How Games Get Made


Book Description

How Games Get Made: The Stories of the People Who Make and Play the Games We Love is your all-in-one comprehensive deep dive into the lives of developers and online platforms that create and broadcast your favorite games. What is it like solo developing a game from scratch? Is employment stable in the industry? And just how do people end up as gaming-focused Twitch streamers or YouTubers for a living? All these questions and more are answered through interviews with the likes of David Cage of Quantic Dream, Feargus Urquhart of Obsidian Entertainment, and Sean Baptiste of Bethesda among many others! Wondering what it's like to work in a corporate setting versus an indie studio? Trying to break into the gaming industry as a content creator? Look no further! How Games Get Made not only goes in depth on the developers, but also takes a comprehensive look at how games get marketed through traditional means as well as through platforms like YouTube and Twitch!




You


Book Description

When Russell joins Black Arts games, brainchild of two visionary designers who were once his closest friends, he reunites with an eccentric crew of nerds hacking the frontiers of both technology and entertainment. In part, he's finally given up chasing the conventional path that has always seemed just out of reach. But mostly, he needs to know what happened to Simon, his strangest and most gifted friend, who died under mysterious circumstances soon after Black Arts' breakout hit. As the company's revolutionary next-gen game is threatened by a software glitch, Russell finds himself in a race to save his job, Black Arts' legacy, and the people he has grown to care about. The deeper Russell digs, the more dangerous the glitch appears -- and soon, Russell comes to realize there's much more is at stake than just one software company's bottom line.




Coding Roblox Games Made Easy


Book Description

Key Features Discover solutions to common problems faced while creating games on Roblox Explore tips, tricks, and best practices and learn advanced Roblox coding techniques to create games Understand how to program in the Roblox Lua language, add engaging effects, add a variety of functionalities, and much more Book DescriptionRoblox is a global virtual platform like no other for both playing and creating games. With well over 150 million monthly active users, Roblox hosts all genres of games that can be played by other members of the community using the Lua programming language. Not only can you create games for free, but you can also earn considerable sums of money if from the success of your games, and become part of the vast and supportive developer circle that provides excellent opportunities for networking in a tight-knit community. With this practical book, you'll get hands-on experience working on the Roblox platform. You'll start with an overview of Roblox development and then understand how to use Roblox Studio. As you progress, you'll gradually learn everything you need from how to program in Roblox Lua to creating Obby and Battle Royale games. Finally, you'll delve into the logistics of game production, focusing on optimizing the performance of your game by implementing impressive mechanics, monetization, and marketing practices. By the end of this Roblox book, you'll be able to lead or work with a team to bring your gaming world to life, and extend that experience to players around the world.What you will learn Get started with Roblox development and explore aspects such as choosing a developer type Understand how to use Roblox Studio and other free resources Create your first game with the Roblox Lua programming language Become well-versed with the three Ms - Mechanics, Monetization, and Marketing Develop real-world games such as Battle Royale and Obby Discover expert tips for collaborating effectively and managing project workloads Who this book is for This Roblox guide is for anyone interested in learning how to develop games on the Roblox platform. If you're already familiar with Roblox and looking for tips, tricks, and Roblox and Lua best practices for efficient development, you'll find this book helpful. The book requires no prior knowledge of game development.




Game Design Workshop


Book Description

Create the Digital Games You Love to Play Discover an exercise-driven, non-technical approach to game design without the need for programming or artistic expertise using Game Design Workshop, Third Edition. Author Tracy Fullerton demystifies the creative process with a clear and accessible analysis of the formal and dramatic systems of game design. Examples of popular games, illustrations of design techniques, and refined exercises strengthen your understanding of how game systems function and give you the skills and tools necessary to create a compelling and engaging game. The book puts you to work prototyping, playtesting, and revising your own games with time-tested methods and tools. It provides you with the foundation to advance your career in any facet of the game industry, including design, producing, programming, and visual design.




Making Great Games


Book Description

Join videogame industry veteran Michael Thornton Wyman on a series of detailed, behind-the-scenes tours with the teams that have made some of the most popular and critically acclaimed videogames of the modern era. Drawing on insider's perspectives from a wide variety of teams, learn about the creation of a tiny, independent game project (World of Goo), casual game classics (Diner Dash, Bejeweled Twist), the world's most popular social game (FarmVille) as well as the world's most popular MMORPG (World of Warcraft), PC titles (Half Life 2) to AAA console games (Madden NFL 10), and modern-day masterpieces (Little Big Planet, Rock Band, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves). Hear directly from the creators about how these games were made, and learn from their stories from the trenches of videogames production. This book is an excellent resource for those working directly on game design or production, for those aspiring to work in the field, or for anyone who has wondered how the world's greatest videogames get made.




Blood, Sweat, and Pixels


Book Description

NATIONAL BESTSELLER “The stories in this book make for a fascinating and remarkably complete pantheon of just about every common despair and every joy related to game development.” — Rami Ismail, cofounder of Vlambeer and developer of Nuclear Throne Developing video games—hero's journey or fool's errand? The creative and technical logistics that go into building today's hottest games can be more harrowing and complex than the games themselves, often seeming like an endless maze or a bottomless abyss. In Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, Jason Schreier takes readers on a fascinating odyssey behind the scenes of video game development, where the creator may be a team of 600 overworked underdogs or a solitary geek genius. Exploring the artistic challenges, technical impossibilities, marketplace demands, and Donkey Kong-sized monkey wrenches thrown into the works by corporate, Blood, Sweat, and Pixels reveals how bringing any game to completion is more than Sisyphean—it's nothing short of miraculous. Taking some of the most popular, bestselling recent games, Schreier immerses readers in the hellfire of the development process, whether it's RPG studio Bioware's challenge to beat an impossible schedule and overcome countless technical nightmares to build Dragon Age: Inquisition; indie developer Eric Barone's single-handed efforts to grow country-life RPG Stardew Valley from one man's vision into a multi-million-dollar franchise; or Bungie spinning out from their corporate overlords at Microsoft to create Destiny, a brand new universe that they hoped would become as iconic as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings—even as it nearly ripped their studio apart. Documenting the round-the-clock crunches, buggy-eyed burnout, and last-minute saves, Blood, Sweat, and Pixels is a journey through development hell—and ultimately a tribute to the dedicated diehards and unsung heroes who scale mountains of obstacles in their quests to create the best games imaginable.




Game Hacking


Book Description

You don’t need to be a wizard to transform a game you like into a game you love. Imagine if you could give your favorite PC game a more informative heads-up display or instantly collect all that loot from your latest epic battle. Bring your knowledge of Windows-based development and memory management, and Game Hacking will teach you what you need to become a true game hacker. Learn the basics, like reverse engineering, assembly code analysis, programmatic memory manipulation, and code injection, and hone your new skills with hands-on example code and practice binaries. Level up as you learn how to: –Scan and modify memory with Cheat Engine –Explore program structure and execution flow with OllyDbg –Log processes and pinpoint useful data files with Process Monitor –Manipulate control flow through NOPing, hooking, and more –Locate and dissect common game memory structures You’ll even discover the secrets behind common game bots, including: –Extrasensory perception hacks, such as wallhacks and heads-up displays –Responsive hacks, such as autohealers and combo bots –Bots with artificial intelligence, such as cave walkers and automatic looters Game hacking might seem like black magic, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you understand how bots are made, you’ll be better positioned to defend against them in your own games. Journey through the inner workings of PC games with Game Hacking, and leave with a deeper understanding of both game design and computer security.




How Are Video Games Made and Sold?


Book Description

Video games are not just a way young people relax or amuse themselves. They connect players with other gamers around the world and provide a fascinating example of the effects and possibilities of globalization, manufacturing, and design and tech innovation. Aligned with the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards, this volume discusses how video games are made and sold, and why that matters to the world's environment, countries' economies, and to an individual's social networks and experience with technology.




GameMaker


Book Description

Get gaming faster with the official guide to GameMaker: Studio GameMaker: Studio allows you to create your own games, even with zero coding experience, and GameMaker: Studio For Dummies is a complete guide to the ins and outs of the program. Create the game you've always wanted to play in record time and at a fraction of the cost of traditional game development methods. You'll have the flexibility to develop 2D games for Android, iOS, desktops, and the Web. Gain a professional perspective on this revolutionary path to game creation and publishing. Using GameMaker: Studio may feel like play, but it's a serious tool that allows you to create, design, develop, and publish your very own games. With the push of a button, the program produces real, executable code for your very own "app store"-ready 2D game, complete and ready for market. GameMaker: Studio For Dummies provides complete and accurate information on how to create classic games and special effects, written in the characteristically easy-to-read Dummies style. Topics include: An overview of Studio, and how to get started The basic tools and techniques at the core of your design Advanced techniques for more seasoned game designers An inside look at what the premium upgrades have to offer GameMaker: Studio makes game design 80% faster than coding for native languages, so you can take your game from concept to market in a matter of weeks. Why waste time and money doing it any other way? Whether you already have great ideas or just want to dabble, GameMaker: Studio For Dummies is the guide that will take you straight to guru status.




Building XNA 2.0 Games


Book Description

Building XNA 2.0 Games: A Practical Guide for Independent Game Development is written by James Silva, who recently won the prestigious Microsoft Dream Build Play game competition with his award–winning game, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai. Building XNA 2.0 Games: A Practical Guide for Independent Game Development is an in–depth and exclusive look into the entire XNA game development process and includes the creation of a software game masterpiece. James Silva guides you through the process he took to build his award–winning title, from concept to reality. He reveals tips and techniques for creating a polished, high–quality game with very few resources, while bridging the gap between coding and art. This title shows software developers the following: The creation of a polished game from start to finish Design philosophies Next–gen 2D graphics, including shaders Techniques for fast, fluid game play XACT Audio and XInput Eye–catching particle effects for visual stimulation The book is packed full of code, pictures, and valuable insights into XNA game development.