Textbook

Introductory Programming with Simple Games: Using Java and the Freely Available Networked Game Engine

ISBN: 978-0-470-21284-4

Paperback

528 pages

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The book teaches introductory computer science using computer games as the problem domain. The goal is to motivate students to experiment with code, to make changes just to see what happens.
Each chapter develops a single computer game to motivate new concepts. Java constructs are introduced when needed.
FANG – Freely Available Networked Game Engine is employed throughout the book. It was developed to support students in intro courses writing games from the first day of class.
The current version of this open source platform is always available at www.fangengine.org, along with tutorials on integrating FANG in most modern integrated development environments.
Delayed introduction of the “main” method: The FANG engine, using code based on the ACM’s Java Task Force’s “ACM Package” does not require students to have their own “main” method. Both applications and applets can be written without any “static” methods.
Iteration deferred until the second half of the book. This is facilitated by FANG and the game loop. For more details, see the preface!