Elements of Game Design
An introduction to the basic concepts of game design, focusing on techniques used in commercial game production.
This textbook by a well-known game designer introduces the basics of game design, covering tools and techniques used by practitioners in commercial game production. It presents a model for analyzing game design in terms of three interconnected levels—mechanics and systems, gameplay, and player experience—and explains how novice game designers can use these three levels as a framework to guide their design process. The text is notable for emphasizing models and vocabulary used in industry practice and focusing on the design of games as dynamic systems of gameplay.
The book first introduces the core model and framework for analyzing and designing games. It then discusses the three levels in detail, explaining player experience and identifying design goals; introducing low-level structural analysis of gameplay in terms of basic mechanics; describing how mechanics build up into systems; and presenting concepts for understanding gameplay, defined as the dynamic behavior of players when they interact with mechanics and systems. Finally, the book offers students advice on creating game prototypes using an iterative, user-centered process. Each chapter offers a set of exercises for individuals and design challenges for groups.
About the Author
Robert Zubek is a game designer and developer and cofounder of SomaSim, an independent game studio in Chicago. Previously, he built large-scale social online games at Zynga, MMO game and analytics infrastructure at Three Rings Design, and console games at Electronic Arts/Maxis. He holds a PhD in computer science from Northwestern University, with a specialty in artificial intelligence and robotics.
Praise for Elements of Game Design
"This is the introduction to game design we've been waiting for. Through systems, games train our thumbs, tickle our curiosity, and tell stories in which our choices matter — and Elements of Game Design offers the best introduction I’ve seen to systemsoriented game design."
– Noah WardripFruin, Professor of Computational Media, University of California, Santa Cruz; author of How PacMan Eats
"Elements of Game Design provides a nuanced take on subjects such as gameplay mechanics, player psychology, and narrative structures — a wonderful survey of theoretical and practical thinking on how to design games."
– Eric Zimmerman, Arts Professor, NYU Game Center; coauthor of Rules of Play
Vipengele vya Game Design Utangulizi wa dhana za msingi za mchezo kubuni, kuzingatia mbinu kutumika katika uzalishaji wa mchezo wa kibiashara. Kitabu hiki cha masomo na mtengenezaji maarufu wa mchezo huanzisha misingi ya kubuni mchezo, kufunika zana na mbinu zinazotumiwa na watendaji katika uzalishaji wa mchezo wa kibiashara. Inawasilisha mfano wa kuchambua kubuni mchezo katika suala la ngazi tatu interconnected - mechanics na mifumo, gameplay, na uzoefu mchezaji - na anaelezea jinsi novice mchezo wabunifu wanaweza kutumia ngazi hizi tatu kama mfumo wa kuongoza mchakato wao wa kubuni. Maandishi ni mashuhuri kwa kusisitiza mifano na msamiati kutumika katika mazoezi ya sekta na kuzingatia kubuni ya michezo kama mifumo ya nguvu ya gameplay. Kitabu kwanza huanzisha mfano wa msingi na mfumo kwa ajili ya kuchambua na kubuni michezo. Kisha inazungumzia ngazi tatu kwa undani, kuelezea uzoefu wa mchezaji na kutambua malengo ya kubuni; kuanzisha kiwango cha chini cha uchambuzi wa muundo wa mchezo katika suala la mechanics ya msingi; kuelezea jinsi mechanics kujenga katika mifumo; na kuwasilisha dhana kwa ajili ya ufahamu wa mchezo, kama tabia ya nguvu ya wachezaji wakati wao kuingiliana na mechanics na mifumo. Hatimaye, kitabu inatoa wanafunzi ushauri juu ya kujenga mchezo prototypes kutumia iterative, mtumiaji-kituo mchakato. Kila sura inatoa seti ya mazoezi kwa ajili ya watu binafsi na changamoto ya kubuni kwa ajili ya makundi. Robert Zubeek ni mtengenezaji wa michezo na mwanzilishi na mwanzilishi mwenza wa SomaSim, studio ya mchezo huru huko Chicago. Hapo awali, aliunda michezo mikubwa ya kijamii mtandaoni katika Zynga, mchezo wa MMO na miundombinu ya uchambuzi katika Three Rings Design, na michezo ya console katika Electronic Arts. Ana PhD katika sayansi ya kompyuta kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Northwestern, na utaalam katika akili bandia na roboti. Sifa kwa Elements ya Mchezo Design "Hii ni utangulizi wa mchezo kubuni tumekuwa kusubiri kwa. Kupitia mifumo, michezo mafunzo thumbs zetu, tickle udadisi wetu, na kuwaambia hadithi ambayo uchaguzi wetu jambo <unk> na Elements ya Mchezo Design inatoa utangulizi bora nimeona kwa mifumo-oriented mchezo kubuni. <unk> Noah Wardrop-Fruin, Profesa wa Media ya Kompyuta, Chuo Kikuu cha California, Santa Cruz, mwandishi wa Jinsi Pac-Man Anakula: Vipengele vya Kubuni Mchezo hutoa maoni ya nuanced juu ya mada kama vile mitambo ya mchezo, saikolojia ya mchezaji, na miundo ya hadithi - uchunguzi mzuri wa mawazo ya nadharia na vitendo juu ya jinsi ya kubuni michezo. Eric Zimmerman, Profesa wa Sanaa, Kituo cha Mchezo cha NYU; mwandishi mwenza wa Sheria za Kucheza