Game Programming Patterns

Hi There

Things look a bit sparse, don't they? Well, the truth is you got here early. Kind of like that time you showed up for your friend's Christmas party and they were still putting up decorations and you had to sit on the couch clutching an eggnog while they worked awkwardly around you. Like that. Hopefully, not quite that awkward.

It's OK, though. I'm glad you're here. "Here", in case you don't know, is the online home for a book I'm working on. It's a collection of design patterns I've found in games.

Here's where you come in. The content I have is here for you to read, but also for you to contribute to. Feel free to discuss what you've read on your favorite social news site and I'll do my best to incorporate it. Or you can email me directly. My name is "robert", and the domain is "stuffwithstuff.com".

Pointing out spelling and grammar errors is fine, but higher-level feedback is more useful. If you had trouble following something or think a part is redundant, let me know. If I got something wrong or you disagree with it, call me out. Thanks!

If you'd like to know when new chapters are online, point your RSS reader at my blog. I'll add a quick post there when new content for the book is up.

The Book

Getting Started
- Introduction
- Why Software Architecture Matters
- How to Use Patterns (and How Not to Abuse Them)
Design Patterns Revisited
- Prototype
- Singleton
- Flyweight
- Command
- Observer
- State
Game Programming Patterns
- Sequencing Patterns
  - Game Loop
  - Update Method
  - Double Buffer
- Behaving Patterns
  - Component
  - Type Object
  - Sandbox Method
  - Context Parameter
  - Virtual Machine
- Communicating Patterns
  - Service Locator
  - Message
  - Message Queue
  - Area Effect
- Optimizing Patterns
  - Object Pool
  - Structure of Arrays
  - Dirty Bits