Theory of Fun for Game Design
O'Reilly Media · Print & ebook · December 31, 2013
A Game Design pick for readers exploring Theory of Fun for Game Design.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A designer’s look at why games hold our attention—and what play has in common with learning.
- Themes
- Fun as a core element of games, Games as learning tools, Pattern-seeking and puzzle-solving
- Genres
- Game Design, Games, Game Dev
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved. Most of these share its genres: Games and Game Dev.
The Art of Game DesignJesse Schell69% matchAlso shares Game Design
Video Game StorytellingEvan Skolnick59% match
Masters of DoomDavid Kushner50% match
Level Up! the Guide to Great Video Game DesignScott Rogers66% matchAlso shares Game Design
Super NintendoKeza MacDonald56% match
Designing GamesTynan Sylvester70% matchAlso shares Game Design
What Video Games Have to Teach US About Learning and Literacy. Second EditionJames Paul Gee67% match
Advanced Game DesignMichael Sellers65% matchAlso shares Game Design
For younger readers: Game On!, The Greatest Stories Ever Played, Chess for Kids
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
Now in full color, the 10th anniversary edition of this classic book takes you deep into the influences that underlie modern video games, and examines the elements they share with traditional games such as checkers. At the heart of his exploration, veteran game designer Raph Koster takes a close look at the concept of fun and why it’s the most vital element in any game. Why do some games become boring quickly, while others remain fun for years?
Continue reading
How do games serve as fundamental and powerful learning tools? Whether you’re a game developer, dedicated gamer, or curious observer, this illustrated, fully updated edition helps you understand what drives this major cultural force, and inspires you to take it further. You’ll discover that: - Games play into our innate ability to seek patterns and solve puzzles - Most successful games are built upon the same elements - Slightly more females than males now play games - Many games still teach primitive survival skills - Fictional dressing for modern games is more developed than the conceptual elements - Truly creative designers seldom use other games for inspiration - Games are beginning to evolve beyond their prehistoric origins
The Shape of Fun
A designer’s look at why games hold our attention—and what play has in common with learning.
Come here for
- Patterns, puzzles, and the shared elements behind successful games
- A fresh way to think about fun as a design principle
Expect
- An exploration of games alongside traditional play like checkers
- Illustrations and an updated, full-color anniversary edition
Where it sits
| Game Design | 78% |
|---|---|
| Games | 41% |
| Game Dev | 24% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Game Dev
- UI/UX Design
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Authors
- Raph Koster
- Publisher
- O'Reilly Media
- Published
- December 31, 2013
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Fun as a core element of games · Games as learning tools · Pattern-seeking and puzzle-solving
- Reading lane
- Game Dev