Includes index.

1 Previsualization 1 -- Introducing the Previsualization Process 3 -- Step-by-Step Previsualization 3 -- Function 8 -- Paper-Based Level Blocking 13 -- Case Study Comments on Previsualization 17 -- 2 Level Planning and Building 23 -- Planning Your Level Work 26 -- Level Stubbing Walk-Through 31 -- Game Prototyping 37 -- Post Level Stubbing Considerations 38 -- Case Study Comments on Level Execution 45 -- 3 Lighting, Texturing, Particles, Effects, and Audio 53 -- Animating Lights 64 -- Effects 72 -- Design Tools Shift 76 -- Case Study Comments on Cornerstone Elements 78 -- 4 Actors, Props, Items, and Camera Details 85 -- Placing Actors 87 -- Types of Props and Their Use 92 -- Types of Items/Power-Ups and Placement 94 -- Camera Considerations 95 -- Case Study Comments on Actor Loading and Camera Tuning 99 -- 5 Design by Genre 107 -- Sports Games 109 -- Fighting Games 112 -- Puzzle Games 114 -- Real-time Strategy Games 116 -- Role-Playing Games 120 -- First- or Third-Person Action Games 121 -- Simulations 123 -- Creating Cinematics 125 -- Developing Backstory 125 -- Creating Dialog 126 -- Summary of Designer's Work Tools 128 -- Case Study Comments on Design Flux 129 -- 6 Scripting Action Events 135 -- Scripting Technology Choices 137 -- Applied Scripting Examples 140 -- Using Triggers 144 -- Building Behaviors 150 -- Engine Solutions and the Unreal Engine 151 -- Script/Editing System Considerations 153 -- Case Study Comments on Scripting a Baseball Game 154 -- 7 Quality Assurance and Play-Test Feedback 165 -- Play-Test Feedback 173 -- Case Study Comments on the Impact of QA 179 -- 8 Design Considerations for Massively Multiplayer Online Games 187 -- MMOG Production Challenges 188 -- MMOG Construction Factors and Solutions 194 -- MMOG Design Factors 197 -- MMOGs and Design Orientation 200 -- Sports Fans or Groups and MMOGs 203 -- Case Study Comments on Challenges for UBO 206 -- 9 Cell Phones and Wireless Gaming 215 -- Impending Boom 217 -- Design Issues for Cell Phones 222 -- Case Study Comments on Development Factors in the Infancy of Wireless 230 -- 10 Getting Started in Game Development 237 -- Why Diversify? 239 -- Growth Areas and New Opportunities 244 -- Advergames 246 -- Web Game Entertainment with Physical Counterparts 248 -- Anecdotes from the Game Development Frontlines 250 -- Case Study Comments on Final Thoughts for Designers 253 -- 11 Game Development Career Choices 265 -- Programming 266 -- Art 268 -- Design 270 -- Production 271 -- Audio 273 -- Quality Assurance 274 -- Opening an Independent Game Studio 274 -- Game Development Studio Breakdown 276 -- Case Study Comments on the Testing Doorway 282 -- Education 286 -- Events 287 -- Industry Magazine 287 -- Industry-Related Sites 288 -- Organizations 288 -- Breaking In! 288 -- Agents and Recruiters 289 -- Job Sites 289 -- Design Document Reference 289 -- TV Programming 289 -- COPPA Guidelines 289 -- Self-Publishing 290 -- Outsourced Testing Services 290 -- Game Industry Market Research and Reports 290 -- Recommended Sites 290 -- Recommended Topics for Further Research and Reference 292 -- B Tools Discussed 295 -- 3-D Modeling Packages 296 -- Art Tools 297 -- Level Editing 297 -- Middleware 298 -- Production Tools 298 -- Sound Editing Tools 299 -- 3-D Construction for the Web 299 -- Scripting Languages 300 -- Game Dynamics Libraries 300 -- Motion Tracking 300 -- Programming Language for Console/PC 300 -- MMOG Box Solutions 301 -- Wireless Development 301 -- Introducing Children to Game Design 301 -- C Career Guideline Worksheet 303 -- If You Want to Explore Production 304 -- If You Want to Explore Game Art Construction 305 -- If You Want to Explore Game Programming 305 -- If You Want to Explore Quality Assurance 306 -- If You Want to Explore Game Audio 306 -- If You Want to Explore Business Relations or Marketing 307 -- D Quick Topic Summary for Designers 309 -- Reference Material 310 -- Design Document Writing 316 -- Quick Modeling 317 -- Layout and Staging 318 -- Scripting 318 -- Mapping or Level Building 319 -- Audio 319 -- Testing 319 -- Support Software 320 -- Team Focus 320 -- E Ultimate Baseball Online Gallery 321 -- UBO Game Interface 322 -- Basic Character Construction 326 -- Baseball Stadiums 330 -- Game Action 332.