The Cores of Game Design: Mechanics, Economics, Narrative, and Aesthetics

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Preface
SECTION I: The Cores of Game Design
	CHAPTER 1: Introduction
		1.1. GETTING TO THE CORE
		1.2. OTHER GAME DESIGN FRAMEWORKS
	CHAPTER 2: How to Start Game Designing
		2.1. IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE FUN?
		2.2. FOUR CORES OF GAME DESIGN
		2.3. GAME DESIGN DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
	CHAPTER 3: Expanding the Cycle
		3.1. FLOW AND BALANCE
		3.2. PLAYER INAPTITUDE AND PLAYER IGNORANCE
		3.3. FORCED ACTION FRAMEWORK
		3.4. GOAL-ACHIEVEMENT-REWARD CYCLES
		3.5. GAME DESIGN CYCLE REVISITED
	CHAPTER 4: Planning
		4.1. THE PROBLEM WITH REGULAR PLANNING
		4.2. AGILE, VERY QUICK, AND FAST
		4.3. BORING DOCUMENTS
		4.4. GAME DEVELOPMENT IS NOT SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
SECTION II: Mechanics
	CHAPTER 5: Starting with Mechanics
		5.1. STRONG AND WEAK MECHANICS
		5.2. PLAYER, LEVEL, AND GAME MECHANICS
		5.3. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE GAME ELEMENTS
		5.4. OTHER APPROACHES
	CHAPTER 6: Player Motivation
		6.1. EXTRINSIC AND INTRINSIC MOTIVATION
		6.2. PLAYER TYPOLOGIES
	CHAPTER 7: Level Design
		7.1. PACING AND CHALLENGES
		7.2. LINEAR, NON-LINEAR, AND RANDOM CHALLENGE ORDER
		7.3. RISK AND REWARD
		7.4. DESIGNING THE SPACE
SECTION III: Economy
	CHAPTER 8: Starting with Economy
		8.1. BASIC TYPES OF RESOURCES
		8.2. PROGRESSION ECONOMY
		8.3. BALANCING AND FAIRNESS
		8.4. OTHER APPROACHES
	CHAPTER 9: Game Economics
		9.1. SOURCES, DRAINS, CONVERTERS, AND TRADERS
		9.2. OPTIONS THROUGH RESOURCES AND UPGRADES
		9.3. FEEDBACK LOOPS
	CHAPTER 10: Resource Values
		10.1. PERCEIVED VALUE
		10.2. CONTEXTUAL VALUE
		10.3. CALCULATED VALUE
SECTION IV: Narrative
	CHAPTER 11: Starting with Narrative
		11.1. MESSAGE AND THEME
		11.2. TROPES
		11.3. STORY-RELATED TERMS
		11.4. OTHER APPROACHES
	CHAPTER 12: Story Structures
		12.1. ON CONFLICT
		12.2. THE THREE-ACT STRUCTURE
		12.3. QUESTIONING THE HERO’S JOURNEY
	CHAPTER 13: Moral and Ethics
		13.1. SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF AND MORAL DISENGAGEMENT
		13.2. THREE AXES OF MORALITY
		13.3. VIOLENCE IN GAMES
SECTION V: Aesthetics
	CHAPTER 14: Starting with Aesthetics
		14.1. MOOD, MOOD BOARDS AND OTHER BOARDS
		14.2. CREATIVE ALIGNMENT AND GAMEPLAY
		14.3. AESTHETICS AS GAMEPLAY
		14.4. OTHER APPROACHES
	CHAPTER 15: Audiovisual Language
		15.1. SHAPE LANGUAGE
		15.2. COMPOSITION
		15.3. GESTALT
		15.4. SKETCHING AND THUMBNAILING
		15.5. SOUNDS
		15.6. JUICE
	CHAPTER 16: UI and UX
		16.1. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UI AND UX
		16.2. AFFORDANCE
		16.3. PRACTICAL LAWS OF UX
		16.4. ACCESSIBILITY
SECTION VI: Conclusion
	CHAPTER 17: Conclusions
		17.1. WHAT IS GOOD GAME DESIGN?
		17.2. REDEFINING SUCCESS
		17.3. CLOSING THE FRAMEWORK
		17.4. GAME OVER
		17.5. THANK YOU FOR PLAYING
Bibliography
Index