Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games

Tracy Fullerton

Elsevier Morgan Kaufmann, 2008 - Computers - 470 pages

Master the craft of game design so you can create that elusive combination of challenge, competition, and interaction that players seek. This design workshop begins with an examination of the fundamental elements of game design; then puts you to work in prototyping, playtesting and redesigning your own games with exercises that teach essential design skills.

Workshop exercises require no background in programming or artwork, releasing you from the intricacies of electronic game production, so you can develop a working understanding of the essentials of game design.

Features:
* A design methodology used in the USC Interactive Media program, a cutting edge program funded in part of Electronic Arts.
* Hands-on exercises demonstrate key concepts, and the design methodology
* Insights from top industry game designers, including Noah Falstein, American McGee, Peter Molyneux

What people are saying

Review: Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games

User Review  - Stacey Mason - Goodreads

Like most people of my generation, I have been playing video games since I can remember. I've read bits and pieces of other game design books, but none have been as clear or as aligned with my own ...

Review: Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games

User Review  - Serge Pierro - Goodreads

An excellent book on game design. In particular the early parts on prototyping and playtesting. I found the book covered many areas that I had come across in my own game designs, and playtesting for other companies.

About the author

Tracy Fullerton, M.F.A., is a game designer, educator and writer with fifteen years of professional experience. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Interactive Media Division of the USC School of Cinema-Television where she serves as Co-Director of the Electronic Arts Game Innovation Lab. Recent credits include faculty advisor for the award-winning student game Cloud, and game designer for The Night Journey a unique game/art project with media artist Bill Viola. Prior to joining the USC faculty, she was president and founder of the interactive television game developer, Spiderdance, Inc. Spiderdance's games included NBC's Weakest Link, MTV's webRIOT, The WB's No Boundaries, History Channel's History IQ, Sony Game Show Network's Inquizition and TBS's Cyber Bond. Before starting Spiderdance, Tracy was a founding member of the New York design firm R/GA Interactive. As a producer and creative director she created games and interactive products for clients including Sony, Intel, Microsoft, AdAge, Ticketmaster, Compaq, and Warner Bros. among many others.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games
• Author: Tracy Fullerton
• Contributors: Christopher Swain, Steven S. Hoffman
• Edition: 2, illustrated
• Publisher: Elsevier Morgan Kaufmann, 2008
• ISBN: 0240809742, 9780240809748
• Length: 470 pages
• Subjects: Computers / Programming / Games