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AppGameKit Classic Chat / Teach Yourself App Game Kit [video version in development]

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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 7th Feb 2013 03:54
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Chapter 14 is now online.
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MrValentine
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Posted: 7th Feb 2013 07:04
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Made my contributions to Chapter 14 I really enjoyed that one, very useful!

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JosephB
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Posted: 7th Feb 2013 15:37
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Daniel,

I'm having some problems running the Space Fighter Project in Chapter 6. It crashes after less than a minute. It seems the drone is making a choice and then crashes. It works well for just a bit and can score hits, then just stops and provides the message "Space Fighter has stopped working". Has anyone else had a problem?

Thanks.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 7th Feb 2013 16:22 Edited at: 7th Feb 2013 16:24
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That's a new one on me.

I just copied and pasted the text and then checked it on the following devices.

Quad core desktop
Dual core Laptop
Atom Netbook
Xperia Play Android device
Asus Transformer Pad
Blackberry playbook

Each of these devices seems to run the game without any problem.

If you continue to have problems e-mail me at daniel@dcforeman.co.uk and I'll setup a remote session via TeamViewer, see if I can spot the problem. You can also add me on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dcforeman
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 8th Feb 2013 18:10
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I've confirmed the bug, takes about 15 minutes of play before it crashed on my machine.

I'm working on new Phase I code now, basically I'm hacking the Phase II project (1100 lines) down to 99 as it's a more proven code base. Should manage to fix the Program Course I code by Monday.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 11th Feb 2013 18:38 Edited at: 11th Feb 2013 18:39
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Hi guys,

I'm intending to get this book drafted and finished by the end of the week. After this I will close all donations, and whatever profit I make on this book via Amazon Kindle's services will be pumped into the fund instead.

If anyone else wants the right to resell this book on their own website you have until Friday to donate, after that I'm closing donations down and focusing on final product production and sale instead.

Thank you everyone who's donated and helped out so far.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 12th Feb 2013 16:25 Edited at: 12th Feb 2013 16:27
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I've setup a product page on facebook, you'll be able to get information and updates from there, as well as any future book revisions and updates.

http://www.facebook.com/TeachYourselfAppGameKit
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StevenP
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Posted: 12th Feb 2013 18:13
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I am not a member of Facebook and never intend to become one. Is that the only way I will be able to get updates to the book?
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StevenP
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Posted: 12th Feb 2013 23:35
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BTW, I am very impressed with how quickly you are putting this book together.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 13th Feb 2013 15:20
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Fear not, it's just a product page. Membership is not required to view it. And thank you, the years spent producing DarkBASIC Videos has certainly come in useful.
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pprem
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Posted: 13th Feb 2013 19:49
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donation done

thanks for your work Daniel

--
Patrick P.
http://www.gamolf.fr
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 13th Feb 2013 20:40
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Thank you for the donation pprem.

The revision of Chapter 6 has been uploaded. This is a complete from-ground-up rewrite to take care of some of the old versions issues. Each description now precedes each block of code, and the new code example has been obsessively tested by a team of Shakespearean trained typing monkeys to ensure it doesn't crash.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JWVuE-4LdG-jgrxcB0_lwcTTE0jUUCWIR2AiDQUIg1c/edit#
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StevenP
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Posted: 13th Feb 2013 23:07
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I apologize for not being much help in giving feedback on your work. I am just using all my limited spare time to learn AGK. The positive news is I think your book will be a great help to many people.
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StevenP
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Posted: 13th Feb 2013 23:18
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BTW, apologies if an old post of mine got re-posted. I did a page refresh and it gave me the "post requires approval..." message again from a post I made the other day (I can't wait until the approval requirement is lifted on me) so I don't know if it attempted to submit it again.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 02:21
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You don't need to apologize, any help offered is voluntary not expected. Users learning AppGameKit for the first time are an ideal trial base. In your case (assuming you've read it) no comments must mean you've not had any trouble understanding it.
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MrValentine
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 02:23
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Quote: "no comments must mean you've not had any trouble understanding it. "


Mission Accomplished Boss!



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StevenP
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 17:13
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I've read a large portion of it and will continue reading the most recent chapters soon. I tend to spend a lot of time working with the commands and then creating useful functions for them. That way I know I understand how they work and what to expect. It helps me memorize them, too.

I'm actually a Systems Architect and have been programming for around 30 years (17 years professionally). I must admit to feeling awkward about not having classes or at the very least call backs (at least that would enable me to create a pseudo event driven framework.) It really is a matter of me learning the ins and outs of the language and to change my approach to programming (esp. since I pretty much do business software.) I know I can drop down to Tier 2 but I don’t want to do that just yet since I think it’s good to be flexible enough to switch programming approaches when necessary.

It’s actually a weird feeling starting from scratch in learning a new language that is requiring me to rethink my programming approaches.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 23:41
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Whenever I try to learn a new language I repeatedly hit my head on the desk until amnesia sets in. Then I spend six months rediscovering who I am, marry the wrong woman, get divorced, and receive a letter from myself 3 months later telling me to learn X language. When I do I...

What was I talking about? Ohhh, candy!
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StevenP
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Posted: 15th Feb 2013 02:51
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Ha ha! Awesome!
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MrValentine
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Posted: 15th Feb 2013 03:39
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And then... And then... And then... nthenthennthen... And then...

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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 15th Feb 2013 17:30
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Thank you for all your support and hard work so far everyone. I've officially closed donations now. £372.58 of the total goal was raised that's been transferred into an account where it will build interest and I'll divert as much of my various royalties into it as I can, once it reaches the required level I'll update the book with iOS and Mac OS instructions.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 16th Feb 2013 02:17 Edited at: 16th Feb 2013 02:18
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If anyone who contributed wants to send their real name to appear in the final ebook dedication page please send it to donation@teachyourselfstuff.com and you'll get your name in print!
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 16th Feb 2013 19:53 Edited at: 16th Feb 2013 19:54
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My first cover draft.

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JimHawkins
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Posted: 16th Feb 2013 22:48
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Very nice! But tablets should have a lower-case t.

-- Jim DO IT FASTER, EASIER AND BETTER WITH AppGameKit FOR PASCAL
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 16th Feb 2013 23:32
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Thanks I'll fix that in the next render.
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MrValentine
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Posted: 17th Feb 2013 00:20
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WoWWee that is ace! Retro and ACE!

Of course aside from the t

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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 18th Feb 2013 18:46 Edited at: 18th Feb 2013 18:46
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Writing chapter 16, Tablet and Mobile input. This chapter deals with single touch input, Text input, Virtual buttons, Virtual Joystick, the Accelerometer (G-Sensor) and Multi-touch. This is the final primer II before Chapter 17 Program Course II.

Click here to visit chapter
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StevenP
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Posted: 19th Feb 2013 16:21
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I like the cover!
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 19th Feb 2013 17:43
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Thank you.

Chapter 17 is now online, this is the final program course, and marks the end of the book.

The only part after this will be the reference section, this will contain some extra tutorials such as how to build your games for Android 1.076 (1.08 will be written when it's out of beta).
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 20th Feb 2013 06:54 Edited at: 20th Feb 2013 15:44
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* removed by me the author, I didn't post anything naughty don't worry *
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MrValentine
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Posted: 20th Feb 2013 09:28
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Private video again Dan

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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 20th Feb 2013 15:44 Edited at: 20th Feb 2013 15:52
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Video of the new Phase I book



The new Phase I cover.

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MrValentine
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Posted: 20th Feb 2013 15:51
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Yay Awesome!

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Bored of the Rings
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Posted: 21st Feb 2013 13:57 Edited at: 21st Feb 2013 14:00
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[edited]
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 21st Feb 2013 15:49
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Hi guys, this ebook has been released.

Phase I can be downloaded from your TGC product history.

The final book can be purchased at:

UK Amazon Kindle store
US Amazon Kindle store
French Amazon Kindle store
Italian Amazon Kindle store
Spanish Amazon Kindle store
German Amazon Kindle store
Japanese Amazon Kindle Store

There is no reason for donors to purchase this book, I will be sending out special ePub editions to everyone soon.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 21st Feb 2013 19:50
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For everyone who donated to this project I'm going to be releasing your free ePub file soon. Please expect a message with the download link soon.
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DennisW
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Posted: 22nd Feb 2013 18:11
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Hi Daniel
This is great work as always. I will be picking up my copy shortly. Again great work !!!

Ham and Eggs Breakfast
The Chicken was involved the Pig was Committed
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Lost Dragon
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Posted: 24th Feb 2013 00:55
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I bought a copy on Amazon. It's pretty nice so far. Is the source code in the book available somewhere?
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 24th Feb 2013 00:56 Edited at: 24th Feb 2013 00:59
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Yep, in the book. I promote copy typing, it's boring, but it trains your brains motor skills to feel the commands you produce. More often than not when I program the commands just tend to appear line by line as I describe what I want it to do. It's pure muscle memory in response to what I need. For this reason I only provide file downloads for the purpose of debugging and error correction when it's a large example.
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Lost Dragon
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Posted: 24th Feb 2013 18:56
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That's only one learning modality. I hope you support more in the future. Not everybody learns the same way.

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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 24th Feb 2013 19:17 Edited at: 24th Feb 2013 19:18
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Yeah they do, we all type it out until we're blue in the face and start to see strings of code floating in front of our eyes

The program course's have code provided for troubleshooting and comparison. The rest of the sub programs are learning exercises that don't exceed 10 - 15 lines. There shouldn't be a reason to provide downloaded examples for these because they are printed in the book.
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Lost Dragon
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Posted: 25th Feb 2013 03:33
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Haha. Ok I see.

Going through your book I have learned quite a bit so far. I finally got my little dudes animated since I read your explanation on how to do it.

I'm glad I spent the 8 bucks. Thanks. Write another one on making tile RPGs. I will buy them all.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 25th Feb 2013 12:01 Edited at: 25th Feb 2013 12:01
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Good, I'm glad you like the set value.

I will look into the Tile RPG concept. But as with anything, I need to write the program first. If and when I manage to produce a reasonable version I'll certainly write a book on it.
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Ancient Lady
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Posted: 25th Feb 2013 19:11
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Daniel, I am interested in purchasing it.

However, I do not have a Kindle.

Since you are producing an ePub version for the folks who donated, are you planning to publish it in this format on any of the distributors for ePub?

Cheers,
Ancient Lady
AGK Community Tester and AppGameKit Master
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 25th Feb 2013 23:24
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Yes both ePub and PDF versions of the book will be made available for purchase soon.
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Ancient Lady
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Posted: 25th Feb 2013 23:25
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Excellent! I look forward to it.

Cheers,
Ancient Lady
AGK Community Tester and AppGameKit Master
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DennisW
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Posted: 26th Feb 2013 01:00
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@ Ancient Lady I did pick up Daniel book and I have it on Kindle for PC. I also have it on my Android and my Kindle. So no matter what you have there is a download for it.

Ham and Eggs Breakfast
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Lost Dragon
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Posted: 26th Feb 2013 02:14
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I don't have a Kindle either. I just used Amazon's Kindle viewer on my PC. It's sort of like Adobe Reader for their ebooks.
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 26th Feb 2013 20:19 Edited at: 28th Feb 2013 00:38
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You can also view kindle books directly in your browser with https://read.amazon.co.uk/about
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Daniel TGC
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Posted: 26th Feb 2013 20:31 Edited at: 26th Feb 2013 20:37
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Right guys, development continues! Rather than start another thread I figure I might as well keep this one going and abuse my mod powers by updating the subject

I have just produced the first draft video of Teach Yourself Game Programming for Android and Windows. This first video is open for everyone to view.

All future videos will be restricted to users who have donated more than £5 to the eBook project. All users who have done so, e-mail me at daniel@dcforeman.co.uk to ensure your name gets on the share list.

Please note that all draft videos will be half resolution, this is because I have limited space on google drive and no way to control access on youtube. Final videos will be produced at 720p HD (1280 x 720)

https://drive.google.com/#folders/0B0vAUG7nDg12QUw2bVJaQmp3cEU

The predicted cost of these videos is £34.99 (the same price as my original DarkPRINCIPLES videos) if anyone is interested in Pre-ordering the video tutorial for £24.99 (a £10 saving), please let me know. If enough people are interested I'll setup the ordering system.

The video will be delivered via DRM-Free MP4 files with a menu system for navigation. I am considering DVD versions, but given their low resolution and the cost of printing them plus various DRM and Regional issues I feel direct no-fuss downloads is the best way to go.
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