This book looks at the way that game designers and academics look at the game design based on a combination of design instinct and current scientific evidence, written as a dialog between commerical design interests and player behaviour study. The authors explore key design issues from a practical and evidence-based model, allowing designers to get the best results from their work. Historical references and personal experience, punctuated with the evidence which supports or disputes the premise are included. Further, this book will investigate the moral and ethical issues raised by using an evidence-based approach to game development, providing a step-by-step guide to help designers succeed.

Key Features

This book takes the psychology of players seriously and shows how to create more immersive, engaging gaming experiences.

An insightful guide to the science behind joyful design through understanding players, challenging us all to make better games.

Don’t start your next game without understanding your player’s psychological needs, motivation, habits and engagement.

The authors leverage a lot of recently published peer-reviewed papers as well as some original research by Berni Good and fellow colleagues, particularly to challenge the science behind motivation, immersions, engagement, psycho structural elements of play.

This book provides a practical model for designers to better leverage an evidence-based approach to game design without compromising the creative process.

Explored are the positive qualities of game in society as well as the more personal experiences such as Immersion, Presence and Engagement.