Game Design Workshop : A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games / Tracy Fullerton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fullerton, Tracy, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Video games--Programming.

Video games.

Video games--Design.

Computer graphics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (587 pages)

Edition:

Fifth edition.

Place of Publication:

Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, [2024]

Summary:

Game Design Workshop puts you to work prototyping, playtesting, and revising your own games with time-tested methods and tools. These skills will provide the foundation for your career in any facet of the game industry including design, producing, programming, and visual design.

Contents:

Cover

Endorsements Page

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Image Credits and Copyright Notices

Introduction

Part 1 Game Design Basics

Chapter 1 The Role of the Game Designer

An Advocate for the Player

Playtesters

Passions and Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Process

Inspiration

Becoming a Better Player

Creativity

A Playcentric Design Process

Setting Player Experience Goals

Prototyping and Playtesting

Designers You Should Know

Iteration

The Iterative Design Process

Prototypes and Playtesting in the Industry

Designing for Innovation

Conclusion

Designer Perspective: Christina Norman

Designer Perspective: Warren Spector

Further Reading

End Notes

Chapter 2 The Structure of Games

Go Fish versus Quake

Go Fish

Quake

Comparison

Engaging the Player

Challenge

Play

Premise

What is a Puzzle?

Character

Story

Dramatic Elements

The Sum of the Parts

Defining Games

Beyond Definitions

Designer Perspective: Jane McGonigal

Designer Perspective: Randy Smith

Chapter 3 Working with Formal Elements

Players

Invitation to Play

Number of Players

Roles of Players

Player Interaction Patterns

Persuasive Games

Objectives

Summary

Procedures

Connect Four

Super Mario Bros

System Procedures

Defining Procedures

Rules

Rules Defining Objects and Concepts

Rules Restricting Actions

Rules Determining Effects

Defining Rules

Resources

Lives

Units

Health

Currency

Actions

Power-Ups

Inventory

Special Terrain

Time

Conflict

Obstacles

Opponents

Dilemmas

Boundaries

The Mechanic is the Message

Outcome

Conclusion.

Designer Perspective: Derek Yu

Chapter 4 Working with Dramatic Elements

A Challenging Activity That Requires Skill

The Merging of Action and Awareness

Clear Goals and Feedback

Concentration on the Task at Hand

The Paradox of Control

The Loss of Self-Consciousness

The Transformation of Time

Experience Becomes an End in Itself

The Nature of Play

Types of Players

Levels of Engagement

Directing Games for Emotion

World Building

The Dramatic Arc

Crafting Emotional Beats in The Last of Us

Chapter 5 Working with System Dynamics

Games as Systems

Objects

Properties

Behaviors

Relationships

System Dynamics

Deconstructing Set

Tic-Tac-Toe

Chess

Mastermind versus Clue

Economies

Simple Bartering

Complex Bartering

Simple Market

Complex Market

Meta Economy

Emergent Systems

Interacting with Systems

Information Structure

Control

Feedback

Interaction Loops and Arcs

Tuning Game Systems

Designer Perspective: Mary Flanagan

Designer Perspective: Frank Lantz

Part 2 Designing a Game

Chapter 6 Ideation

Where Do Ideas Come From?

Constraints and Creativity

Brainstorming

Brainstorming Best Practices

Alternative Methods

List Creation

Idea Cards

Mind Map

Stream of Consciousness

Electronic Arts Preproduction Workshop

Shout It Out

Cut It Up

Surrealist Games

Research

Editing and Refining

Aligned with Goals

Technical Feasibility

Market Opportunity

Artistic Considerations

Business/Cost Restrictions

A Conversation with Will Wright

Turning Ideas into a Game

Focus on the Formal Elements

Writing a Treatment.

Logline

Key Art

Practice, Practice, Practice

Feature Design

Feature Storyboards

Getting the Most out of Focus Groups

Experimental Gameplay

Ideas vs. Designs

Designer Perspective: Josh Holmes

Chapter 7 Prototyping

Methods of Prototyping

Physical Prototypes

Battleship Prototype

More Examples

Up the River Prototype

Prototyping a First-Person Shooter

Catastrophic Prototyping and Other Stories

Perspective on Physical Prototyping

Prototyping Your Original Game Idea

Visualizing Core Gameplay

Building the Physical Prototype

The Design Evolution of Magic: The Gathering

Refining Your Visualization

Making the Physical Prototype Better

Beyond the Physical Prototype

Designer Perspective: James Ernest

Designer Perspective: Katie Salen

Chapter 8 Digital Prototyping

Types of Digital Prototypes

Prototyping Game Mechanics

Prototyping Aesthetics

Prototyping Kinesthetics

Prototyping Technology

Using Software Prototypes in Game Design

Prototyping Cloud

Designing Control Schemes

Selecting Viewpoints

Overhead View

Prototyping for Game Feel

Side View

Isometric View

First-Person View

Third-Person View

Effective Interface Design

Form Follows Function

Metaphors

Visualization

Grouping Features

Consistency

Prototyping Tools

Programming Languages

Game Engines

Popular Creation Tools

Designer Perspective: David Perry

Designer Perspective: Elan Lee

Chapter 9 Playtesting

Playtesting and Iterative Design

Recruiting Playtesters

Self-Testing

Playtesting with Confidants

Playtesting with People You Do Not Know

Finding the Ideal Playtesters.

Playtesting with Your Target Audience

Conducting a Playtesting Session

Why We Play Games

Introduction (2-3 Minutes)

Warm-Up Discussion (5 Minutes)

Play Session (15-20 Minutes)

Discussion of Game Experience (15-20 Minutes)

Wrap-Up

Methods of Playtesting

How Feedback from Typical Gamers Can Help Avoid Disappointing Outcomes

A Primer for Playtesting: Don't Follow These Rules!

The Play Matrix

Taking Notes

Basic Usability Techniques

Do Not Lead

Remind Testers to Think Out Loud

Quantitative Data

Metrics in Game Design

Data Gathering

Test Control Situations

Rapid Iterative Testing and Evaluation

Playtesting Practice

Final Analysis

Chapter 10 Functionality, Completeness, and Balance

What Are You Testing For?

Foundation

Structure

Formal Details

Refinement

Is Your Game Functional?

Is Your Game Internally Complete?

Solution #1

Solution #2

Solution #3

Solution #4

Discussion

Loopholes

Loopholes versus Features

Dead Ends

Wrapping Up Completeness

Is Your Game Balanced?

Balancing Variables

Balancing the Dynamics

Reinforcing Relationships

Dominant Objects

Dominant Strategies

Balancing Positions

Symmetrical Games

Asymmetrical Games

Asymmetrical Objectives

Ticking Clock

Protection

Combination

Individual Objectives

Complete Asymmetry

Balancing for Skill

Balancing for the Median Skill Level

Balancing Dynamically

Balancing Computer-Controlled Characters

Techniques for Balancing Your Game

Think Modular

Purity of Purpose

A Conversation with Rob Pardo

One Change at a Time

Spreadsheets

Designer Perspective: Shawn Alexander Allen

Designer Perspective: Heather Kelley

End Notes.

Chapter 11 Fun and Accessibility

Is Your Game Fun?

Analyzing Appeal

Improving Player Choices

Types of Decisions

Cake-Cutting Scenario

The Prisoner's Dilemma

Puzzles

Rewards and Punishments

Anticipation

Surprise

Progress

The End

Fun Killers

Micromanagement

Stagnation

Tuning and Balance: Us vs . It

Insurmountable Obstacles

Arbitrary Events

Predictable Paths

Beyond Fun

Is Your Game Accessible?

Using Audio as a Game Feedback Device

Designer Perspective: Wren Brier

Part 3 Working as a Game Designer

Chapter 12 Team Structures

Team Structure

Publisher versus Developer

Developer's Team

Game Designer

Producer

Programmers

Building Inclusive Design Teams

Visual Artists

QA Engineers

Specialized Media

Level Designer

Publisher's Team

Marketing Team

Executives

Usability Specialists

User Research and Metrics

Team Profile

All Contribute to the Design

Team Building

Team Communication

Conducting Meetings

Agile Development

Unions in the Game Industry

Designer Perspective: Nahil Sharkasi

Designer Perspective: Elizabeth Lapensée

Designer Perspective: Jenova Chen

End Note

Chapter 13 Stages and Methods of Development

Stages Defined

From Concept to Contract

Preproduction

Production

From Classroom to Console: Producing flOw for the PlayStation 3

Postproduction and Quality Assurance

Maintenance and Updates

Using Agile Development

Agile Project Planning

Goals

Priorities

Schedule

Budget

Scoping and Revising

Milestones and Approvals

Opportunities for Indie Gamemakers

Designer Perspective: Michael John.

Further Reading.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Fullerton, Tracy Game Design Workshop

ISBN:

9781003858447

1003858449

9781003460268

OCLC:

1452735559