Players Making Decisions

This is the first introductory game design textbook that's 100% focused on practical application and the needs of today's game students, reflects the field's most authoritative research, and includes detailed coverage of player decision-making. Written by long-time game designer Zack Hiwiller, department chair for Full Sail University's pioneering Game Design degree program, Game Design: Beyond Platforms brings together reliable information on the topics most widely covered in modern game design classes. Hiwiller focuses on knowledge that will be useful for years to come, not tips and tricks that will become obsolete long before students can use them. He addresses the needs of both digital and analog game designers, and offers many references as jumping-off points for further exploration and learning. Coverage includes: A clear introduction to the discipline of game design, what game designers actually do, and how they fit into game development teams and the game development process A full section on prototyping and playtesting, from paper prototypes to intellectual property protection issues A detailed discussion of cognitive biases and human decision making as it pertains to games - an important discipline largely ignored in game design texts Thorough coverage of key game elements, with practical discussions of game mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics Practical coverage of using simulation tools to decode the magic of game balance A full section on the game design business, and how to create a sustainable lifestyle within it