Explore the training needed to become a computer game developer, a lucrative and exciting career. Also gives readers a chance to examine how computer games are created - from an idea to a finished product. Ages 12+

WICKED2 TWINS HAVE INVADED the island home of Crash Bandicoot, revealing their plans to enslave Crash and hisfriends and devastate their world. To face this great evil, Crash must team up with his creator and archenemy, Dr. Cortex. Also along for the adventure are Dr. Cortex’s young niece, Nina, and Crash’s sister, Coco. Who are the Twins? They want revenge against Dr. Cortex, but why? And where are they from?

Learn how to tap into the creative part of your brain to create amazing digital art in Photoshop CS4. This exciting, full-color guide is designed especially for artists and photographers who want to harness the thrilling potential of the new release of Photoshop. Youll go beyond cookie-cutter techniques and discover unique ideas for creative expression so you can create melting landscapes, perform face lifts, and find other lesser-known effects. Timesaving techniques allow you to devote more time to the creative process.

Discover your creative side

If you want to tap the full power of Photoshop to create digital art that dazzles, you've come to the right place. Photoshop guru and author Al Ward launches you on an exciting journey through little-known photo manipulation techniques that will fire your brain for some truly creative work. Use the inspirational tutorials to tap into your right brain and Photoshop CS4. Create glass textures or striking reflections on water, shape otherworldly landscapes or creatures and scenes from nightmares—this compelling book will expand your skills beyond the everyday and unleash your true artistry.

• Master Blend If, extraction, layer masks, and other Photoshop tools essential for freeing your brain

• Glamorize portraits by erasing wrinkles, changing eye color, and whitening teeth

• Learn out-of-your-head special effects, such as creating plastic or glass textures or intertwining objects

• Add mood to your images, create reflections on water, and light up the sky with patterns

• Bring out your inner Van Gogh with sketching, painting, and pencil tools

• Turn flesh to stone, make a cyborg, and learn other ways to turn people into exotic art

Add drama to your photos with moody color alterations and reductions

Paint like a pro using combinations of filters, adjustments, and brushing techniques

Transform portraits and landscape images into scenes from nightmares and realms of the fantastic

About the Author

Al Ward is a prominent figure in the Photoshop community and a certified Photoshop addict. His website, www.actionfx.com, is dedicated to providing Photoshop users with training, tricks, and downloads to help enhance their design skills. He has contributed to and written many Photoshop books, including previous editions of Photoshop for Right-Brainers and Al Ward's Photoshop Productivity Toolkit. He also has written for Photoshop User magazine, Planet Photoshop, and Photoshop Café. Al serves as the official actions guru for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP).

The history of science is all around us, if you know where to look. With this unique traveler's guide, you'll learn about 128 destinations around the world where discoveries in science, mathematics, or technology occurred or is happening now. Travel to Munich to see the world's largest science museum, watch Foucault's pendulum swinging in Paris, ponder a descendant of Newton's apple tree at Trinity College, Cambridge, and more. Each site in The Geek Atlas focuses on discoveries or inventions, and includes information about the people and the science behind them. Full of interesting photos and illustrations, the book is organized geographically by country (by state within the U.S.), complete with latitudes and longitudes for GPS devices. Destinations include:

• Bletchley Park in the UK, where the Enigma code was broken
  
• The Alan Turing Memorial in Manchester, England
  
• The Horn Antenna in New Jersey, where the Big Bang theory was confirmed
  
• The National Cryptologic Museum in Fort Meade, Maryland
  
• The Trinity Test Site in New Mexico, where the first atomic bomb was exploded
  
• The Joint Genome Institute in Walnut Creek, California

You won't find tedious, third-rate museums, or a tacky plaque stuck to a wall stating that "Professor X slept here." Every site in this book has real scientific, mathematical, or technological interest--places guaranteed to make every geek's heart pound a little faster. Plan a trip with The Geek Atlas and make your own discoveries along the way.

About the Author

John Graham-Cumming is a wandering programmer who's lived in the UK, California, New York and France. Along the way he's worked for a succession of technology start-ups, written the award-winning open source POPFile email program and churned out articles for publications such as The Guardian newspaper, Dr Dobbs, and Linux Magazine. His previous effort writing a book was the obscure and self-published computer manual GNU Make Unleashed which saturated its target market of 100 readers. Because he has a doctorate in computer security he's deeply suspicious of people who insist on being called Dr., but doesn't mind if you refer to him as a geek.

The ultimate reference book for professionals in the wireless industry

The information presented in this book reflects the evolution of wireless technologies, their impact on the profession, and the industry's commonly accepted best practices. Organized into seven main areas of expertise, A Guide to the Wireless Engineering Body of Knowledge (WEBOK) enhances readers' understanding of:

• Wireless access technologies
• Network and service architecture
• Network management and security
• Radio frequency engineering, propagation,and antennas
• Facilities infrastructure
• Agreements, standards, policies, and regulations
• Wireless engineering fundamentals

Complemented with a large number of references and suggestions for further reading, the WEBOK is an indispensable resource for anyone working in the wireless industry.

Master Mathematica with Schaum's, the high-performance study guide. It will help you cut study time, hone problem-solving skills, and achieve your personal best on exams and projects!

Students love Schaum's Outlines because they produce results. Each year, hundreds of thousands of students improve their test scores and final grades with these indispensable study guides.

Get the edge on your classmates. Use Schaum's!

If you don't have a lot of time but want to excel in class, this book helps you:

• Use detailed examples to solve problems
• Brush up before tests
• Find answers fast
• Study quickly and more effectively
• Get the big picture without poring over lengthy textbooks

Schaum's Outlines give you the information your teachers expect you to know in a handy and succinct format, without overwhelming you with unnecessary jargon. You get a complete overview of the subject. Plus, you get plenty of practice exercises to test your skill. Compatible with any classroom text, Schaum's let you study at your own pace and remind you of all the important facts you need to remember, fast! And Schaum's are so complete, they're perfect for preparing for graduate or professional exams.

Inside, you will find:

• An introduction to the computer language Mathematica
• Commands clearly classified according to type
• Example commands illustrating the application of the language
• Reference index of applications and commands

If you want top grades and a thorough understanding of Mathematica, this powerful study tool is the best tutor you can have!

Chapters include:

• Getting Acquainted
• Basic Concepts
• Lists
• Two-Dimensional Graphics
• Three-Dimensional Graphics
• Equations
• Algebra and Trignometry
• Differential Calculus
• Integral Calculus
• Multivariate Calculus
• Ordinary Differential Equations
• Linear Algebra

About the Author

Eugene Don (Coram, NY) is Professor of Mathematics at Queens College of the City University of New York.

This volume consists of Lecture Notes based on lectures delivered at the Advanced School on "Biomechanical Modelling at the Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Levels" held at the International Centre for Mechanical Sciences (CISM) in Udine, Italy, in the period September 11-15, 2006. The course was presented by 6 lecturers, 2 from Europe, 3 from the USA and 1 from New Zealand, and was attended by more than 100 participants from 23 countries.

The mechanics of biological structures at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels is a multidisciplinary area of research that is expanding rapidly and brings together researchers in biology, medicine, engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science and applied mathematics. Against this background, the aim of the course was to present a state-of-the-art overview of biomechanical modelling at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels, with particular reference to nanostructures, cells, growth and remodelling, and the cardiovascular system, including experimental, continuum mechanical, computational and simulation aspects. This provides a rational basis for applications to, for example, (i) tissue engineering, which aims to identify the critical structural and mechanical requirements needed for each tissue construct, (ii) the design and development of implants, and (Hi) the improvement of diagnostics and therapeutical procedures that involve tissue mechanics.

Completely free and highly robust, Ubuntu has the power to bring the Linux desktop to the masses. Introducing Ubuntu: Desktop Linux is your key to learning this new, userfriendly, and free alternative to Windows. Think of it as a personal tutorial, a one-on-one class with an expert user of Ubuntu. It begins by helping you choose the right Ubuntu for you (yes, there's more than one), and guides you through installing Ubuntu, managing the desktop, installing printers, and getting online. From there, the book moves on to describe how to perform everyday tasks under Ubuntu, such as sending and receiving e-mail, playing MP3s and movies, messaging with friends, working with digital images, and much more. There's plenty of information on how to use OpenOffice.org programs such as Writer, Calc, and Impress as well. While this is an excellent book for the general consumer, the book also addresses businessoriented users of Ubuntu for the small to mediumsized business (SMB) market through the use of sidebars. This is the only "up-and-running" guide to Ubuntu you will ever need.

About the Author

Brian Proffitt is the Managing Editor of the popular Web site Linux Today, and the author of 16 Linux and Open Source works, including The Joy of Linux. His online works are read by nearly a half million people daily.

The open source Scala language is a Java–based dynamic scripting, functional programming language. Moreover, this highly scalable scripting language lends itself well to building Cloud–based/deliverable Software as a Service (SaaS) online applications.

Written by Lift Scala web framework founder and lead Dave Pollak, Beginning Scala takes a down–to–earth approach to teaching Scala that leads you through simple examples that can be combined to build complex, scalable systems and applications.

This book introduces you to the Scala programming language and then guides you through Scala constructs and libraries that allow small and large teams to assemble small components into high–performance, scalable systems. You will learn why Scala is becoming the language of choice for Web 2.0 companies such as Twitter as well as enterprises such as Seimens and SAP.

What you’ll learn

• Get running with the Scala programming language for functional Java, Java–based, and Cloud–based/deliverable applications development, and more.
• Understand the basic syntax and mechanisms for writing Scala programs.
• Discover the techniques for and advantages of using immutable data structures.
• Create functional programming techniques for defining and managing concurrency.
• Use a complex type system and traits to define object–oriented programs.
• Work with Scala constructs and libraries that allow teams of any size to assemble small components into high–performance, scalable systems.
• Build complex systems based on the simple examples learned along the way through this book.

About the Author

David Pollak has been writing commercial software since 1977. He wrote the award–winning Mesa spreadsheet, which in 1992 was the first real–time spreadsheet. Wall Street companies traded billions of dollars a day through Mesa. In 1996, David sold his company to CMP Media and became CTO of CMP Media’s NetGuide Live and was one of the first large–scale users of Java and WebLogic to power an Internet site. In 1998, David released Integer, the world’s first browser–accessible, multiuser spreadsheet. Since 2000, David has been consulting for companies including Hewlett–Packard, Pretzel Logic/WebGain, BankServ, Twitter, and SAP. David has been using Scala since 2006 and is the lead developer of the Lift Web Framework.

"...a behemoth of a resource for everything you ever wanted to know about Apache." — Doug Schasteen, member, Kansas City's PHP User Group

"This is by far the best ‘know all, end all’ reference, bar none. My hat goes off to Peter Wainwright and Apress for opening up a whole new world to me." — Eric Wolf (a.k.a. "nawlej"), Codewalkers.com This book aims to teach you everything you need to know to build, install, and configure every aspect of Apache, the world's most popular Web server. Two versions of Apache are now available. Apache 1.3 is still widely used and is continuously updated. Apache 2 offers new and powerful features, such as multi-processsing modules and filters, as well as a revised and expanded build system for compiling Apache from source.

This book comprehensively covers both server versions, presenting up-to-date information and examples, and highlighting variations bettween the two releases in context. In addition, this book is organized to provide solutions to common problems. It answers the questions that administrators like you typically ask, without requiring that you know the name of a specific Apache module or directive beforehand. This book also demonstrates multiple solutions to a problem, and contrasts the benefits and drawbacks of each approach. After reading Pro Apache, you'll know not only how to get the results you want, but also why a solution works the way it does. Finally, this book examines how to accomplish more advanced configurations, where individual features must cooperate with each other intelligently. Now in its third edition, the expertise found in Pro Apache makes it the definitive guide to harnessing the power of Apache safely and securely.

About the Author

Peter Wainwright is a developer and software engineer specializing in Perl, Apache, and other open-source projects. He got his first taste of programming on a BBC Micro and gained most of his early programming experience writing applications in C on Solaris. He then discovered Linux, shortly followed by Perl and Apache, and has been happily programming there ever since.He is an active proponent of commercial passenger space travel and cofounded Space Future Consulting, an international space tourism consultancy firm.

* Provides technical details on different renewable energy systems plus background information on climate change and related economics
* Contains free CD-ROM, including simulation software and figures from the book
* Ideal as a student text, including worked examples

Beginning with an overview of renewables (including biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal, tidal, wind, and solar power) this book explores the fundamentals of various renewable energy systems. The main focus is on technologies with high development potential such as solar thermal systems, photovoltaics, and wind power.

This text not only describes technological aspects but also deals consciously with problems of the energy industry. In this way, the topics are treated in a holistic manner, enabling readers to gain a broad understanding of renewable energy technology and its potential.

About the Author

Volker Quaschning has lectured for five years on renewable energy at the Berlin University of Technology and is currently Area Head of Systems Analysis at Plataforma Solar de Almería, a research centre for solar technologies developed in collaboration between CIEMAT (public research institute linked with the Spanish government) and DLR (German aerospace centre).

Written by VM-certified instructors with years of professional and teaching experience, VMware Certified Professional Test Prep is the ultimate guide to the VCP exam. Its organized and highly practical approach will help administrators successfully complete the exam while also maximizing their ability to apply this tool on the job. The guide covers the body of knowledge required of a VMware certified professional, provides the tools needed to keep that knowledge current, and helps develop the wherewithal to apply that knowledge to real solutions.

Covering the ESX 3.0.x through ESX 3.5.x releases that are the focus of the VCP test, this volume —

· Reproduces  many of the real-world examples that have proven very helpful to students in the authors’ classrooms

· Applies step-by-step instructions to more than 700 software screenshots, providing a virtual hands-on experience

· Points to Web resources that will keep the reader current with the latest advances

· Includes logistical information on the test, including costs and class location

· Covers background information on various topics such as storage and networking to provide a complete understanding on the implementation of a VMWare VI3 solution

· Provides questions at the end of the chapters that cover the important concepts

Also of great use to those administrators who have already received their certification, this book includes solutions to many of the common gotchas that they are certain to encounter in virtual environments. In particular, capacity-planning concepts reveal the specific details needed to make full use of VMware’s unique resource management capabilities. Troubleshooting tips appear throughout the book, making it a useful resource in the virtualized datacenter.