"A Minimum Threshold of Coolness" is an account of an interdimensional school reunion. In "Video Woman", an alcoholic George Michael -fanatic seeks and receives an unlikely release from her decades long plight. In "Mission to Dreamland", an Iraq war veteran struggles with moral crises and pizza-delivery. "Bruisers" is a collection of three succinct hard hitters in short story form.

Primitive software chatbots emerged in the 1960s, evolving swiftly through the decades and becoming able to provide engaging human-to-computer interactions sometime in the 1990s. Today, conversational technology is ubiquitous in many homes. Paired with web-searching abilities and neural networking, modern chatbots are capable of many tasks and are a major driving force behind machine learning and the quest for strong artificial intelligence, also known as artificial general intelligence (A...

Grasp the fundamentals of digital audio work in the context of video games, including the basics of middleware such as Fmod and Wwise. We will review software such as Apple's Logic and Garageband, Paul Davis's Ardour, and many other popular digital audio workstations.We will start with an introduction to the basic terminology of digital audio work while also getting acquainted with current generation audio hardware. We will then discuss the basics of the venerable Musical Instrumen...

Get a head start in your game development career with this all-genre guide for absolute beginners. Whether you're into action games, role-playing games, or interactive fiction, we've got you covered. Mostly Codeless Game Developmentempowers new developers with little or no previous programming experience and explores all major areas of game development in a succinct, entertaining fashion.Have you dreamed of making your own video game? Do you find the prospect daun...

Grasp the concepts of creating games with GameMaker and the various features of the engine to create your first game. The book promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity, making the process both engaging and effective.At 25 years old in 2024, GameMaker is still a hugely popular tool. It is considered one of the finest approaches for 2D game creation. The engine is behind dozens of hit titles including Hotline Miami, Undertale, Katana Zero, and Nuclear ...

Get your feet wet in developing visual novels and take a guided tour through easy to follow tutorials using three of the most popular tools (Ren'Py, TyranoBuilder, and Twine). This book uses a two-pronged approach into the fine art of text-based games, showing you what makes for compelling writing as well as the programming logic and techniques needed to bring your visual novels to life.In this book, you will uncover the rich history of interactive fiction from the bare-bones 1970s...

Explore the basics of the three most popular programming languages: C#, Java, and Python and see what it's like to function in today's world from the perspective of a programmer. This book's uses is highly practical approach with numerous code listings aimed at bringing generations together through the intricacies of technology.You'll learn how understanding the basics of coding benefits non-programmers working with software developers. Those in the gaming/media industry will also ...

Cryptography and encryption aren't just for geeks and spies—they’re also part of our daily lives. This book enlightens you with the basics of digital cryptography and covers the must-do practices organizations need to implement when it comes to fending off data theft and eavesdroppers. You will uncover the concepts of digital encryption and examine key digital encryption algorithms and their various applications. Gauging cryptography from an enterprise perspective, you will get an in-depth...

—PEPPER—My boss’s son is less than thrilled with the workout I'm giving the smoke detector. But if Mateo Sanchez wasn’t willing to lease me the other side of his duplex, I'd be living in a cardboard box.The latest trouble to root me out of hiding in this small-town paradise? Finding a date to my sister’s destination wedding—to my ex.I knew lying that my hot landlord was my boyfriend would bite me in the you-know-where, but sometimes a girl gets tire...

Generative AI and ChatGPT have the potential to transform industries and society by improving efficiency, enhancing creativity, and enabling more personalized experiences. If you are someone who is looking to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving digital age and utilize its potential, this book is for you. This book gives a comprehensive overview of Generative AI and ChatGPT, the cutting-edge technologies that have gained significant attention in recent times. The book aims to p...

In this exclusive eBook, preview excerpts from brand-new and forthcoming Oracle Press Java JDK 8 books. Written by leading Java experts, Oracle Press books offer the most definitive, complete, and up-to-date coverage of the latest Java release. Featuring an introduction by bestselling programming author Herb Schildt, this eBook includes chapters from the following Oracle Press books:Java: The Complete Reference, Ninth Edition by Herb SchildtJava: A Begi...

My brother Peter killed himself on May 13th, 2010 sometime between noon and 5pm. My world lurched on its axis and will never recover.There is nothing I can do to bring Peter back home to us, but I can tell you that if you are worried about a loved one or a friend, you need to intervene and help lead your loved one to some relief. Do not worry about "butting in" or being "nosey". Get them to a doctor for a diagnosis. Walk with them. Call them. Follow up on whether they are taking th...