Console Wars Online

Game Development Essentials Online Game Development

Game Development Essentials Online Game Development

With an innovative, business-model approach, Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development provides the essentials needed to achieve long-term success with Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). This book takes a significant and valuable departure from traditional game development books by addressing MMOG development as a complex, multi-faceted, service-oriented business, instead of focusing solely on technical, artistic, or design techniques. The resulting multi-dimensional focus allows readers to design their game and organize their development process with the entire business in mind. Coverage includes the key differences between single player games and MMOGs, as well as how the various components of the development process, such as the business model, marketing plan, gaming community and technical constraints, influence one another and determine the success of the MMOG.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Useful for many people- Good Read
As a fairly academic reader, I found this book extremely accessible and think the style and presentation will appeal to many readers from various backgrounds. I was surprised at the great breadth of topics this book covered–so many aspects of game development explained. The book incorporates knowledge that would apply to anyone working in media production. The models and diagrams are applicable to most businesses and creative developments. Visual learners will be pleased with the multitude of presentation styles and images. A strong emphasis is put on creating a smooth production pipeline to avoid future errors that may not have even been considered. There are some worth details in ways to integrate constraints, places in production to improve, and structures to build that meet the natural multiplicity of online games. The text also questions the reader in the form of chapter review problems. The extremely thorough descriptions and steps through the process of development will endow the reader with a vocabulary to speak and question intelligently. For someone with little background, they will feel confident with a generous knowledge base on online games. For someone with industry experience, they will be able to implement new strategies and create stronger games with mass appeal and staying value.

5 Stars Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development by Rick Hall
As a seasoned industry professional and an Executive Recruiter in the game industry, I found this book to be a “must read” for everyone. It offers a great deal of information and detail. I was very impressed with the book and strongly recommend it. Pat Bigley, President Prime Candidate, Inc.

5 Stars A fun, easy read
I’m not a game maker, but it’s really fun to understand how these MMOGs are made. This book was easy to read, explained the development process with some interesting anecdotes, and generally just answered a lot of the unexplained mysteries of how these games are made. The book is great fun to read, and even if you’re just a MMOG addict, and not a MMOG maker, it’s worth buying.

5 Stars An excellent resource for Game Development.
This is a book for anyone who wants to truly understand what goes into making today’s online games.

In a very straight-forward and readable manner, the book covers the many complex issues that make up today’s development environment. It does an excellent job of establishing a project framework that works well in the creative element of a game design studio. This framework keeps the business side as its first focus but manages to do that without overwhelming the need for creativity and fun. Customer satisfaction and a successful product are the clear result of such a disciplined approach.

Whether you are planning on a career in game design or are already a seasoned professional, no matter if you are a senior producer, coder, or design game art, a thorough understanding of a game development methodology will benefit your career immensely.

I bought this book to gain a broader understanding of the issues surrounding the game development environment. I could not be happier with my choice.

5 Stars Excellent resource for game developers, both aspiring and established!
If you’ve ever considered making a Massively Multiplayer Online Game of any genre (or are, at the very least, interested in what goes into it behind the scenes), I’d strongly recommend picking up this book. Heck, if you’re just in it for general game development, I’d say it would still interest you. Besides charting the potential pitfalls, hidden costs, and specialized needs of online game development, this book also features some great reviews of creative design methodology, often with an eye for how they can best be applied to entertaining an online audience.

Personally, I got it to get a better idea of how to maintain player interest over the extremely long playing time that’s standard for MMOs, but have found all sorts of other useful tidbits along the way.

As for general content, the book is nicely laid-out and written, managing to get some very involved concepts across quickly and clearly. It’s even got a number of interviews with other industry veterans for some different perspectives. All in all, very useful.

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