Ernest Adams
Game Mechanics
Ernest Adams is a game
“ I’ve been waiting for a book like this for ten years: packed with game design design consultant, teacher,
goodness that tackles the science without undermining the art.”
and the author of the classic
— Richard Bartle, University of Essex, co-author of the first MMORPG
chris
Fundamentals of Game Design,
Second Edition, the companion
volume to this title. He has worked in the
game industry for 23 years, eight of them at
Electronic Arts. He is also the founder and first
Game Mechanics
chairman of the International Game Developers’
Association. His professional website is at
www.designersnotebook.com.
cr
Advanced Game Design
Game Mechanics
Joris Dormans is a game design
lecturer and researcher based
Game mechanics are the rules, processes, and data at the heart of a game.
awfor
in Amsterdam with eight years
They define how play progresses, what happens when, and what conditions of experience in higher educa-Advanced Game Design
determine victory or defeat. Now two leading authorities in game design—
tion. For the past four years he
Ernest Adams and Joris Dormans—are here to teach game designers and
has been researching formal tools and methods
students alike the essentials of game mechanics.
to design game mechanics. As an independent,
freelance game designer he published and
This in-depth resource teaches you to craft mechanics that generate
Advanced Game Design
worked on several video games and board
challenging, enjoyable, and well-balanced gameplay. You’ll discover at games, including story-driven adventure games,
what stages to prototype, test, and implement mechanics in games and
d
physical platform games, and a satirical
learn how to visualize and simulate game mechanics to design better
political card game. His professional website
games. Along the way, you’ll practice what you’ve learned with hands-on on
is at www.jorisdormans.nl.
lessons. A free downloadable simulation tool developed by Joris Dormans is also available to help you follow along with exercises in the book in an easy-to-use graphical environment.