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Practical C++ Game Programming with Data Structures and Algorithms

You're reading from   Practical C++ Game Programming with Data Structures and Algorithms Write high-performance code and solve game development challenges with expert-led C++ solutions

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Product type Paperback
Published in Jun 2025
Publisher Packt
ISBN-13 9781835889862
Length 408 pages
Edition 1st Edition
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Authors (2):
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Zhenyu George Li Zhenyu George Li
Author Profile Icon Zhenyu George Li
Zhenyu George Li
Charles Shih-I Yeh Charles Shih-I Yeh
Author Profile Icon Charles Shih-I Yeh
Charles Shih-I Yeh
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Toc

Table of Contents (18) Chapters Close

Preface 1. Part 1: Data Structure and Algorithm Fundamentals
2. Gearing Up: C++ for Game Development FREE CHAPTER 3. Data Structures in Action: Building Game Functionality 4. Algorithms Commonly Utilized in Game Development 5. Part 2: Graphics Algorithms in Practice
6. 2D Rendering and Effects 7. The Camera and Camera Controls 8. 3D Graphics Rendering 9. Rendering a 3D Game World 10. Part 3: Breathing Life into Your Games
11. Animating Your Characters 12. Building AI Opponents 13. Machine Learning Algorithms for Game AI 14. Part 4: Reflecting and Moving Forward
15. Continuing Your Learning Journey 16. Other Books You May Enjoy
17. Index

Rendering imposters (billboards)

Many mobile survival games render thousands of zombies, and real-time strategy games render lots of armies smoothly by not using full 3D models for each one. Instead, they rely on billboards—flat, camera-facing quads with textures. A billboard’s surface normally always aligns with the camera, creating a 3D illusion while keeping geometry simple and performance high.

Billboards are commonly used in the following scenarios:

  • Particles: Each particle (smoke, fire, explosions, dust) is a small, camera-facing quad, providing a volumetric look without heavy geometry.
  • Foliage/trees: Distant plants are rendered as quads to reduce rendering costs; from afar, the difference is barely noticeable.
  • Light flares/glows: Sun glare or headlight glow can be a simple billboard with an additive texture, delivering realistic effects inexpensively.
  • Crowds: Large, distant groups are easily represented by billboards when great...
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