Game Guru: Role-Playing Games (Premier Press Game Development) (Paperback)

by Dave Morris (Author), Leo Hartas (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Role-playing games is the genre that most meticulously evokes a parallel life for the player—not infrequently down to the detail of what kind of wine is in their hip flask. In addition to the gameplay and simulation aspects of this genre, "Game Guru: Role-Playing Games" looks at the conventions that underlie it—the threat of evil, the archetypal playground of the sword-and-sorcery setting, and so on. With hundreds of examples and in-depth interviews with the experts, this book reveals the secrets to what makes great games compelling and successful. Whether you are a professional or a die-hard role-playing gamer, you'll be intrigued by the clear analysis of play balance, character and level design, learning curves, risk versus reward, puzzles, scale and scope, catch-up effects, symmetry, and many other aspects of game theory. This book gives you the insight you are searching for to enrich your gaming experience.

Readers can learn the practicalities of how to design, plan, and build a game.

Gives readers fascinating insights into the world of today's leading game creators.

Readers can enjoy games in a new light by understanding the core underlying principles.

Includes hundreds of examples and in-depth interviews with industry experts.

About the Author
Dave Morris is a prolific author of fantasy gaming books and the creator of the acclaimed realtime strategy PC game, Warrior Kings. He has worked in both the videogame and TV industry. He holds a M.A. in Physics from Oxford University and has worked as a best-selling author and game designer for 15 years. He is the co-author of both Game Guru: Role-Playing Games (1592002544) and Game Guru: Strategy Games (1592002536).

Leo Hartas is a well-known and highly regarded illustrator skilled in both traditional and computer-generated styles and techniques. As well as authoring numerous bestselling children's books, he creates digital imagery for computer games, video animation, and TV programs. He is the co-author of both Game Guru: Role-Playing Games (1592002544) and Game Guru: Strategy Games (1592002536).

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (November 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592002544
• ISBN-13: 978-1592002542
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #922,882 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A coffee table book that will disappoint any reader, February 24, 2005

By	K. Krishnan "vulcan3d" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The tagline for the book implies that it might actually teach a reader the basics of creating a role playing game, and it does, to a certain extent. A good analogy would be a book claiming to teach the reader how to build a toaster, and then offering helpful hints like "A toaster must heat bread", and "a toaster should be an attractive color".

If you have ever actually played a role playing games, you would already know most of the material covered in this book. In fact, the written material could probably be covered in a much smaller volume, since 3/4 of each page, sometimes more, are covered with glossy screenshots from a variety of role playing games.

The casual reader will find this book completely unappealing, and anyone with the goal of creating a game will find it lacking.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fills the Bill, July 18, 2005

By	Kenneth C. Finney (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Role-Playing Games" by Dave Morris and Leo Hartas filled the bill. I was looking for something that would help generate ideas and discussion about role-playing games, especially the computer-based variety, and Morris and Hartas have delivered.

The book is chock full of useful and cogent observations, tips and analysis. It's a book a game designer should have on his shelf - it will be referred to often, even though it isn't a reference book.

For development teams, it's a useful book to have hanging around the blue-sky room as a communication tool.

On the negative side, I found the visual format--such as the page backgrounds and font faces (like the use of italics in the design tops)--visually distracting and somewhat annoying.