This is a one-semester, introductory programming textbook in Java that uses game applications as a central pedagogical tool to improve student engagement, learning outcomes, and retention. Game programming is incorporated into the text in a way that does not compromise the amount of material traditionally covered in a basic programming course and permits instructors who are not familiar with game programming and computer graphics concepts to realize the verified pedagogical advantages of game applications. The companion disc(files available for download with Amazon order number by writing to [email protected]) includes a game environment that is easily integrated into projects created with the popular Java Development Environments, including Eclipse, NetBeans, and JCreator in a student-friendly way and also includes a set of executable student games to peak their interest by giving them a glimpse into their future capabilities. The material presented in the book is in full compliance with the 2013 ACM/IEEE computer science curriculum guidelines and AP Programming course guidelines. It has been used to teach programming to students whose majors are within and outside of the computing fields. Ancillaries include a comprehensive instructor's resource disc with programming solutions, slides, quizzes, projects, and more.

FEATURES
•Uses an objects-early approach to learning Java
•Follows the 2013 ACM/IEEE computer science curriculum guidelines and AP Programming course guidelines
•Integrates game applications as a central pedagogical tool to improve student engagement, learning outcomes, and retention
•Includes a companion disc with projects created with the popular Java Development Environments; also includes a set of executable student games, source code, and figures (files available for download with Amazon order number by writing to [email protected])
•Uses working programs to illustrate concepts under discussion
•Complete instructor's resource package available upon adoption

BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction 2. Variables, Input / Output and Calculations 3. Methods, Classes, and Objects: A First Look
4. Boolean Expressions, Making Decisions, and Disk Input and Output 5. Repeating Statements: Loops 6. Arrays
7. Methods, Classes, and Objects: A Second Look 8. Inheritance 9. Recursion 10. The API Collections Framework
Appendices: A. Description of the Game Environment B. Installing the Game Environment Package C. ASCII Table
D. Java Keywords E. Java Operators F. Glossary of Programming Terms G. Using the On-line API Documentation
H. College Board AP Computer Science Topic Correlation I. ACM/IEEE Topics and Minimal Instruction Time Guidelines
J. Solutions to Selected Odd-Numbered Knowledge Exercises. Index.

ON THE DISC!
The companion disc in the back of the book contains the following materials (also available for downloading from the publisher by writing to [email protected]):
•Samples of student-created games in an executable format with instructions
•The game environment with Eclipse, NetBeans, and JCreator template projects
•Source files for all of the applications presented in the text
•All of the images and figures from the text
•All of the appendices from the text

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
William McAllister (St. Joseph's College, NY) has taught a wide range of computer science courses that include programming, computer graphics, and data structures and he has also authored a data structures textbook. S. Jane Fritz (St. Joseph's College, NY) has taught programming courses in BASIC, Visual Basic, Pascal, C, C++, and Java. She has also co-authored several papers and has given a number of presentations at SIGCSE Conferences.