Game Development Essentials: Gameplay Mechanics

Jeannie Novak is the lead author and series editor of the widely acclaimed GAME DEVELOPMENT ESSENTIALS series (with over 15 published titles), co-author of PLAY THE GAME: THE PARENT'S GUIDE TO VIDEO GAMES, and co-author of three pioneering books on the interactive entertainment industry--including CREATING INTERNET ENTERTAINMENT. She is also co-founder of Novy Unlimited and CEO of Kaleidospace, LLC (dbaIndiespace), providing curriculum development and consulting services for corporations, educators, and creative professionals in games, music, film, education, and technology.Novak served as director of the Game Art & Design and Media Arts & Animation programs at the Art Institute Online and has taught game courses at UCLA, Art Center College of Design, DeVry University, Westwood College, ITT Technical Institute, and the Academy of Entertainment & Technology at Santa Monica College. She holds a B.A. in mass communication/business administration from UCLA and an M.A. in communication management from the Annenberg School at USC. She also serves on the Online Gameplay Committee for the Academy of Interactive Arts &Sciences and has served on the executive boards of the International Game Developers Association (Los Angeles) and Women in Games International. An accomplished composer and performer, Novak was chosen as one of the 100 most influential people in technology by MicroTimesmagazine and has been profiled by CNN, Billboard Magazine, the Sundance Channel, Daily Variety, and the Los Angeles Times. Jeannie Novak is the lead author and series editor of the widely acclaimed GAME DEVELOPMENT ESSENTIALS series (with over 15 published titles), co-author of PLAY THE GAME: THE PARENT'S GUIDE TO VIDEO GAMES, and co-author of three pioneering books on the interactive entertainment industry--including CREATING INTERNET ENTERTAINMENT. She is also co-founder of Novy Unlimited and CEO of Kaleidospace, LLC (dbaIndiespace), providing curriculum development and consulting services for corporations, educators, and creative professionals in games, music, film, education, and technology.Novak served as director of the Game Art & Design and Media Arts & Animation programs at the Art Institute Online and has taught game courses at UCLA, Art Center College of Design, DeVry University, Westwood College, ITT Technical Institute, and the Academy of Entertainment & Technology at Santa Monica College. She holds a B.A. in mass communication/business administration from UCLA and an M.A. in communication management from the Annenberg School at USC. She also serves on the Online Gameplay Committee for the Academy of Interactive Arts &Sciences and has served on the executive boards of the International Game Developers Association (Los Angeles) and Women in Games International. An accomplished composer and performer, Novak was chosen as one of the 100 most influential people in technology by MicroTimesmagazine and has been profiled by CNN, Billboard Magazine, the Sundance Channel, Daily Variety, and the Los Angeles Times. Troy Dunniway is an award-winning video game designer, director, and producer and has had a lead role in companies such as Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Westwood Studios, Ubisoft, Insomniac Games, Midway, and Brash Entertainment. Troy has been the creative lead on Ratchet: Deadlocked and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas. Munch's Oddysee, Fable, Crimson Skies, and Mercenaries have won numerous Game of the Year and Game Design of the Year awards. Troy has shipped games for every console and in almost every genre, giving him a variety of experience in third-party independent development, first-party internal development, and publishing. He speaks regularly at the Game Developers Conference, SIGGRAPH, E3, and other international events and lectures at universities on game design and development. Troy is the Chair of Gaming for the SIGGRAPH 2010 national convention and is working to expand the presence of gaming in the worldwide graphics industry.

Chapter 1: Creating the Foundation: History of Gameplay Mechanics
Chapter 2: Creating the Process: The Game's Design Path
Chapter 3: Creating the Core: The Game's Heart and Soul
Chapter 4: Creating the Characters: The Game's Inhabitants
Chapter 5: Creating the Options: Providing Breadth
Chapter 6: Creating the Connection: Providing Depth
Chapter 7: Creating Progression: Ramping the Player
Chapter 8: Creating Variety: Involving the Player
Chapter 9: Creating Cohesion: Putting it all Together