From Idea to Design

We wrote this book to answer that question, specifically for people who want to design computer and video games. We discuss both the theory and the practice of game design: the why and the how. A design is much more than an idea; it's a blueprint for building an enjoyable and challenging game. We'll give you practical advice about how to design a game, what kinds of decisions you'll face as you go along, and how to write it all down in a design document. The design document communicates your intentions to the people who will build your game, and even if you plan to build it by yourself, you still need to keep a record of the choices you've made ”and those you still need to make. By the end of this book, you will have the tools you need to design many kinds of games , and to create a professional-quality game design document.