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Making Great Games : An Insider's Guide to Designing and Developing the World's Greatest Video ...

ISBN: 9780240812854 | 0240812859
Edition: 1st
Format: Nonspecific Binding
Publisher: Focal Press
Pub. Date: 9/30/2010

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SummaryTable of ContentsAuthor Biography
Join videogame industry veteran Michael Thornton Wyman on a series of detailed, behind-the-scenes tours with the teams that have made some of the most popular and critically acclaimed videogames of the modern era. Drawing on insider's perspectives from a wide variety of teams, learn about the creation of a tiny, independent game project (World of Goo), casual game classics (Diner Dash, Bejeweled Twist), the world's most popular social game (FarmVille) as well as the world's most popular MMORPG (World of Warcraft), PC titles (Half Life 2) to AAA console games (Madden NFL 10), and modern-day masterpieces (Little Big Planet, Rock Band, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves). Hear directly from the creators about how these games were made, and learn from their stories from the trenches of videogames production. This book is an excellent resource for those working directly on game design or production, for those aspiring to work in the field, or for anyone who has wondered how the world's greatest videogames get made.* Provides an in-depth look at ten contemporary, best-selling and critically acclaimed videogames across a variety of styles, game types, and platforms. * Unprecedented access and insight into the inner workings of the teams, large and small, responsible for bringing several best-of-breed videogames in the world to market - hear directly from the creative teams in their own words in detailed case studies. * Analysis of best practices and pitfalls common to the process of creating great games through all phases, from concept development through prototyping, production, testing and launch. * Includes a dozen interviews with games industry leaders, all of whom have shipped great games including: Halo, The Sims, God of War, Spore, Brutal Legend, NBA Street, Splinter Cell, Skate, Need for Speed, and more. * Hands-on tools and hard-won, real world advice from recognized industry experts you can start using immediately to make better video games. * A companion website provides more up-to-date information as well as reader forums.
Acknowledgmentsp. ix
Introductionp. xi
Permissionsp. xv
The Games
LittleBigPlanetp. 3
Team Role Interview: Lead Game Designerp. 19
World of Warcraftp. 23
Team Role Interview: Development Directorp. 36
Diner Dashp. 39
Team Role Interview: Producerp. 50
Half-Life 2p. ... MORE
Team Role Interview: Game Writerp. 65
Uncharted 2: Among Thievesp. 67
Team Role Interview: Senior Environment Artistp. 83
Rock Bandp. 85
Team Role Interview: Music Composerp. 99
FarmVillep. 101
Team Role Interview: Programming Leadp. 111
Bejeweled Twistp. 115
Team Role Interview: Presentation Art Directorp. 127
Madden NFL 10p. 129
Team Role Interview: Voice Actorp. 138
World of Goop. 141
Team Role Interview: Art Directorp. 151
Analysis
Commonalities: What Goes Rightp. 157
Iteration Is Paramountp. 158
Cabals Taking Over?p. 160
Beg, Borrow, and Stealp. 162
Focus on Talentp. 164
Use Your Whole Companyp. 165
Playtesting as Production Driverp. 166
Miscellaneousp. 168
Wrap Upp. 171
Commonalities: What Goes Wrongp. 173
Test, Test, Testp. 174
Bite the Bulletp. 176
Don't Ignore the Tutorialp. 178
Every Project Is Differentp. 179
Beware the Prototypep. 181
Plan for Successp. 182
Wrap Upp. 183
The Nature of High-Performing Teamsp. 185
The Goalp. 186
The Peoplep. 187
The Environmentp. 189
The Processp. 190
Wrap Upp. 193
Applying These Learnings to Your Game Projectsp. 195
Team Rolesp. 195
Development Phasesp. 198
Wrap Upp. 206
Hiring and Managing for Successp. 207
Hiringp. 207
Managingp. 210
A Word on Outsourcingp. 212
Wrap Upp. 212
Team Role Interview: External Producerp. 213
Indexp. 215
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.
Michael Thornton Wyman is currently CEO of Big Splash Games, creators of the top selling and award-winning Chocolatier series of casual games. Wyman works extensively as an independent consultant and, prior to founding Big Splash Games, he has been a Producer and Project Leader at Electronic Arts Canada, Lucas Learning, and Maxis. Wyman has designed and produced dozens of video games for multiple platforms from the Internet to AAA consoles.


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