Product Description

Now that Director supports JavaScript and DVD-Video, it's hard to come up with a reason not to use it for all of your interactive Web content creation needs. Buy this book, and you soon will be! In this volume (which is based on the curriculum employed by Macromedia's authorized trainers), veteran author David Mennenoh uses a series of project-based, hands-on tutorials to introduce you to every aspect of interactive content creation with Director MX 2004. As you work your way through the book's four major projects--a portfolio presentation, a training log (which employs an interactive calendar), a 2D game, and a 3D puzzle game--you'll cover topics ranging from setting up the interface to getting interactive, adding video, using MIAWs, packaging your projects for distribution, creating game assets, producing models, and more. Also covered are all of Director MX 2004's newest features: cross-platform publishing, Flash MX 2004 integration, and more. A companion CD includes the lesson files and media you'll need to complete the book's projects.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #938296 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 504 pages

About the Author

David Mennenoh has been working with Macromedia Director since early 1995, when he began production of Cracking the Conspiracy, the point-and-click 3D adventure game he developed with his brother. Now an independent developer, David is also the author of Director 8.5 Shockwave Studio: The Complete Reference.

Customer Reviews

Very Dry and a difficult read
to be honest - this book was impossible to read. director is an exciting program and this book was impossible to read, i felt like i was trying to make it through mobey dick, and everyone knows, its hard to learn when you aren't engaged. I bought this from borders, and im planning on bringing it back there. I bought director MX 2004 Bible instead, and within reading 2 pages i bought it knowing i'd love it. This is a manual, a very dry manual.

Save your time and money!!!
I bought this book thinking it would teach me a great deal about Director. I had previous experience, but I wanted to further my learning. Training From the Source has always came out with great books and I thought that this would be great for learning Director more in depth. This is also the required text book for a class I am taking. And everyone is having a frustrating time with it, even the instructor.

The chapter on the 3-D game is ok, but it's the database lesson that has proved to be a major frustration. It says at the beginning of the lesson that it takes two hours to complete. It took me more like twelve. I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work. After double checking the code, I knew I didn't make any mistakes. So I checked the lesson file that came on the disk. It turned out that some of the sprites on the stage on the score were placed on the wrong channels. Fortunately, I had previous experience with Lingo, and was able to fix the problem. This book is not ideal for people new to Director. The graphing lesson and movie in a window lesson has proved to be equally frustrating.

In conclusion, if you are new to Director and want to build a basis for learning it, or even a novice who wants to build on their skills, then don't buy this book. Like the previous reviewer said, It is a waste of time and money.

Very good book
I got this book for the calendar tutorial and found it quite excellent. It was very thorough and explained the Lingo code well. Now, I'm going to do the 2D space shooter tutorial as it looks like a lot of fun. I recommend this book to anyone wanting a good beginner to intermediate level book on Director.