I picked up this book and knew that it was about DirectX, specifically DirectDraw, but LaMothe also threw in the basics of Windows Programming. He showed algorithms and memory management.This book is not for the complete inexpirienced C++, you will need to know a bit about it, but there is a mini C++ primer in Appendix D where it explains the basics of C++.

The book also comes with two CDs, one of which has Microsofts Visual C++ compiler 6.0 introductory edition, on the other CD there is all the source code, DirectX 8.0 SDK, some trial programs like Paint Shop Pro, Caligari TrueSpace, and SoundeForge demos. The CD also contains online books about 3D programming, it contains articles on various things and two engines: Genesis3D and PowerRender, and even more stuff.

The content of the book is really good, it is fairly easy to follow until you get to "Vector Rasterization and 2D Transformations" then you're going to have really focus. LaMothe takes you through writing a 2d game engine, which there are three versions of it, he adds more while you learn what it is.

The books $59.99 price tag may seem a little steep but I truely believe that you get what you pay for with this book.