart."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Schell does a great job outlining the philosophy and process of game design."
"Best and most useful textbook to date."
"This is a great, straight-forward book on iterative game design created by someone active in the field."
"And he also covers methods that other entertainment industries use, giving anyone interested in designing games more options in creating better experiences."
"Fantastically good book on game design."
"This clear vocabulary is empowering, as it enables a designer to more easily think about the elements of their game, and in addition, to add to the foundation that Jesse has already put together."
"This is my second book about Game Design (first is LevelUP) and I absolutely happy to have it."
Best Computer & Video Game Design
Good game design happens when you view your game from as many perspectives as possible. Game Nite ’s Editors’ Choice "… this book is considered by many to be the ‘bible’ of game design. … Much of the material has been updated … the introduction to probability … is a must read for aspiring game designers … engaging and thought provoking … a substantial book for someone looking to get serious about game design. … this book trains you to think as a designer …". ―James Portnow, Game Designer, CEO of Rainmaker Games, and Writer of Extra Credits. "This book was clearly designed, not just written, and is an entire course in how to be a game designer. "As indicated by its title, Jesse Schell’s The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses uses many different perspectives (the titular lenses), which each prompt their own important questions, ranging from ‘What problems does my game ask the players to solve?’ to ‘What does beauty mean within the context of my game?’ These distinct points are interwoven throughout a step-by-step analysis of the design process that begins with the designer and his or her basic idea, and builds successfully from there. "Easily the most comprehensive, practical book I’ve ever seen on game design." "Jesse Schell’s new book, The Art of Game Design , is a marvelous introduction to game design by a true master of the form. " The Art of Game Design describes precisely how to build a game the world will love and elegantly crank it through the realities of clients and publishers. "Packed with Jesse’s real-world experience and humorous insight, The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses is a tool chest crossed with a kaleidoscope. Like a chemistry set for making mental explosions, it’s an idea(l) book guiding the design process for both new and seasoned game designers. "On games industry desks, books tend to come and go, but they all seem to go on top of Jesse Schell’s The Art of Game Design , because that’s the one book that seems to stick around." "Ken Rolston, internationally celebrated game designer, recommends Jesse Schell’s The Art of Game Design both for smart people and for people who are learning how to be smart."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Schell does a great job outlining the philosophy and process of game design."
"Best and most useful textbook to date."
"This is a great, straight-forward book on iterative game design created by someone active in the field."
"And he also covers methods that other entertainment industries use, giving anyone interested in designing games more options in creating better experiences."
"Fantastically good book on game design."
"This clear vocabulary is empowering, as it enables a designer to more easily think about the elements of their game, and in addition, to add to the foundation that Jesse has already put together."
"This is my second book about Game Design (first is LevelUP) and I absolutely happy to have it."