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

This is not a computer book, nor does it discuss business or legal aspects of games or the game industry. Instead, it offers an overview of the process of game design and explains what makes a good game. Pulsipher, who has designed published board games, stresses the importance of understanding the audience or target market, then offers tips on designing levels and scenarios for video and tabletop games and designing specific types of games. There is also discussion of specific video game issues and genres, such as multi-sided games, social network games, massively multiplayer online games, mobile games, education and training games, and tradable card games. The book includes practice exercises and detailed, extensive glossary, plus an annotated list of books about game design, brief descriptions of classic video and tabletop games, a list of software for video game and tabletop game production, and a list of web sites and online forums. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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.