Elements of Game Design by Zubek, Robert -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction

Game Design and the Scope of This Text Classroom Use Note on Exercises Note on Style Note on Definitions

1. Elements

Design Process

Games as Machines Game Design Is User-Centered

Motivating Example: Poker Model Description

Designer’s Role Designer’s Process Player’s Experience Elements of Games Outside This Model

The Practice of Game Design

Game Design, Systems Design, Content Design Discipline Interactions

Summary Further Reading

Formal Tools MDA The Practice of Design

Individual Exercises

2. Player Experience

Experience Is Relative What Do You Enjoy? Building a Naive Taxonomy Player Theories

Designer Theories The Bartle Model The Koster Model

User Personas Empirical Models

The Big Five Personality Model Yee’s Gamer Motivation Profiles Player Motivations and the Big Five

Experience Design

Questions to Guide Experience Design Experience Archetypes and Genres

Summary Further Reading

Player Psychology Designer Theories

Individual Exercises

3. Mechanics

Mechanics as Building Blocks

Composition of Mechanics The Language Metaphor Example: Exploring Monopoly

Games as State Spaces

Game State State Spaces Action Spaces Perceived Action Spaces Explicit and Implicit Mechanics

Examples of Families of Mechanics

Control Mechanics Progression Mechanics Uncertainty Mechanics Resource Management Mechanics Beyond the Four Families

Mechanics Design

Design Heuristics Primary and Derived Mechanics

Summary Further Reading

History of Mechanics Taxonomies In-depth Explorations

Individual Exercises Group Exercises

4. Systems

Motivating Example: Diablo Game Systems

Setting and Systems Layering Thinking in Systems

Mechanic Chains and Loops

Conversion Chains Calculating Exchange Rates Conversion Loops

Feedback Loops

Positive Feedback Negative Feedback Effects of Positive Feedback Effects of Negative Feedback

Emergence and Chaos

Emergent Behavior Chaotic Systems

Systems Design

From User Stories to Systems

System Tuning

Approaches The Role of Tuning in the Production Process

Summary Further Reading Individual Exercises Group Exercises

5. Gameplay

Motivating Example: The Sims Gameplay Loops

Loop Frequencies Onion Diagrams The Core Loop Layering Loops and Systems

Player Motivation

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic Motivation: Flow and Learning

Flow Theory Learning and Challenge Escalation Learning to Overcome Uncertainty Dominant Strategies and “Solving the Game” Loops and Challenges

Extrinsic Motivation: Work and Rewards

Progression and Rewards Reward Schedules Types of Schedules Game Examples Changing Workload Related Topic: Gamification

Gameplay Loop Design Heuristics

From User Stories to Gameplay Loops Playtesting Loops

Summary Further Reading

Gameplay Loops Motivation

Individual Exercises Group Exercises

6. Macrostructure

Motivating Example: The Witcher Game Fiction

Fantasy Story Story and Agency Consistency

Macrostructure and Content Arcs

The Three-Act Model Story Arc and Episodes Three-Act Model and Non-story Games

Narrative Patterns

Linear Narrative Branching Choices Branch and Merge Branching with State Hub and Spokes Narrative Composition and Quests Open Worlds Open Worlds and Quest Design Simulated Worlds

Pacing Metagame

Mastery Metagame Social Metagame Game Modding Benefits of Metagame

Summary Further Reading Individual Exercises Group Exercises

7. Prototyping and Playtesting

Motivating Example: Project Highrise Production Stages Game Concept

Understanding the Game Idea Understanding the Market Forming a Game Pitch

From Concept to Prototyping: Kelly Guidelines Prototyping

Playable Prototypes Iterative Process Playtesting Documenting Design Finishing Iteration

Production and Beyond Ideas for Student Prototyping

Shorter Production Cycle Scaling Prototyping Scope Supporting Portfolio Development

Summary Further Reading Group Exercises

Conclusion References Index

← Prev
Back
Next →

← Prev
Back
Next →