Synopses & Reviews
?Get ready for a fascinating ride through the fastest-growing segment of the entertainment industry!? As gaming evolves into a powerhouse industry and a dynamic career opportunity, the need has never been greater for a book that offers a penetrating introduction to the field and a clear explanation of the keys to success. A highly respected industry observer and gaming instructor in Southern California, author Jeannie Novak showcases in this definitive work every important aspect of game development, beginning with a highly informative chapter on the background of the industry that provides the historical context for later chapters. The latest addition to the Game Development Essential series, An Introduction to Game Development examines content creation and the concepts behind the development of story, character, environment, level design, user interface, and sound. Novak also looks to the future of gaming, and in particular, at such promising technologies as online and mobile gaming. An entertaining read and a thoroughly researched and knowledgeable overview of the field, this book is an indispensable gateway to one of the most exciting career opportunities in the country today.
Synopsis
Game Story and Character Development-the newest installment in Cengage Learning's acclaimed Game Development Essentials series-shows how to create compelling stories and characters specifically for games. The book examines the history of storytelling, traditional and game-specific story structure, and all aspects of character development, including physical, psychological, sociological, and verbal. Filled with commentary from game industry professionals-and featuring a companion CD containing game story documentation and demos-Game Story and Character Development is an essential guide for game designers, writers, students, and professionals.
Synopsis
Game StoryandCharacter Development-the newest installment in Thomson's acclaimed Game Development Essentials series-shows how to create compelling stories and characters specifically for games. The book examines the history of storytelling, traditional and game-specific story structure, and all aspects of character development, including physical, psychological, sociological, and verbal. Filled with commentary from game industry professionals-and featuring a companion CD containing game story documentation and demos-Game StoryandCharacter Development is an essential guide for game designers, writers, students, and professionals.
Synopsis
Written in an informal and accessible format this text includes the history and background of storytelling, story creation and character profile strategies; interactive and collaborative storytelling, narrative and gameplay balance, linear vs. non-linear storytelling; and a detailed overview of the game story and character development process. Intended for students and professionals interested in working in the game development industry, developing game content, and researching game development in academic institutions.
About the Author
An established and successful author for John Wiley. An innovative and much-in-demand instructor. An energetic and very visible member of the gaming community. Jeannie Novak is an ideal lead author for our Game Development Essentials series.
An Internet pioneer, Jeannie Novak established her writing credentials during the Internet boom with three successful titles at Wiley. Managing a diverse portoflio of activity, she is a subject matter expert and instructor for the Game ArtandDesign program at The Art Institute Online. She consults with various colleges and universities to help them develop game certificate and online distance learning programs. She teaches at UCLA Extension and at the Academy of EntertainmentandTechnology at Santa Monica College. And she is conducting research at USC on educational applications of online games. Novak is a frequent speaker at conferences and presented earlier this year at Macworld, where she delivered an enthusiastically received presentation on game development.
Author Advance?As noted in the funding for her previous two books, Novak was paid an advance for her three Wiley books of $20,000 each. After several negotiating discussions, we have arrived at a $7,500 advance per book figure that represents her bottom line. With Prentice Hall and Wiley aggressively pursuing authors in this segment of the market, it's in our best interests to continue to 'lock up' this author.
Table of Contents
PART I: Tradition Chapter 1 Form Chapter 2 Structure Chapter 3 Devices Chapter 4 Characters Chapter 5 Drama PART II: Elements Chapter 6 Roles Chapter 7 Story Chapter 8 Genres Chapter 9 Identity Chapter 10 Setting Chapter 11 Gameplay PART III: Process Chapter 12 Development Chapter 13 Dialogue Chapter 14 Conversion