2nd Edition. — Wordware Publishing, 2005. — 698 p. — ISBN: 1556229127
This author balances a discussion of the essential concepts behind game design with an explanation of how you can implement them in your current project. Detailed analysis of successful games is interwoven with examples from the author's experiences.
Game Design — Theory & Practice, Second Edition
What Players Want
Interview: Sid Meier
Brainstorming a Game Idea: Gameplay, Technology, and Story
Game Analysis: Centipede
Focus
Interview: Ed Logg
The Elements of Gameplay
Game Analysis: Tetris
Artificial Intelligence
Interview: Steve Meretzky
Storytelling
Game Analysis: Loom
Multi-Player
Interview: Chris Crawford
Getting the Gameplay Working
Game Analysis: Myth: The Fallen Lords
Game Development Documentation
Interview: Jordan Mechner
The Design Document
Game Analysis: The Sims
Designing Design Tools
Interview: Will Wright
Level Design
Game Analysis: Grand Theft Auto III
Playtesting
Interview: Doug Church
Appendix A - Sample Design Document: Atomic Sam
Appendix B - Sample Design Document: The Suffering
Selected Bibliography