A collection of resources for game creators aiming to broaden their dialogue topics

A collection of resources for game creators aiming to broaden their dialogue topics

Ready to expand your game design vocab and learn a thing or two about creating killer games? Let's dive into this handy guide! While the original title was "A Few More Word-Tool-Things," I've rebranded it as "The Game Design Glossary" - catchy, right?

My gaming industry buds (shoutout to Jason, Alec, and Sam!) convinced me to compile the articles I've been raving about for years into a practical reading list for aspiring game designers. From late-night brainstorming sessions to hours of internet research, this curated list will help hone your verbal game design toolkit and make you the life of (game) design parties.

Here's a breakdown of what you'll find inside:

Level design and player interaction:

1. "Coherence: Crafting Consistent Gameworlds" - Discover how components such as design, tone, narrative, and systems interact to create something greater than the sum of their parts, or cause everything to grind to a halt. #coherence
2. " submersion: The psychology of gaming immersion" - Unveil the hidden factor that ties together characteristics of game systems, player reactions, and pop culture references, such as Christopher Walken impressions, standup comedy, and classic video games. #cadence
3. "The boundaries of "completing" a game" - Explore the tricky concept of what it means to finish a game and how different player engagement styles impact game design. #full_experience

Graphics, art assets, and building a place:

1. "From the misty mud to the new Alexandria: Remastering and creating a sense of life in videogames" - Evaluate how visual elements like graphics and camera usage contribute to the emotional impact of our digital experiences. #fidelity #abstraction
2. "beyond photo realism: exploring other types of realism in videogame art" - Investigate the distinctions between artistic styles like neorealism and how they boost our virtual game worlds. #neorealism
3. "Grandeur and the sublime: Crafting visually impactful vistas in games" - Gain insights on the elements which come together to create an expansive, panoramic feeling in games, using Destiny as an example. #panoramic
4. "Gritty, real, and takin' no prisoners: breaking the mold of traditional definition of quality in game design" - Discover ways to create compelling, coherent, memorable games that focus on organic life and player engagement, rather than polished appearances. #tactility

Storytelling, dramatic engagement, and narratives:

1. "The narrative-story-plot showdown: engaging players through engaging stories" - Dive into the nitty-gritty details of the differences between narrative, story, and plot and their roles in keeping our players invested. #narrative #story #plot
2. "The, ahem, animated insertion of metafiction in videogames" - Learn about the power of metafictional elements in games and how they affect our experiences as players. #metafiction
3. "The Secret Lives of NPCs: Breaking stereotypes and stereotypes in game design" - Explore how the design of non-player characters (NPCs) influences player choice and their immersion in the game world. #interior_lives

Fun and Game Feel:

1. "Optimizing Fun: Enticing players to step outside their comfort zones" - Delve into the science behind creating meaningful choices for players that go beyond endless branching story paths. #optimizing_fun
2. "embracing omoshiroi and tanoshii in game design: new horizons for fun in East and West" - Uncover the differences in the way Japanese and Western audiences perceive fun in game design and learn alternative ways to engage players. #omoshiroi #tanoshi

RNG, Monetization, and eSports:

1. "A deep dive into the mechanics of luck and randomness in games" - Get strategies to balance the role of chance and RNG in game design, from CCGs to MOBAs. #catalogue_randomness
2. "memorable esports moments: psychology and physiology of success in competitive gaming" - Discover the psychological and physiological factors that make competitive gaming moments memorable, using examples from Esports and sports psychology literature. #BIRGing #CORFing
3. "The art (and science) of spectator sports: creating engaging spectator experiences in competitive gaming" - Learn from the evolution of Super Smash Bros. Pro play and what it means for Esports. #spectator_sport

Big-picture thinking, politics, and game culture:

1. "Lost in the digital landscape: exploring the complex connections in immersive game experiences" - Investigate the complexities of emotional experiences in games and how they impact individual perspectives. #lost_together
2. "Videogames and the politics of representation: representation, power, and marginalization in videogames" - Learn practical strategies for creating more inclusive and diverse games, while avoiding potential pitfalls and discussing key concepts such as representation and power fantasies. #representation
3. "Finding our place in the world: reflections on identity, connection, and personal growth in games" - Read intimate perspectives on how games can impact identity and personal growth, using examples from Kentucky Route Zero and beyond. #identity_growth

Don't forget to join a weekly micro-book club with your team, delve into articles while drinking a beer at lunch, or immerse yourself in the text straight from start to finish. No matter your approach, I hope you find interesting and useful words to help you bring your game design projects to life!

With a gamut of topics covered, this guide offers insights into more than just game design, delving into lifestyle choices such as book clubs and educational discussions. The implications of technology extend beyond game mechanics, touching upon psychology, art, and culture. And while sports remain a source of inspiration for competitive gaming and esports, the emphasis on storytelling and personal growth can be paralleled with entertainment and self-development narratives.

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