Game Design Secrets [Paperback]

Wagner James Au (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2012 | Series: Secrets (Book 168)

Design great Facebook, iOS, and Web games and learn from the experts what makes a game a hit!

This invaluable resource shows how to put into action the proven design and marketing techniques from the industry's best game designers, who all started on a small scale. The book walks novice and experienced game designers through the step-by-step process of conceptualizing, designing, launching, and managing a winning game on platforms including Facebook, iOS, and the Web. The book is filled with examples that highlight key design features, explain how to market your game, and illustrate how to turn your design into a money-making venture.

• Provides an overview of the most popular game platforms and shows how to design games for each
• Contains the basic principles of game design that will help promote growth and potential to generate revenue
• Includes interviews with top independent game developers who reveal their success secrets
• Offers an analysis of future trends that can open (or close) opportunities for game designers

Game Design Secrets provides aspiring game designers a process for planning, designing, marketing, and ultimately making money from new games.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Do What You Never Thought Possible to Market & Monetize Your iOS, Facebook and Web Games

When you open this book, you'll feel as though you're sitting down with an expert who is disclosing rare information about the essentials of successful game design. Wagner James Au shares knowledge garnered from his years of experience so that you can benefit from his tactics, strategies, and secrets for turning a passion for games into a money-making hobby or career. Covering all aspects of conception, design, deployment, and marketing, this book reveals helpful and advanced insight from the industry's best game designers who all started small—but ultimately designed some of the most popular games for the web, iOS, and Facebook.

The Insider's Guide to:

• Understanding the differences between iOS, Facebook®, and the web as platforms
• Taking advantage of a wealth of resources for designing games
• Learning why successful games have such passionate followers who are eager to pay to play
• Projecting future trends and opportunities for gaming
• Gaining a solid understanding of the basic principles of gaming growth and revenue
• Marketing your game so that you can make money from it

The Secrets series reveals:

• Authoritative information in highlighted areas
• Exceptional advice in the margin notes
• Unique insight from years of author experience
• Rarely revealed tips and techniques
• Invaluable shortcuts and workarounds
• Insider Tips Expert advice to help you optimize design and marketing
• Valuable Insights Exclusive design lessons from top industry insiders
• Unbeatable Advice Real-world hits and misses and little-known tips and tricks

About the Author

Wagner James Au is an author, consultant, and game designer, and was lead writer/mission designer for City of Eternals, a Facebook-based MMO acquired by Electronic Arts. He's written on the subject of gaming for Inside Social Games, Kotaku, and Wired. His blog New World Notes (nwn.blogs.com) covers gaming, 3D technology, and virtual culture.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 16, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1118337743
• ISBN-13: 978-1118337745
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.6 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,911 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A well rounded book for anyone in the gaming industry December 27, 2012

By Kyle McInnes

Format:Paperback

I'm currently working on a mobile game startup and I bought this book to give me a nice starting point for our games and business. The book breaks down the industry into Facebook, web and iOS games. This was really helpful as I find they all use similar strategies and it keeps the book focused on innovative game styles, versus console which is increasingly seeming outdated.

In terms of the actual secrets contained in the book, it does a nice job of interviewing people in the industry. Companies such as 6Waves, Flurry, Tiger Style, Spark Capital, 5th Planet, KIXEYE and ApSalar are all interviewed for the book and they share a healthy amount of tips and "insider info".

If you're someone who has been in the game industry for a long time, you may not find as much value as I did. But if you're looking to get a "State of the Union" of the game industry, this book will definitely get you caught up and then some.