The Black Art of Multiplatform Game Programming by Jazon Yamamoto is a comprehensive guide for beginners and experienced developers alike. Published by Cengage Learning PTR on April 15, 2014, this first edition covers essential skills needed to craft captivating games across various platforms. Spanning 250 pages, the book begins with fundamental concepts such as pixel plotting and progresses through advanced techniques and optimizations. It is written with a non-technical approach, making it accessible even for those new to game programming.

Key features include an introduction to game development using SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer), extensive coverage of coding practices favored by industry experts, and a thorough guide to designing and implementing game engines. The book also delves into modern software architecture principles tailored for game development and offers insights into advanced programming techniques. Readers will gain valuable knowledge on how to optimize their code for better performance.

Supplementary materials such as all the source code used in the book, video tutorials corresponding to each chapter, essential tools needed for game development, and the SDL library are provided for download, enhancing the learning experience. With this resource, aspiring developers can take their skills from novice to proficient in creating engaging video games.

The book measures 7.25 x 0.8 x 9 inches, making it portable while still offering detailed content. Its ISBN-13 is 978-1305110380 and the ISBN-10 is 1305110382.