Product Description

Have you ever wondered how a game goes from being a concept to being an actual product?  Do you want to know what steps you have to take to get your game on the shelf?  This book will answers these questions and more.  Offering advice and insight on everything from how to get a foot in the door to what to do once inside, this is a true inside scoop of the industry.  It includes the fundamental rules of good game design, tips on applying storytelling to interactive media and the game development lifecycle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #376939 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

About the Author
Bob Bates began his game writing career at Infocom in 1985. Since then he has written, co-designed, or produced over 25 games that have garnered more than 30 industry awards. The most notable of those awards is the CGW 1993 Adventure Game of the Year Award for Eric the Unready.

Customer Reviews

The only road that leads to Rome
Oh how long we have waited. I have lost track of how many books I have read telling you how to get into the computer games industry. None of them are as good as this one. In fact, no other book is as good as this one. Not even Encyclopaedia Britannica! This book will tell you how to develop you initial brain activity in a orderly and contructive manner. How to go about preparing your idea to show it to people. How to approach people about taking you on as a developer. How to...

I think you get the Idea, it covers everything. So if you are thinking, or even just contemplating starting out in the games industry pick up this book. It will give you the best idea of what you are u[p against without actually having to do it. If you still want to develop games after reading this book you will know exactly how to go about it. So go on just buy the damn thing already!

Good all-rounder , bit skimpy
I do like this book. Ive only given it four for one reason, its a bit lightweight. The writing is brisk and compelling (ive read it in 3 days), well layed-out, and all the information is there (although i haven't used it successfully yet ;). There is very little depth into any one area however, so dont expect this book to tell you everything about each aspect of the industry.

At the price, you cant go wrong, as most of the other books in this catagory are twice its price.
Probably best as a primer before reading a meatier book on the field you wish to specialise/target your skills for ( e.g programming / graphics etc). If you want something meatier on the whole process, try Game Architecture and Design [Rollings & Morris , Coriolis (pub)]. Its more expensive, but has a lot more depth.