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Games, Design and Play: A Detailed Approach to Iterative Game Design

by Colleen Macklin, John Sharp

June 2016

Beginner

352 pages

8h 26m

English

Addison-Wesley Professional

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Another Book on Game Design?Game Design, Game Development, and Game ProductionGames By and For EveryoneYou Are What You PlayHow This Book WorksThe Beginning of Something

The Basic Elements of Play DesignFrom Six Elements, Limitless Play ExperiencesGetting from Here to ThereSummaryExercises
ConstraintDirect and Indirect ActionsGoalsChallengeSkill, Strategy, Chance, and UncertaintyDecision-Making and FeedbackAbstractionThemeStorytellingContext of PlaySummaryExercises
Competitive PlayCooperative PlaySkill-Based PlayExperience-Based PlayGames of Chance and UncertaintyWhimsical PlayRole-PlayingPerformative PlayExpressive PlaySimulation-Based PlaySummaryExercises
Action Theory as a FrameworkThe Layers of a Play ExperienceThe Sensory LayerThe Information LayerThe Interaction LayerFailureThe Frame LayerThe Purpose LayerBeyond Bartle’s Player TypesSummaryExercises
The Origins of Iterative DesignThe Four StepsStep 1: ConceptualizeStep 2: PrototypeStep 3: PlaytestStep 4: EvaluateA Repeated Process, Not a Single CycleEmbracing Failure to SucceedSummaryExercise
Generating Design ValuesExample: Pong Design ValuesCase StudiesCase Study 1: thatgamecompany’s JourneyCase Study 2: Captain Game’s Desert GolfingCase Study 3: Naomi Clark’s ConsentacleSummaryExercises
The Game Design DocumentExample: Pong Design DocumentSchematicsIntegrating Schematics into the Game Design DocumentThe Tracking SpreadsheetOverviewFor DiscussionTask ListOngoing ResponsibilitiesAsset ListCompleted TasksSummaryExercise
Roles and ResponsibilitiesAlignment Versus AutonomyTime and ResourcesTeam AgreementsCollaboration ToolsRunning a MeetingThe Soft Skills of CollaborationResolving DifferencesUnderstanding FailureSummary
Generating Ideas for Your GameBrainstormingIdea Speed-Dating“How Might We...” QuestionsNoun-Verb-Adjective BrainstormingMotivationsDesigning Around the Main Thing the Player Gets to DoDesigning Around ConstraintsDesigning Around a StoryDesigning Around Personal ExperiencesAbstracting the Real WorldDesigning Around the PlayerDesign Values Capture MotivationsSummary
Prototypes Are Playable QuestionsEight Kinds of PrototypesPaper PrototypesPhysical PrototypesPlayable PrototypesArt and Sound PrototypesInterface PrototypesCode/Tech PrototypesCore Game PrototypesComplete Game PrototypesDocumenting Your PrototypesSummary
Six Kinds of PlaytestsInternal PlaytestsGame Developer PlaytestsFriend and Family PlaytestsTarget Audience PlaytestsNew Player PlaytestsExperienced Player PlaytestsMatching Prototypes to PlaytestsPreparing for a PlaytestPicking a Time and PlacePlanning the PlaytestCapturing FeedbackRunning a PlaytestIntroduceObserveListenDiscussAfter a PlaytestThe Difference Between Input and FeedbackSummary
Reviewing Playtest ResultsWhat to Think AboutInterpreting ObservationsConceptualizing SolutionsReviewIncubateBrainstormDecideDocumentScheduleSummary
Case Study: The MetagameCase Study: Johann Sebastian JoustCase Study: The PathCase Study: Queers in Love at the End of the WorldHow to Know When the Design Is DoneGetting Ready for ProductionSummary
IntroductionChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 13

Content preview from Games, Design and Play: A Detailed Approach to Iterative Game Design

Games, Design and Play

A Detailed Approach to Iterative Game Design

Colleen MacklinJohn Sharp

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9780134392233Purchase book