book

Introduction to Game Systems Design

by Dax Gazaway

August 2021

Beginner

384 pages

10h 58m

English

Addison-Wesley Professional

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Who This Book Is ForHow To Use This BookWhat This Book Covers

Defining GameFinding the Target Audience for a Game: Player AttributesValue Gained from PlayersTarget Audience CompositeWhat to Do with a Target Audience ProfileFurther Steps
Core Management TeamTeam SubdisciplinesFurther Steps
How to Ask a Theoretical QuestionHow to Ask for Help with a ProblemFurther Steps
What Is Data?Game Industry ToolsFurther Steps
Why Spreadsheets?What Is a Spreadsheet?Spreadsheet Cells: The Building Blocks of DataData Containers in SpreadsheetsSpreadsheet OperationsData ValidationFurther Steps
Grouping ArgumentsFunction StructureMore Complex FunctionsFunctions for System DesignersHow to Choose the Right FunctionFurther Steps
An Abstract ExampleStory in GamesFurther Steps
Idea BuffetRunning a Brainstorming SessionMethods to Force CreativityFurther Steps
Mechanics Versus AttributesListing AttributesDefining an AttributeGrouping AttributesFurther Steps
Create a Spreadsheet to Be Read by an OutsiderAvoid Typing NumbersLabel DataValidate Your DataUse Columns for Attributes and Rows for ObjectsColor CodingAvoid Adding Unneeded Columns or Rows or Blank CellsSeparate Data Objects with SheetsSpreadsheet ExampleFurther Steps
Getting a Feel for Your AttributesDetermining the Granularity for NumbersThe Tension TrickSearching for the Right NumbersFurther Steps
Attribute WeightsDPS and Intertwined AttributesBinary SearchingNaming ConventionsNaming Object IterationsUsing the Handshake FormulaFurther Steps
Range BalancingData FulcrumsHierarchical DesignFurther Steps
Linear GrowthExponential GrowthFurther Steps
Overview AnalysisNext-Level Deep AnalysisPracticing Data AnalysisComparison AnalysisCanariesFurther Steps
Macrosystem Difficulty AdjustmentBalancing CombinationsFurther Steps
BalancePerforming PlaytestsSolving ProblemsFurther Steps
Games as ConversationsWord MeaningsNoiseReciprocityReward ExpectationsFurther Steps
Basic ProbabilityMapping ProbabilityMeasuring Luck in a GameFurther Steps
PracticeAnalyze Existing GamesPlay New GamesModify Existing GamesWork on Your GameKeep Learning

Content preview from Introduction to Game Systems Design

Chapter 4 System Design Tools

The game industry is, as you would expect, full of computer software tools. The needs of each team, project, and game are different, and a variety of tools are available to meet these needs. Some tools are used more often than others. This chapter discusses some of the most common categories of tools used in the game industry after taking a close look at exactly what the term data refers to.

What Is Data?

Throughout this and following sections, you will often see references to tools and concepts that deal with data. But what exactly is data? For the sake of this book, data is numbers or text used to describe something. Importantly, data is acted upon; it does not take action. Let’s look at a couple of examples. ...