Game Design: How to Create Video and Tabletop Games, Start to Finish

Lewis Pulsipher

Aug 2012 · McFarland

About this ebook

Many aspiring game designers have crippling misconceptions about the process involved in creating a game from scratch, believing a "big idea" is all that is needed to get started. But game design requires action as well as thought, and proper training and practice to do so skillfully. In this indispensible guide, a published commercial game designer and longtime teacher offers practical instruction in the art of video and tabletop game design. The topics explored include the varying types of games, vital preliminaries of making a game, the nuts and bolts of devising a game, creating a prototype, testing, designing levels, technical aspects, and assessing nature of the audience. With practice challenges, a list of resources for further exploration, and a glossary of industry terms, this manual is essential for the nascent game designer and offers food for thought for even the most experienced professional.

Ratings and reviews

The most down to earth book on game design you're likely to encounter, Pulsipher's take on game design neither tells you the obvious brass tacks (e.g. Moore's Basics of Game Design) nor abstract philosophy (e.g. Koster's Theory of Fun). Instead, the author seems to take it upon himself to remind you that ideas are next to useless and making games takes work and perserverance. It takes all the pie in the sky fun of this creative endeavor and neatly suplexes it right back to earth. Yet, as harsh as that sounds, the truth of the matter is that ivory towers don't stand, pride is an early designer's greatest impediment. If you can't seem to bring your games to the finish, see if you can finish this book first. My main critique about the book is that it contains references to the web, a volatile medium, some links are already dead. Also, constant pragmatism doesn't make for the most compelling read.

Gets you started, but not specific enough on one type of game to really get you further. Also only covers creation really, so you still need a game business, production and marketing book to get you further. The author also teaches on Udemy online. Mostly video format instead of reading, so if you want the 'audiobook' experience with additional content, then Udemy is a good place to start since Game Design isn't really something real schools offer anyways.

dont buy

About the author

Lewis Pulsipher is the designer of six commercially published boardgames, and is a frequent contributor to Gamasutra and GameCareerGuide. He is author of more than a hundred published articles about games and has contributed to several books.