This Java-based book is designed for beginning programmers, using game programming as a central tool to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. The new edition updates GUI interface chapters from Swing to FX-based programs. The game programming integration does not compromise the traditional programming material, allowing instructors unfamiliar with game programming to leverage its pedagogical benefits. The book assumes no prior programming experience.
Starting with an introduction, the course progresses through variables, input/output, calculations, methods, classes, objects, boolean expressions, and decision-making. It then covers loops, arrays, advanced object-oriented concepts, inheritance, recursion, and exceptions. The latter part focuses on graphical user interfaces, generics, the API collection framework, multithreading, and concurrency.
By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of Java programming, enhanced by practical game programming applications. This approach not only makes learning more engaging but also provides a solid foundation for more advanced Java programming concepts.