Game Design

Follow the entire game development process, from brainstorming a game idea, establishing the focus, and determining the storytelling mode to getting the gameplay working, documenting the design, and playtesting.

Learn the techniques of top game designers through in-depth interviews:

• Chris Crawford, Balance of Power, Eastern Front (1941)
• Ed Logg, Asteroids, Centipede, Gauntlet
• Jordan Mechner, Prince of Persia, Karateka, The Last Express
• Sid Meier, Civilization, Pirates!, Railroad Tycoon, Gettysburg!
• Steve Meretzky, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Planetfall
• Will Wright, SimCity, The Sims

Find out how to most effectively document your game ideas, including the use of the focus, design document, story bible, script, and technical specification. A complete sample design document in the appendix illustrates the principles of good game development documentation.

Contents

• Chapter 1 What Players Want
• Chapter 2 Interview: Sid Meier
• Chapter 3 Brainstorming a Game Idea: Gameplay, Technology, and Story
• Chapter 4 Game Analysis: Centipede
• Chapter 5 Focus
• Chapter 6 Interview: Ed Logg
• Chapter 7 The Elements of Gameplay
• Chapter 8 Game Analysis: Tetris
• Chapter 9 Artificial Intelligence
• Chapter 10 Interview: Steve Meretzky
• Chapter 11 Storytelling
• Chapter 12 Game Analysis: Loom
• Chapter 13 Getting the Gameplay Working
• Chapter 14 Interview: Chris Crawford
• Chapter 15 Game Development Documentation
• Chapter 16 Game Analysis: Myth: The Fallen Lords
• Chapter 17 The Design Document
• Chapter 18 Interview: Jordan Mechner
• Chapter 19 Designing Design Tools
• Chapter 20 Game Analysis: The Sims
• Chapter 21 Level Design
• Chapter 22 Interview: Will Wright
• Chapter 23 Playtesting
• Conclusion
• Appendix Sample Design Document: Atomic Sam
• Glossary
• Selected Bibliography
• Index