Gameplay - Articles & rules of thum. Where?

I'm looking for short suggestions for what good gameplay is and what elements it needs.

Like what elements *must* you have in a game, for people wanting to play it?, - and many more.

I think I'm looking for stuff like this: http://home.netvigator.com/~tarot/Games/Gameplay.html , but a little more complete and descriptive.

Article on level design - notably gameplay elements:

http://www.cliffyb.com/art-sci-ld.html

Thanks, found these too:

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20041203/koster_01.shtml
http://www.theoryoffun.com/theoryoffun.pdf
( from http://www.theoryoffun.com/excerpt.shtml )

This is a really good book about the overall process of game development:

"Game Architecture and Design" by Andrew Rollings and Dave Morris.

It is the whole process including staff but it is well worth a long leaisurely read.

IPete2.

thanks, I liked the theoryoffun.pdf

Thanks Ipete2. Judging by the amazon.com comments that's not quite what I'm looking for, but I'll certainly put it on my list.

Found this too: http://www.gamegrene.com/node/591 and

http://www.randomterrain.com/game-design-gameplay.html

1. Free PDF Download of The Art of Computer Game Design by Chris Crawford originally published in 1982. This is the Bible of Computer Game Design!

2. Chris Crawford on Game Design published in 2003 and this is an awesome book!

3. The Art of Interactive Design by Chris Crawford. Published in 2002. This is a very good book.

4. Chris Crawford on Interactive Storytelling published in 2004. This will only be useful if you have a story driven game. But it is a good book.

Thanks, really good stuff.

Found this too: http://peachpit.staging.informit.mttech.com/articles/article.asp?p=102309&rl=1

You are Chris Crawford and I claim my five pounds. :)

I'd take his ideas with a pinch of salt though, he does tend to have very polarised opinions. All are still worth reading though, and hey, the guy invented fog of war so credit is certainly due.


There's a book called State of Play, which is very good (but Amazon doesn't seem to stock it any more). Rollings & Adams on Game Design - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1592730019 - is an essential read, IMO.

A series of lecture notes by Janet Murray - http://interactive.usc.edu/members/cpearce/MakingStevenCry.pdf

Other books not directly related to games design but very useful for games design:
* Story by Robert McKee - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0413715604
* Art of War by Sun Tzu - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140439196
* A Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0586085718
* Film Directing Shot by Shot by Steve Katz - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0941188108

Blogs:
* http://grandtextauto.gatech.edu/
* http://www.raphkoster.com/category/games/
* http://projectperko.blogspot.com/
* http://terranova.blogs.com/


Probably more important than reading all of these is to play (and analyse) every game you can get your hands on, even if you don't think you'll like it.

Nope, The closest I have come to "being Chris" is talking to him once or twice on a game dev discussion list years ago.

Ideas and opinions are two different critters. Ideas never go out of date, and the books above do not really promote opinions (with the exception of #4).

As to his opinions, I do share many of them. But, debating what is wrong with the current gaming market is best left to another thread.

I really appriciate the input above.
I'm still looking for that one page breakdown of what elements gameplay is made of, but that of course, might wery well be in one of those books.

Heh. Good luck, and if you find it be sure to let us know! :)

Heh, I don't think there's a Holy Grail of game design. Doesn't stop us all from looking, though. :P