challenges for game designers non-digital exercises for video game designers

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· 277 ratings · 12 reviews

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Apr 30, 2010 Michael Scott rated it it was amazing

Challenges for Game Designers is an introductory-to-intermediate-level book into game design, covering world and system design, game writing, content design, and user interface design. The book is structured into 21 chapters; each chapter covers briefly a specific topic, such as Puzzles or Casual Games, and presents the reader with a set of challenges of increasing difficulty. Each chapter presents taxonomies of notions relevant to the topic, and the specific challenges, DOs, and the DON'Ts. The Challenges for Game Designers is an introductory-to-intermediate-level book into game design, covering world and system design, game writing, content design, and user interface design. The book is structured into 21 chapters; each chapter covers briefly a specific topic, such as Puzzles or Casual Games, and presents the reader with a set of challenges of increasing difficulty. Each chapter presents taxonomies of notions relevant to the topic, and the specific challenges, DOs, and the DON'Ts. The final challenge of each chapter is fun and, at the same time, pushes hard the limits of an intermediate-level designer. The limited size of the chapters, which leads to high density of concepts, is compensated by the presence of lists and summaries. The writing style is accessible and understanding the text requires little computer knowledge, although video game design receives much attention. Overall, an enjoyable and useful read for its intended audience. ...more

Jul 15, 2017 Yu Chao rated it liked it

The "game design challenges" at the end of each chapter is really interesting and creativity-provoking, however, the text is not that helpful.

I would only recommend this book if you are reading it with other people, since most of the challenges require a group to work on.

For solo dev, just read "The Art of Game Design" and work on your own project.

The "game design challenges" at the end of each chapter is really interesting and creativity-provoking, however, the text is not that helpful.

I would only recommend this book if you are reading it with other people, since most of the challenges require a group to work on.

For solo dev, just read "The Art of Game Design" and work on your own project.

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Sep 10, 2017 Alexander rated it really liked it

Loved the book. Focusses on challenges/exercises for you to do in order to improve specific aspects of your game design skills. While also providing a nice short theoretical foundation for each aspect.

I felt the theory was a nice addition to theory from books like 'The Art of Game Design' and 'Game Design Workshop'.

The exercises in this book are larger in scope than those from 'Game Design Workshop'. This may make the exercises look daunting and they are indeed time consuming, but they help yo

I felt the theory was a nice addition to theory from books like 'The Art of Game Design' and 'Game Design Workshop'.

The exercises in this book are larger in scope than those from 'Game Design Workshop'. This may make the exercises look daunting and they are indeed time consuming, but they help you improve the aspects of your game design skills which you want to work on. If the challenges proof too large in scope, a book like 'Game Design Workshop' will help you get ready for this book.

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Mar 25, 2013 Stacey Mason rated it really liked it

Most creative professionals understand that constraints foster creativity, and this is the approach Challenges for Game Designers uses to encourage designers toward brilliant games, since most people, given a problem, will naturally tap into creative insights to find a solution. Designed for beginner to intermediate designers, each chapter focuses on certain aspects of game design: genre, manipulating mechanics, drawing from personal experiences, and so on to explore design problems and help the Most creative professionals understand that constraints foster creativity, and this is the approach Challenges for Game Designers uses to encourage designers toward brilliant games, since most people, given a problem, will naturally tap into creative insights to find a solution. Designed for beginner to intermediate designers, each chapter focuses on certain aspects of game design: genre, manipulating mechanics, drawing from personal experiences, and so on to explore design problems and help the reader understand how designers think. The challenges are interesting and themselves creative.

The chapters are structured such that they provide a short introduction--usually only a few pages--to basic game design ideals. Each chapter then provides 5 design challenges, complete with concept, goal, and expected deliverables. Additional challenge ideas are available on the last page of the chapter. Though not as fleshed-out (which comes with pros and cons), these are also great motivators for designers to think of solutions to interesting problems.

Mostly, the challenges serve as the boundaries and starting point; designers have enough of an outline to avoid the anxieties that come with a blank page, while still having enough open-endedness to allow for innovative design.

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Sep 22, 2009 Roger Tavares rated it it was amazing

It is a very good book, but i really didn´t like the "how to" parts, and the book lacks some in-depth commentaries and conceptualization.
I will use it in my classes. It is a very good book, but i really didn´t like the "how to" parts, and the book lacks some in-depth commentaries and conceptualization.
I will use it in my classes. ...more

Dec 26, 2019 Nathan rated it it was amazing

Excellent content with a short chapters explaining concepts followed by exercises. very excited to do some exercises!

Strong start but some of the later chapters were slower or feel dated (e.g. 2008's perspective on mobile and multiplayer gaming). On the other hand some of the exercises feel prescient when the propose mini exercises that have actually become real, successful games!

Excellent content with a short chapters explaining concepts followed by exercises. very excited to do some exercises!

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Feb 16, 2012 Tom Franklin rated it it was amazing

A solid, insightful book on design for both digital and non-digital games. The chapters each focus on a different aspect of game design elements, with real world examples. Chapters end with exercises for students to prepare them for a career in game design.

As a board game enthusiast and would-be board game designer, this was managed to be both a thoughtful and fun read. Highly recommended.

Feb 09, 2011 Crwth is currently reading it

The first few chapters have been very interesting and enlightening; unfortunately, they require a lot of hands-on interaction, which requires time, which is something I'm lacking. Also, I've found with the first two projects that it was useful to do them in tandem with a friend, to compare results, and this extra requirement to read the book just adds to the delay in finishing it through.
The first few chapters have been very interesting and enlightening; unfortunately, they require a lot of hands-on interaction, which requires time, which is something I'm lacking. Also, I've found with the first two projects that it was useful to do them in tandem with a friend, to compare results, and this extra requirement to read the book just adds to the delay in finishing it through.
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Tons of great insight into what makes a good game, and how to apply that. Lots of useful exercises to try things out and give ideas. If you're interested in game design, this needs to be on your bookshelf! Tons of great insight into what makes a good game, and how to apply that. Lots of useful exercises to try things out and give ideas. If you're interested in game design, this needs to be on your bookshelf! ...more