Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development [Paperback]

Rick Hall (Author), Jeannie Novak (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1418052671 | ISBN-13: 978-1418052676 | Publication Date: April 15, 2008 | Edition: 1

With an innovative, business-model approach, Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development provides the essentials needed to achieve long-term success with Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). This book takes a significant and valuable departure from traditional game development books by addressing MMOG development as a complex, multi-faceted, service-oriented business, instead of focusing solely on technical, artistic, or design techniques. The resulting multi-dimensional focus allows readers to design their game and organize their development process with the entire business in mind. Coverage includes the key differences between single player games and MMOGs, as well as how the various components of the development process, such as the business model, marketing plan, gaming community and technical constraints, influence one another and determine the success of the MMOG.

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning; 1 edition (April 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1418052671
• ISBN-13: 978-1418052676
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #496,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for game developers, both aspiring and established!, December 2, 2008

By 

M. Laurence (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development (Paperback)

If you've ever considered making a Massively Multiplayer Online Game of any genre (or are, at the very least, interested in what goes into it behind the scenes), I'd strongly recommend picking up this book. Heck, if you're just in it for general game development, I'd say it would still interest you. Besides charting the potential pitfalls, hidden costs, and specialized needs of online game development, this book also features some great reviews of creative design methodology, often with an eye for how they can best be applied to entertaining an online audience.

Personally, I got it to get a better idea of how to maintain player interest over the extremely long playing time that's standard for MMOs, but have found all sorts of other useful tidbits along the way.

As for general content, the book is nicely laid-out and written, managing to get some very involved concepts across quickly and clearly. It's even got a number of interviews with other industry veterans for some different perspectives. All in all, very useful.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource for Game Development., December 2, 2008

By 

Brad (PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development (Paperback)

This is a book for anyone who wants to truly understand what goes into making today's online games.

In a very straight-forward and readable manner, the book covers the many complex issues that make up today's development environment. It does an excellent job of establishing a project framework that works well in the creative element of a game design studio. This framework keeps the business side as its first focus but manages to do that without overwhelming the need for creativity and fun. Customer satisfaction and a successful product are the clear result of such a disciplined approach.

Whether you are planning on a career in game design or are already a seasoned professional, no matter if you are a senior producer, coder, or design game art, a thorough understanding of a game development methodology will benefit your career immensely.

I bought this book to gain a broader understanding of the issues surrounding the game development environment. I could not be happier with my choice.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development by Rick Hall, December 4, 2008

By 

Patricia A. Bigley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development (Paperback)

As a seasoned industry professional and an Executive Recruiter in the game industry, I found this book to be a "must read" for everyone. It offers a great deal of information and detail. I was very impressed with the book and strongly recommend it. Pat Bigley, President Prime Candidate, Inc.