For courses in Fundamentals of Game Design for all video game developers and designers
With a focus on designing for the commercial entertainment market, this text teaches the principles and practice of game design and covers each of the major game genres individually.
Part One: The Elements of Game Design
1: Games and Videogames
2: The Design Process
3: Game Concepts
4: Game Worlds
5: Creative and Constructive Play
6: Character Development
7: Storytelling and Narrative
8: Creating the User Experience
9: Gameplay
10: The Internal Economy of Games
11: Game Balancing
12: General Principles of Level Design
Part Two: The Genres of Games
13: Action Games
14: Strategy Games
15: Role-Playing Games
16: Sports Games
17: Vehicle Simulations
18: Construction and Management Simulations
19: Adventure Games
20: Artificial Life, Puzzle Games, and Other Genres
21: Online Games
22: The Future of Gaming
Appendix A: Sample Design Documents
Glossary
References