Videogameshavecaptivatedusforover50years,givingusentireworldstoexplore,newwaystoconnectwithfriends,thought-provokingstories,orjustafunwaytopassthetime.Creatinggamesisadreamformany,butmakinggreatgamesischallenging.TheGameDesigner’sPlaybookisaboutmeetingthatchallenge.Morespecifically,it’sabookaboutgameinteractiondesign;inotherwords,shapingwhatplayerscandoandhowtheydoittomakeagamesatisfyingandmemorable.Ourtimewithagameisbuiltoninteraction,frombasicthingslikepushingbuttonsonacontroller,tomakingcomplicatedstrategicdecisionsandengagingwiththenarrative.Ifyou’veeverfelttheadrenalinerushfrombeatingaperfectlytunedbossfightorbeendelightedbythefanfareofpickingupthatlastcollectible,you’veexperiencedgoodinteractiondesignfirsthand.TheGameDesigner’sPlaybookisaboutlearningwhatmakesforgreat(orterrible!)interactiondesigningames,exploringthingslikecontrols,feedback,story,andtutorialdesignbyanalyzingexistinggames.Italsolooksathownewerandstill-developingtechlikeVRandstreamingarechangingthewaysweplay,andhowyoucanbringgreatinteractiondesigntoyourowngames.
