The Art of Game Design: A Deck of Lenses [Cards]

Jesse Schell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2008

Would you like to design world-class games? The Deck of lenses is the ultimate game design creativity toolkit! Companion to the acclaimed book The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, this convenient deck contains 100 unique "lens cards" each featuring key questions that will make your game great, and a magnificent color illustration to help you remember each principle. The lenses span every aspect of game design - story, game mechanics, technology, aesthetics, psychology, creativity, teamwork, playtesting, and even business issues. Included instructions explain how to use the cards to design board, card, and videogames. Whether you are a novice or expert game designer, this deck of lenses will change the way you look at games. What people are saying about "The Art of Game Design" System:"A toolchest crossed with a kaleidoscope" -Heather Kelly "Comprehensive and Practical" -Will Wright "Fertilizer for the subconscious" -Kyle Gabler "Inspiring and practical for both veterans and beginners" -Bob Bates

Product Details

• Cards: 100 pages
• Publisher: Schell Games; 1st edition (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615218288
• ISBN-13: 978-0615218281
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 3.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly what I would call cards, July 1, 2009

By 

Philip J. Ludington "MrPhil" (Burlington, VT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Game Design: A Deck of Lenses (Cards)

I love this product, other than the fact that they aren't really cards. I was expecting them to have some stiffness to them like playing cards or baseball cards. In fact, they are rather flimsy and so, only earn 4 stars instead of 5 from me.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a pleasure to view, very useful too!, September 8, 2008

By 

Diana W. Patton (Bridgewater, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Game Design: A Deck of Lenses (Cards)

I'm enjoying Jesse Schell's THE ART OF GAME DESIGN--A DECK OF LENSES.
They are useful for much more than game design. For example, my husband , a professional square dance caller, says he can use them to design square dance arrangements/dances. They will be helpful to me as I create picture books. Obviously they are splendid for game design! And frankly, I enjoy "looking at the pictures" and reading the text and just thinking about it all.
Diana Patton artist/writer

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the cards are even better than the book, August 27, 2008

By 

drew davidson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Game Design: A Deck of Lenses (Cards)

this deck of cards goes with _the art of game design_ book. the book does a great job discussing how each lens helps you consider the design of a game, but the cards actually enable you to apply these ideas while you're designing your game. definitely worth getting both the book and this deck of cards.