COMPUTER GAME DESIGN: THEORY AND PRACTICE

ROUSE

One of the most important but least
discussed elements of a computer game is the
gameplay that makes a game compelling and
entertaining. Game Design: Theory &
Practice focuses on this elusive topic
and how you can ensure your title has the best
gameplay possible. Richard Rouse
discusses in detail key game design topics including
game balancing, storytelling,
non-linearity, player motivations, input/output, artificial
intelligence, level design, and
playtesting. This book delves into the entire breadth of
interactive games, covering computer,
console, and arcade titles, and spanning a variety
of gaming genres including strategy,
adventure, simulation, action, role-playing, sports,
and wargames.

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

Understand the elements that make a game
successful through detailed analysis of
Centipede, Tetris, Loom, Myth: The Fallen
Lords, and 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.

Richard Rouse III is a computer game
designer, programmer, and writer at Surreal
Software. Among his credits are Centipede
3D, Odyssey: The Legend of Nemesis,
Damage Incorporated, and the PlayStation
2 version of Drakan. Rouse has written
extensively about game design for
publications including Game Developer, SIGGRAPH
Computer Graphics, Gamasutra, and Inside
Mac Games.

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