The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Second Edition 2nd Edition by Jesse Schell (PDF)

Description

Good game design happens when you view your game from as many perspectives as possible. Written by one of the world’s top game designers, The Art of Game Design presents 100+ sets of questions, or different lenses, for viewing a game’s design, encompassing diverse fields such as psychology, architecture, music, visual design, film, software engineering, theme park design, mathematics, puzzle design, and anthropology. This Second Edition of a Game Developer Front Line Award winner:Describes the deepest and most fundamental principles of game designDemonstrates how tactics used in board, card, and athletic games also work in top-quality video gamesContains valuable insight from Jesse Schell, the former chair of the International Game Developers Association and award-winning designer of Disney online gamesThe Art of Game Design, Second Edition gives readers useful perspectives on how to make better game designs faster. It provides practical instruction on creating world-class games that will be played again and again.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review “… a solid pick and a ‘must’ for any collection looking for an in-depth, fundamental textbook on how to design and work with games.”―Midwest Book Review, March 2015Game Nite’s Editors’ Choice”… this book is considered by many to be the ‘bible’ of game design. … Much of the material has been updated … the introduction to probability … is a must read for aspiring game designers … engaging and thought provoking … a substantial book for someone looking to get serious about game design. … the cards are brilliant and a joy to keep on your desk and pull one or more out and see how they relate to your current design. … Highly recommended.”―Game Nite, Issue 2, 2015″I could not think of a better name for this work because game design isn’t a skillset, it’s a Tao: a way of looking at the world. This was perhaps the most important thing that Jesse ever taught me. It is the principle lesson of this book. … The things you will learn here are universally applicable. … Each section individually is a lens and tool in your designer’s tool belt but, taken as a whole, they form a system of thinking that will allow you to tackle problems well beyond their scope. … this book trains you to think as a designer …”―James Portnow, Game Designer, CEO of Rainmaker Games, and Writer of Extra CreditsPraise for the First Edition:Winner of a 2008 Game Developer Front Line Award”This book was clearly designed, not just written, and is an entire course in how to be a game designer. … The book is also intensely practical, giving some of the best advice on how to harness your own subconscious I’ve ever read, as well as short and useful descriptions of probability theory for non-mathematicians, how to diagram interest curves, working with a team, and dozens of other topics. It is simply the best text I’ve seen that really addresses what a designer should know, and then actually gives practical advice about how to gain that knowledge through life experience. It’s a marvelous tour de force and an essential part of anyone’s game design library.”―Noah Falstein, Gamasutra.com from Game Developer Magazine”… a good book that teaches the craft of game design in an accessible manner. … The text goes just deep enough to give you practical insight into how the key concepts might be useful without becoming wordy. … If you are looking for a competent introduction to game design, this book is a good place to start.”―Daniel Cook, Gamasutra.com, February 2009″As indicated by its title, Jesse Schell’s The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses uses many different perspectives (the titular lenses), which each prompt their own important questions, ranging from ‘What problems does my game ask the players to solve?’ to ‘What does beauty mean within the context of my game?’ These distinct points are interwoven throughout a step-by-step analysis of the design process that begins with the designer and his or her basic idea, and builds successfully from there. As with Rules of Play, the wealth of information presented by The Art of Game Design may seem daunting at first, but Schell’s agreeable voice eases the reader into a series of invaluable angles we can (and should) use to evaluate what we play.”―1up.com”Easily the most comprehensive, practical book I’ve ever seen on game design.”―Will Wright, Designer of The Sims, SimCity, and Spore”Jesse has lovingly crafted a great resource for both aspiring developers as well as seasoned gaming industry veterans. I highly recommend this book.”―Cliff “CliffyB” Bleszinski, CEO Boss Key and Former Design Director for Epic Games”Inspiring and practical for both veterans and beginners.”―Bob Bates, Game Designer and Co-Founder of Legend Entertainment”Jesse Schell’s new book, The Art of Game Design, is a marvelous introduction to game design by a true master of the form. Schell is the rarest of creatures: a gifted teacher who is also a talented and successful current game designer. This book reflects Jesse’s skill at presenting information clearly and coherently, and the knowledge he has acquired as a master game designer. I have already referenced this book while preparing lectures and classes in the U.S., Germany, and New Zealand, and recommend it as an invaluable aid for anyone interested in game design. The Art of Game Design is a pitch-perfect blend of valuable knowledge and insights with an informal and compelling presentation. The sections on harnessing the creative power of the subconscious mind are particularly insightful and delightfully written. It is immediately clear that Jesse Schell not only knows the theory behind what he writes about; he has also put it to use many times and honed his techniques to perfection. A must-read for anyone interested in interactive design, and even the creative process in general.”―Noah Falstein, Chief Game Designer, Google”The Art of Game Design describes precisely how to build a game the world will love and elegantly crank it through the realities of clients and publishers. It draws wisdom from Disneyland to Michelangelo, gradually assembling a supply of concrete game design rules and subtle psychological tricks that actually work in surprising ways. It is fertilizer for the subconscious: keep a stack of Post-it notes nearby to record all the game ideas that will sprout out of your own head while reading.”―Kyle Gabler, Game Designer and Founder of 2D Boy, Makers of World of Goo”He embodies a tradition of reconciling diverse disciplines, extending the possibilities of each and creating new theories and opportunities for both industry and academia. Jesse is like the Einstein of entertainment.”―Mk Haley, Walt Disney Research”Packed with Jesse’s real-world experience and humorous insight, The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses is a tool chest crossed with a kaleidoscope. Both fantastical and practical, methodical and wonder-full, this book and deck will have you looking at and dreaming up games with a fresh vision. Like a chemistry set for making mental explosions, it’s an idea(l) book guiding the design process for both new and seasoned game designers. In short, using Jesse’s book is FUN.”―Heather Kelley, Artist and Game Designer”The Art of Game Design is one of a handful of books I continuously reference during production. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for ways to approach your design from a fresh perspective, this book is a must for your library.”―Neil Druckmann, Creative Director on The Last of Us at Naughty Dog”On games industry desks, books tend to come and go, but they all seem to go on top of Jesse Schell’s The Art of Game Design, because that’s the one book that seems to stick around.”―Jason VandenBerghe, Creative Director, Ubisoft”Ken Rolston, internationally celebrated game designer, recommends Jesse Schell’s The Art of Game Design both for smart people and for people who are learning how to be smart.”―Ken Rolston, Director of Design, Turbine About the Author Jesse Schell is distinguished professor of the practice of entertainment technology for Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), a joint master’s program between Carnegie Mellon’s College of Fine Arts and School of Computer Science, where he teaches game design and leads several research projects. He is also CEO of Schell Games, LLC, an independent game studio in Pittsburgh. Formerly he was creative director of the Walt Disney Imagineering Virtual Reality Studio and chairman of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). Schell worked as a designer, programmer, and manager on several projects for Disney theme parks and DisneyQuest. He received his undergraduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and master’s degree in information networking from Carnegie Mellon. In 2004, he was named as one of the World’s 100 Top Young Innovators by MIT’s Technology Review.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I am torn about this textbook. There is much to like in The Art of Game Design, and the book is arguably at it’s best when Schell relays his extensive personal experiences in the industry. I indeed found some sections to be excellent, for instance the discussions of design principles, of games in education, or or the social responsibilities of designers. I also appreciated the accessible writing style.That said, as a uni instructor looking for a textbook for undergrad students in a Games Studies course, the book ultimately missed the mark for me. Aside from its excessive length and over-ambitious scope, I found many of the observations poorly reasoned and often grounded in a cursory understanding of related fields. I was irritated by the frequent generalisations about ‘human nature’, the uncritical discussion of ‘player types’ (taking the controversial arguments by Bartle at face value), and the frequent assumptions about gender in gaming (‘women like to play nurturing roles’, etc.). The book would have benefitted from a more careful consideration of the state of the field in disciplines like psychology, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies. Instead, the author ignores much of the academic literatures, and at one point even derides theoretically-minded work as ‘pedantic’. This is a real same, and a missed opportunity.In short, if you are looking for inspiration, there is plenty to be found in these pages, but for a more critical assessment of game design I’d recommend turning elsewhere.

⭐I could not rent this book; had to buy it. It takes so much brain power to change our minds on anything, and this book rewrites the way I think about game design on every page. It’s almost daunting because of how effective it is, but that’s my problem of being cowardly and tired; the book is a gem. Get this book on game design first and brace yourself.

⭐I haven’t read the book fully, but I read most of the chapters in prep. for a jam or two.Everything in this book is considered mandatory reading for ANYBODY wanting to work with games (creative, marketing, qa, these are all considered game developers.)If you have the money to spare, purchase the supplementary deck with this book for a quick check on your project. I would have bought both products had I more money.Jesse’s Schell’s book is worth a read, regardless of your experience (I’m looking at you, AAA devs!)

⭐This book helped me immensely through designing human interfaces and experiences for website and apps. I picked it up for the game design elements, however the information inside applies to everything and is GOLD.Actually, it’s more than gold – it’s platinum. Have you seen the nyan cat fly in the sky and unicorns play chess under an oak tree? Neither have I, however by reading this book I have one less thing I won’t regret missing. YOLO.Buy this book now and profit!

⭐As a filmmaker, and now lead cinematic artist for the video game industry, I wanted to get a better perspective on what “makes games tick.” I quickly discovered that this game is much more valuable that it appears. As a filmmaker, many of the ideas and principles that are described can be applied to filmmaking. This book has not only got me quickly up to speed on the art of what goes into making a quality game, but it has also improved the way that I approach and perceive creating films and linear-based entertainment. I can’t recommend this book enough.

⭐This book really deep dives into the strategical, political and/or philosophical aspects of game design. For someone who has been playing video games for well over 20-something years that is aware on what makes a good games, I don’t really need to read up on the why and such. As someone who has no experience in game development, but trying to learn the ropes and getting into the technical aspects of video game development, this book really isn’t it. I am looking to learn the “how” to create a game and not really get into the fine nuances of why and what.

⭐A great toolbox book, much better when you combine it with the Deck of Lens.Obviously many of the content comes form the self experience of Jesse Schell but many on this industry form Gamification and Game Design comes first form those experience and then stepped to the next level with a more professional investigation in some cases.it’s worthy and useful hast it is, a good toolbox to aid, it not pretends to be a bible to follow straight forward, and that’s fine.

⭐This book is awesome. I’m just a beginner studying Gaming Design and this works for me. It works a lot on concepts, induces some exercises and self-criticizing about how to think when creating content. Goes much more theoretical than practical so if you need to learn about Coding, this is not your book. Expect reading a lot about every type possible of “game”, not only about the electronic-modern type, but also card-game, story-telling game, etc.

⭐A really useful book. The author creates as a series of ‘lenses’ which are basically ideas to test your gameplay against. Having read through it has already given me some great ideas. But I think going back and actually ‘testing’ my game against each lens will show the real value – that’s next! Some of the ideas are a bit ‘out there’ but generally there is a lot of common sense and some great anecdotes.

⭐Great book for beginners of games design and veterans, it puts any preconceived thoughts you had about game design into words and offers lots of information. The author is very transparent and emphasises that this book is only the beginning of your game design journey, not the end.I do feel that the book could have been a little shorter as the author talks on a little too much.

⭐The book arrived in time, everything went fine.

⭐I love books but I have nevery been in such a awe as wile reading this particular one. The style in which the book has been written makes is feel like a tale of a experienced mentor shared around hearth of the house, near the fire. It provides understanding of many things, on many different levels.

⭐This book is very deep. I’m somewhere in 30% “I am a game developer.” I’ll update after finishing.

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