The Art of Game Design by Schell, Jesse -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedcation Page Contents Table of Lenses Acknowledgments Hello 1 In the Beginning, There Is the Designer

Magic Words What Skills Does a Game Designer Need? The Most Important Skill The Five Kinds of Listening The Secret of the Gifted Other Reading to Consider

2 The Designer Creates an Experience

The Game Is Not the Experience Is This Unique to Games? Three Practical Approaches to Chasing Rainbows

Psychology Anthropology Design

Introspection: Powers, Perils, and Practice

Peril #1: Introspection Can Lead to False Conclusions about Reality Peril #2: What Is True of My Experiences May Not Be True for Others

Dissect Your Feelings Defeating Heisenberg

Analyze Memories Two Passes Sneak Glances Observe Silently

Essential Experience All That’s Real Is What You Feel

3 The Experience Takes Place in a Venue

The Shifting Sands of Platform Private Venues

The Hearth The Workbench The Reading Nook

Public Venues

The Theater The Arena The Museum

Half Private/Half Public Venues

The Gaming Table The Playground Anywhere

Venues Mixed and Matched Other Reading to Consider

4 The Experience Rises Out of a Game

A Rant about Definitions So What Is a Game? No, Seriously, What Is a Game? Problem Solving 101 The Fruits of Our Labor Other Reading to Consider

5 The Game Consists of Elements

What Are Little Games Made Of? The Four Basic Elements Skin and Skeleton

6 The Elements Support a Theme

Mere Games Unifying Themes Resonance Back to Reality Other Reading to Consider

7 The Game Begins with an Idea

Inspiration State the Problem How to Sleep Your Silent Partner

Subconscious Tip #1: Pay Attention Subconscious Tip #2: Record Your Ideas Subconscious Tip #3: Manage Its Appetites (Judiciously) Subconscious Tip #4: Sleep Subconscious Tip #5: Don’t Push Too Hard A Personal Relationship

Sixteen Nitty-Gritty Brainstorming Tips

Brainstorm Tip #1: The Write Answer Brainstorm Tip #2: Write or Type? Brainstorm Tip #3: Sketch Brainstorm Tip #4: Toys Brainstorm Tip #5: Change Your Perspective Brainstorm Tip #6: Immerse Yourself Brainstorm Tip #7: Crack Jokes Brainstorm Tip #8: Spare No Expense Brainstorm Tip #9: The Writing on the Wall Brainstorm Tip #10: The Space Remembers Brainstorm Tip #11: Write Everything Brainstorm Tip #12: Number Your Lists Brainstorm Tip #13: Destroy Your Assumptions Brainstorm Tip #14: Mix and Match Categories Brainstorm Tip #15: Talk to Yourself Brainstorm Tip #16: Find a Partner

Look At All These Ideas! Now What? Other Reading to Consider

8 The Game Improves through Iteration

Choosing an Idea The Eight Filters The Rule of the Loop A Short History of Software Engineering

Danger—Waterfall—Keep Back Barry Boehm Loves You

The Agile Manifesto Risk Assessment and Prototyping

Example: Prisoners of Bubbleville

Prisoners of Bubbleville: Design Brief

Ten Tips for Productive Prototyping

Prototyping Tip #1: Answer a Question Prototyping Tip #2: Forget Quality Prototyping Tip #3: Don’t Get Attached Prototyping Tip #4: Prioritize Your Prototypes Prototyping Tip #5: Parallelize Prototypes Productively Prototyping Tip #6: It Doesn’t Have to Be Digital

Tetris: A Paper Prototype Halo: A Paper Prototype

Prototyping Tip #7: It Doesn’t Have to Be Interactive Prototyping Tip #8: Pick a “Fast Loop” Game Engine Prototyping Tip #9: Build the Toy First Prototyping Tip #10: Seize Opportunities for More Loops

Closing the Loop

Loop 1: “New Racing” Game Loop 2: “Racing Subs” Game Loop 3: “Flying Dinos” Game

How Much Is Enough? Your Secret Fuel Other Reading to Consider

9 The Game Is Made for a Player

Einstein’s Violin Project Yourself Demographics The Medium Is the Misogynist?

Five Things Males Like to See in Games Five Things Females Like to See in Games

Psychographics

LeBlanc’s Taxonomy of Game Pleasures Bartle’s Taxonomy of Player Types More Pleasure: MORE!

Other Reading to Consider

10 The Experience Is in the Player’s Mind

Modeling Focus Empathy Imagination Other Reading to Consider

11 The Player’s Mind Is Driven by the Player’s Motivation

Needs… …And More Needs Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation Wanna vs. Hafta Novelty Judgment Other Reading to Consider

12 Some Elements Are Game Mechanics

Mechanic 1: Space

Nested Spaces Zero Dimensions

Mechanic 2: Time

Discrete and Continuous Time Clocks and Races Controlling Time

Mechanic 3: Objects, Attributes, and States

Secrets

Mechanic 4: Actions

Emergent Gameplay

Mechanic 5: Rules

Parlett’s Rule Analysis Modes Enforcer Cheatability The Most Important Rule Wrapping Up Rules

Mechanic 6: Skill

Real vs. Virtual Skills Enumerating Skills

Mechanic 7: Chance

Invention of Probability Ten Rules of Probability Every Game Designer Should Know

Rule #1: Fractions Are Decimals Are Percents Rule #2: Zero to One—and That’s It! Rule #3: “Looked For” Divided By “Possible Outcomes” Equals Probability Rule #4: Enumerate! Rule #5: In Certain Cases, OR Means Add Rule #6: In Certain Cases, AND Means Multiply Rule #7: One Minus “Does” = “Doesn’t” Rule #8: The Sum of Multiple Linear Random Selections Is NOT a Linear Random Selection! Rule #9: Roll the Dice Rule #10: Geeks Love Showing Off (Gombaud’s Law)

Expected Value Consider Values Carefully Human Element Skill and Chance Get Tangled

Other Reading to Consider

13 Game Mechanics Must Be in Balance

The Twelve Most Common Types of Game Balance

Balance Type #1: Fairness

Symmetrical Games Asymmetrical Games Biplane Battle Rock, Paper, Scissors

Balance Type #2: Challenge vs. Success Balance Type #3: Meaningful Choices

Triangularity

Balancing Type #4: Skill vs. Chance Balancing Type #5: Head vs. Hands Balance Type #6: Competition vs. Cooperation Balance Type #7: Short vs. Long Balance Type #8: Rewards Balance Type #9: Punishment Balance Type #10: Freedom vs. Controlled Experience Balance Type #11: Simple vs. Complex

Natural vs. Artificial Balancing Elegance Character

Balance Type #12: Detail vs. Imagination

Game Balancing Methodologies Balancing Game Economies Dynamic Game Balancing The Big Picture Other Reading to Consider

14 Game Mechanics Support Puzzles

The Puzzle of Puzzles Aren’t Puzzles Dead? Good Puzzles

Puzzle Principle #1: Make the Goal Easily Understood Puzzle Principle #2: Make It Easy to Get Started Puzzle Principle #3: Give a Sense of Progress Puzzle Principle #4: Give a Sense of Solvability Puzzle Principle #5: Increase Difficulty Gradually Puzzle Principle #6: Parallelism Lets the Player Rest Puzzle Principle #7: Pyramid Structure Extends Interest Puzzle Principle #8: Hints Extend Interest Puzzle Principle #9: Give the Answer! Puzzle Principle #10: Perceptual Shifts Are a Double-Edged Sword

A Final Piece Other Reading to Consider

15 Players Play Games through an Interface

Between Yin and Yang Breaking It Down The Loop of Interaction Juiciness Primality Channels of Information

Step 1: List and Prioritize Information Step 2: List Channels Step 3: Map Information to Channels Step 4: Review Use of Dimensions Modes

Mode Tip #1: Use as Few Modes as Possible Mode Tip #2: Avoid Overlapping Modes Mode Tip #3: Make Different Modes Look as Different as Possible

Other Interface Tips

Interface Tip #1: Steal Interface Tip #2: Customize Interface Tip #3: Design around Your Physical Interface Interface Tip #4: Theme Your Interface Interface Tip #5: Sound Maps to Touch Interface Tip #6: Balance Options and Simplicity with Layers Interface Tip #7: Use Metaphors Interface Tip #8: If It Looks Different, It Should Act Different Interface Tip #9: Test, Test, Test! Interface Tip #10: Break the Rules to Help Your Player

Other Reading to Consider

16 Experiences Can Be Judged by Their Interest Curves

My First Lens Interest Curves Patterns inside Patterns What Comprises Interest?

Factor 1: Inherent Interest Factor 2: Poetry of Presentation Factor 3: Projection

Interest Factor Examples Putting It All Together Other Reading to Consider

17 One Kind of Experience Is the Story

Story/Game Duality Myth of Passive Entertainment The Dream The Reality

Real-World Method 1: The String of Pearls Real-World Method 2: The Story Machine

The Problems

Problem #1: Good Stories Have Unity Problem #2: The Combinatorial Explosion Problem #3: Multiple Endings Disappoint Problem #4: Not Enough Verbs Problem #5: Time Travel Makes Tragedy Obsolete

The Dream Reborn Story Tips for Game Designers

Story Tip #1: Goals, Obstacles, and Conflicts Story Tip #2: Make It Real Story Tip #3: Provide Simplicity and Transcendence Story Tip #4: Consider the Hero’s Journey

Vogler’s Synopsis of the Hero’s Journey

Story Tip #5: Put Your Story to Work! Story Tip #6: Keep Your Story World Consistent Story Tip #7: Make Your Story World Accessible Story Tip #8: Use Clichés Judiciously Story Tip #9: Sometimes a Map Brings a Story to Life

Other Reading to Consider

18 Story and Game Structures Can Be Artfully Merged with Indirect Control

The Feeling of Freedom Indirect Control Method #1: Constraints Indirect Control Method #2: Goals Indirect Control Method #3: Interface Indirect Control Method #4: Visual Design Indirect Control Method #5: Characters Indirect Control Method #6: Music Collusion Other Reading to Consider

19 Stories and Games Take Place in Worlds

Transmedia Worlds The Power of Pokemon Properties of Transmedia Worlds

Transmedia Worlds Are Powerful Transmedia Worlds Are Long Lived Transmedia Worlds Evolve over Time

What Successful Transmedia Worlds Have in Common

20 Worlds Contain Characters

The Nature of Game Characters

Novel Characters Movie Characters Game Characters

Avatars

The Ideal Form The Blank Slate

Creating Compelling Game Characters

Character Tip #1: List Character Functions Character Tip #2: Define and Use Character Traits Character Tip #3: Use the Interpersonal Circumplex Character Tip #4: Make a Character Web

Archie Veronica Betty Reggie Jughead

Character Tip #5: Use Status Character Tip #6: Use the Power of the Voice Character Tip #7: Use the Power of the Face Character Tip #8: Powerful Stories Transform Characters Character Tip #9: Let Your Characters Surprise Us Character Tip #10: Avoid the Uncanny Valley

Other Reading to Consider

21 Worlds Contain Spaces

The Purpose of Architecture Organizing Your Game Space

A Word about Landmarks

Christopher Alexander Is a Genius

Alexander’s Fifteen Properties of Living Structures

Real vs. Virtual Architecture

Know How Big Third-Person Distortion

Level Design Other Reading to Consider

22 The Look and Feel of a World Is Defined by Its Aesthetics

Monet Refuses the Operation The Value of Aesthetics Learning to See How to Let Aesthetics Guide Your Design How Much Is Enough? Use Audio Balancing Art and Technology Other Reading to Consider

23 Some Games Are Played with Other Players

We Are Not Alone Why We Play with Others Other Reading to Consider

24 Other Players Sometimes Form Communities

More than Just Other Players Ten Tips for Strong Communities

Community Tip #1: Foster Friendships Community Tip #2: Put Conflict at the Heart Community Tip #3: Use Architecture to Shape Your Community Community Tip #4: Create Community Property Community Tip #5: Let Players Express Themselves Community Tip #6: Support Three Levels Community Tip #7: Force Players to Depend on Each Other Community Tip #8: Manage Your Community Community Tip #9: Obligation to Others Is Powerful Community Tip #10: Create Community Events

The Challenge of Griefing The Future of Game Communities Other Reading to Consider

25 The Designer Usually Works with a Team

The Secret of Successful Teamwork

If You Can’t Love the Game, Love the Audience

Designing Together Team Communication Other Reading to Consider

26 The Team Sometimes Communicates through Documents

The Myth of the Game Design Document The Purpose of Documents

Memory Communication

Types of Game Documents

Design Engineering Art Production Writing Players

So, Where Do I Start? Other Reading to Consider

27 Good Games Are Created through Playtesting

Playtesting My Terrible Secret Playtest Question the First: Why? Playtest Question the Second: Who? Playtest Question the Third: Where? Playtest Question the Fourth: What?

The First What: Things You Know You Are Looking For The Second What: Things You Don’t Know You Are Looking For

Playtest Question the Fifth: How?

Should You Even Be There? What Do You Tell Them Up Front? Where Do You Look? What Other Data Should You Collect During Play? Will I Disturb the Players Midgame?

What Data Will I Collect after the Play Session?

Surveys Interviews

Other Reading to Consider

28 The Team Builds a Game with Technology

Technology, At Last Foundational vs. Decorational

Mickey’s First Cartoon Abalone Sonic the Hedgehog Myst Journey Ragdoll Physics

The Touch Revolution The Hype Cycle The Innovator’s Dilemma The Law of Divergence The Singularity Look into Your Crystal Ball Other Reading to Consider

29 Your Game Will Probably Have a Client

Who Cares What the Client Thinks? Coping with Bad Suggestions Not That Rock The Three Layers of Desire Firenze, 1498 Other Reading to Consider

30 The Designer Gives the Client a Pitch

Why Me? A Negotiation of Power The Hierarchy of Ideas Twelve Tips for a Successful Pitch

Pitch Tip #1: Get in the Door Pitch Tip #2: Show You Are Serious Pitch Tip #3: Be Organized Pitch Tip #4: Be Passionate!!!!! Pitch Tip #5: Assume Their Point of View Pitch Tip #6: Design the Pitch Pitch Tip #7: Know All the Details Pitch Tip #8: Exude Confidence Pitch Tip #9: Be Flexible Pitch Tip #10: Rehearse Pitch Tip #11: Get Them to Own It Pitch Tip #12: Follow Up

Hey, What about Kickstarter? Other Reading to Consider

31 The Designer and Client Want the Game to Make a Profit

Love and Money Know Your Business Model

Retail Direct Download Free to Play

Know Your Competition Know Your Audience Learn the Language

General Game Business Terms Free to Play Business Terms

Know the Top Sellers The Importance of Barriers Other Reading to Consider

32 Games Transform Their Players

How Do Games Change Us? Can Games Be Good For You?

Emotional Maintenance Connecting Exercise Education

Giving the Brain What It Wants Facts Problem Solving Systems of Relationships New Insights Curiosity Creating Teachable Moments

Transformational Games

Transformational Tip #1: Define Your Transformation Transformational Tip #2: Find Great Subject Matter Experts Transformational Tip #3: What Does the Instructor Need? Transformational Tip #4: Don’t Do Too Much Transformational Tip #5: Assess Transformation Appropriately Transformational Tip #6: Choose the Right Venue Transformational Tip #7: Accept the Realities of the Market

Can Games Be Bad For You?

Violence Addiction

Experiences Other Reading to Consider

33 Designers Have Certain Responsibilities

The Danger of Obscurity Being Accountable Your Hidden Agenda The Secret Hidden in Plain Sight The Ring Other Reading to Consider

34 Each Designer Has a Purpose

The Deepest Theming

Goodbye Endnotes Bibliography Index

← Prev
Back
Next →

← Prev
Back
Next →