Table of Contents

Preface

Part One: The Elements of Game Design

1: Games and Videogames

2: The Design Process

3: Game Concepts

4: Game Worlds

5: Creative and Constructive Play

6: Character Development

7: Storytelling and Narrative

8: Creating the User Experience

9: Gameplay

10: The Internal Economy of Games

11: Game Balancing

12: General Principles of Level Design

Part Two: The Genres of Games

13: Action Games

14: Strategy Games

15: Role-Playing Games

16: Sports Games

17: Vehicle Simulations

18: Construction and Management Simulations

19: Adventure Games

20: Artificial Life, Puzzle Games, and Other Genres

21: Online Games

22: The Future of Gaming

Appendix A: Sample Design Documents

Glossary

References