Press releases

Theory of Fun for Game Design, 2nd Edition--New from O'Reilly

Press release: October 30, 2013

Sebastopol, CA—Now in full color, the 10th anniversary edition of Theory of Fun for Game Design takes you deep into the influences that underlie modern video games, and examines the elements they share with traditional games such as checkers. At the heart of his exploration, veteran game designer Raph Koster takes a close look at the concept of fun and why it's the most vital element in any game.

Why do some games become boring quickly, while others remain fun for years? How do games serve as fundamental and powerful learning tools? Whether you're a game developer, dedicated gamer, or curious observer, this illustrated, fully updated edition helps you understand what drives this major cultural force, and inspires you to take it further.

You'll discover that:

  • Games play into our innate ability to seek patterns and solve puzzles
  • Most successful games are built upon the same elements
  • Slightly more females than males now play games
  • Many games still teach primitive survival skills
  • Fictional dressing for modern games is more developed than the conceptual elements
  • Truly creative designers seldom use other games for inspiration
  • Games are beginning to evolve beyond their prehistoric origins

For a review copy or more information please email reviews@oreilly.com. Please include your delivery address and contact information.

About the Author

Raph Koster is a veteran game designer who has been professionally credited in almost every area of the game industry. He's been the lead designer and director of massive titles such as Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies; and he's contributed writing, art, soundtrack music, and programming to many more titles ranging from Facebook games to single-player titles for handheld consoles. He has worked as a creative executive at Sony Online and Disney Playdom, and in 2012 was honored as an Online Game Legend at the Game Developers Conference Online.

View Raph Koster's full profile page.

Additional Resources

For more information about the book, including table of contents, author bios, and cover graphic, see: http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920029236.do

About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

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