Do you want to make popular video games? This book is for anyone interested in learning how to create computer games, whether you are at school, college, University or already working in the industry. It is mainly aimed at the hobbyist or independent game maker who has a passion for computer games and a desire to make their own. You don’t need any game making or programming experience to benefit from this book. You will be able to use what you learn no matter what device your game will run on or what platform you choose to create it with. Some of the things you will take away from this book include: + A clear idea of how to make a video game. + Important things to research when designing your game. + Some of the pitfalls to avoid when making a game. + What makes a good game. + An idea of the mind-set you need to make your game work the way YOU want it to. The bite-sized sections are ideal to look back on during your game development journey (and after you have finished) to double check you have asked yourself the right questions. Chapters include information on: + Game concepts. + The psychology of gamers. + Thinking differently. + Interacting with device hardware. + How to get a computer to shuffle and deal cards efficiently. + Make your own "Fruit Slice" game. + Make your own "Maze" generator. + Artificial Intelligence and how to make your own simple neural network. + ...and much more. About the author: Neil King is a software engineer and has been making computer games since the 1980s, at the age of 10. More recently he has built himself a strong reputation in the I.T. industry for creativity and technical problem solving. Neil has developed cloud-based and stand-alone applications for multiple sectors including education, automotive, child safety, medical and gaming, and has had two number 1 best-selling apps in the App Store. His 20 years of experience in Further Education enables him to explain complex, technical instructions in an easy-to-understand way.

The 2nd volume in the hit art book series, covering the history, artwork, and sound design of independent video games! Indie Games 2 explores the major developments in independent games since 2018. Superbly illustrated and documented, for enthusiasts and curious amateurs alike, this book gives voice to those who drive this cultural industry. Featuring exclusive interviews, and more than 300 illustrations, concept arts and unpublished sketches, through which the reader will get a glimpse behind the scenes and get answers from the key people behind the blockbuster independent video games. Discover more than 300 independent video games within, including: A Plague Tale: Innocence, A short Hike, Children of Morta, Carto, Creaks, Eastward, Factorio, Frostpunk, Genesis Noir, Haven, LUNA–The Shadow Dust, Old Man’s Journey, Return of the Obra Dinn, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Season, Slay the Spire, Spelunky 2, Untitled Goose Game, When the Past Was Around, and more…

Independent Videogames investigates the social and cultural implications of contemporary forms of independent video game development. Through a series of case studies and theoretical investigations, it evaluates the significance of such a multi-faceted phenomenon within video game and digital cultures. A diverse team of scholars highlight the specificities of independence within the industry and the culture of digital gaming through case studies and theoretical questions. The chapters focus on labor, gender, distribution models and technologies of production to map the current state of research on independent game development. The authors also identify how the boundaries of independence are becoming opaque in the contemporary game industry – often at the cost of the claims of autonomy, freedom and emancipation that underlie the indie scene. The book ultimately imagines new and better narratives for a less exploitative and more inclusive videogame industry. Systematically mapping the current directions of a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly difficult to define and limit, this book will be a crucial resource for scholars and students of game studies, media history, media industries and independent gaming.

Professor Odile Limpach gives independent developers everything they need to succeed in the world of video game publishing. The Publishing Challenge for Independent Video Game Developers: A Practical Guide defines what game publishing means for the indie developer and offers a concise framework to tackle the decision of whether to self-publish or not. Furthermore, the text establishes a catalogue of current known publishers with some salient characteristics and offers a list of useful publishing tools. Along with showcasing testimonials from several young and seasoned developers on their experiences with publishing and partners and recommendations from renown experts of the industry, this book offers tools, platforms, and guides to game publishing. Key features: Provides a broad overview of the game publishing market Explores criteria for choosing between a publishing partner or self-publishing Offers case studies and testimonials from indie game developers and publishers about the process. Professor Odile Limpach teaches economics and entrepreneurship at the Cologne Game Lab, TH Köln (Technical University of Cologne). She is also co-founder of the Acceleration Program SpielFabrique 360° and works as a Strategic Consultant for games and serious game projects. Between 2007 and 2014, she was the managing director of the German entertainment software studio Ubisoft Blue Byte. Before, she was the managing director of Ubisoft GmbH. She graduated from business school Institut Commercial de Nancy in France and completed her MBA in the United States. Odile Limpach is also involved as a volunteer in the areas of vocational training and acts as a German partner for Games for Change Europe. Furthermore, she acts as an advisor (Conseiller du Commerce Extérieur) for the French Ministry for International Business Development.

Any company operating across culturally different contexts has a need for intercultural management, whether the cultural differences are ""external"" (e.g. different regional cultures) or ""internal"" (e.g. differences in company culture). With the number of companies falling into this category, it is not surprising that intercultural management is an area of increasing importance to both academics and practitioners.

The games industry moves fast, with release schedules flying by in a blur and hardware constantly changing and updating. But outside the official world of licences and publishing deals, hundreds of games every year find a new home on consoles which have since been abandoned by their manufacturers. This is the hobbyist’s playground of homebrew gaming. The first book by freelance journalist and game developer Robin Wilde, Homebrew Game Development and The Extra Lives of Consoles is the first comprehensive history of the unlicensed and unofficial world of homebrew video games. It explores the methods, enthusiasm and motivations behind the developers who are defying technical limitations and turning nostalgia into brand new gaming experiences for retro consoles. Featuring exclusive interviews with developers behind homebrew hits and Kickstarter successes, as well as others working in the industry, the book dives into what makes the homebrew world tick, and explores some of the best, most innovative, and strangest titles gracing long-retired consoles. As well as providing unique insight into obscure titles, Homebrew Game Development and The Extra Lives of Consoles explores the ongoing developments in this cottage industry, which are opening it up to more and more aspiring developers. Homebrew is an exciting new frontier for game development, and this book opens the door both for readers who were already interested but didn’t know where to start, and gamers who never knew this world existed.

An argument that production tools shape the aesthetics and political economy of games as an expressive medium. In Making Games, Stefan Werning considers the role of tools (primarily but not exclusively software), their design affordances, and the role they play as sociotechnical actors. Drawing on a wide variety of case studies, Werning argues that production tools shape the aesthetics and political economy of games as an expressive medium. He frames game-making as a (meta)game in itself and shows that tools, like games, have their own "procedural rhetoric" and should not always be conceived simply in terms of optimization and best practices.